Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 7
Augustine — Homilies on John & First John
SECTION 41
Chapter IV. 1-42
Chapter IV. 1-42 1. It is nothing new to your ears, beloved, that the Evangelist John, like an eagle, takes a loftier flight, and soars above the dark mist of earth, to gaze with steadier eyes upon the light of truth. From his Gospel much has already been treated of and discussed through our ministry, with the Lord's help; and …
2,296 wordsSECTION 4211. "Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. For His disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat. Then saith the Samaritan woman unto
11. "Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. For His disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat. Then saith the Samaritan woman unto Him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans." You see that they were aliens: indeed, the Jews woul…
2,309 wordsSECTION 4321. Once more He urges us to investigate the matter somewhat more exactly concerning these five husbands. Many have in fact understood, not
21. Once more He urges us to investigate the matter somewhat more exactly concerning these five husbands. Many have in fact understood, not indeed absurdly, nor so far improbably, the five husbands of this woman to mean the five books of Moses. For the Samaritans' made use of these books, and were under the same law: for it was …
2,344 wordsSECTION 4431. "And in the meanwhile His disciples besought Him, saying, Master, eat." For they had gone to buy meat, and had returned. "But He said, I
31. "And in the meanwhile His disciples besought Him, saying, Master, eat." For they had gone to buy meat, and had returned. "But He said, I have meat to eat which ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him aught to eat?" What wonder if that woman did not understand about the water? See…
1,034 wordsSECTION 45Chapter IV. 43-54
Chapter IV. 43-54 1. The Gospel Lesson of to-day follows that of yesterday, and this is the subject of our discourse. In this passage the meaning, indeed, is not difficult of investigation, but worthy of preaching, worthy of admiration and praise. Accordingly, in reciting this passage of the Gospel, we must commend it to your a…
2,216 wordsSECTION 46Chapter IV. 1-18
6. Hear now how the natural branches are cut off, how the wild olive is grafted in, by means of the centurion himself, whom I have thought proper to mention for the sake of comparison with this ruler. "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith in Israel; therefore I say unto you, that many shall come from the east a…
2,356 wordsSECTION 476. How, then, is work perfected in the number forty? The reason, it may be, is, because the law was given in ten precepts, and was to be pre
6. How, then, is work perfected in the number forty? The reason, it may be, is, because the law was given in ten precepts, and was to be preached throughout the whole world: which whole world, we are to mark, is made up of four quarters, east and west, south and north, whence the number ten, multiplied by four, comes to forty. O…
2,270 wordsSECTION 4812. The man, then, after he saw Jesus, and knew Him to be the author of his healing, was not slothful in preaching Him whom he had seen: "He
12. The man, then, after he saw Jesus, and knew Him to be the author of his healing, was not slothful in preaching Him whom he had seen: "He departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus that had made him whole." He brought them word, and they were mad against him; he preached his own salvation, they sought not their own salvati…
1,508 wordsSECTION 49Chapter V. 19
Chapter V. 19 1. John the evangelist, among his fellows and companions the other evangelists, received this special and peculiar gift from the Lord (on whose breast he reclined at the feast, hereby to signify that he was drinking deeper secrets from His inmost heart), to utter those things concerning the Son of God which may pe…
2,631 wordsSECTION 507. What then, beloved, are we going to explain that which we have asked, how the Word seeth, how the Father is seen by the Word, what the se
7. What then, beloved, are we going to explain that which we have asked, how the Word seeth, how the Father is seen by the Word, what the seeing of the Word is? I am not so bold, so rash, as to promise to explain this, for myself or for you: however I estimate your measure, still I know my own. Therefore, if you please, not to d…
2,418 wordsSECTION 51Chapter V. 19-30
12. I think I have spoken long enough, and yet I have not concluded the Gospel lesson: if I go on to declare what remains, I shall burden you, and I fear lest even what has been drawn may be lost; therefore let this be enough for you now, beloved. We are debtors, not now, but always as long as we live; because we live for you. H…
2,282 wordsSECTION 527. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whoso heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgmen
7. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whoso heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but is passed," not is passing now, but is already passed, "from death into life." And mark this, "Whoso heareth my word, and"--He says not, believeth me, but--"believeth Him that sent me…
2,705 wordsSECTION 5313. Not, then, in like manner as the soul is one thing before it is enlightened, and becomes a better thing when it is enlightened, by parti
13. Not, then, in like manner as the soul is one thing before it is enlightened, and becomes a better thing when it is enlightened, by participation of a better; not so, I say, was the Word of God, the Son of God, something else before He received life, that He should have life by participation; but He has life in Himself, and i…
2,488 wordsSECTION 5417. Let Him declare this more distinctly, that the heretical denier of the resurrection of the body may not find a pretext for sophistical c
17. Let Him declare this more distinctly, that the heretical denier of the resurrection of the body may not find a pretext for sophistical cavil, although the meaning already shines out clearly. When it was said above, "The hour is coming," He added, "and now is;" but just now, "The hour is coming," He has not added, "and now is…
1,497 wordsSECTION 55Chapter V. 19
Chapter V. 19 1. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially those recorded by the Evangelist John,--who not without cause leaned on the Lord's bosom, that he might drink in the secrets of that higher wisdom, and by evangelizing give forth again what by loving he had drunk in,--are so secret and profound of understanding, th…
2,274 wordsSECTION 566. Return then with me to what I was saying, in case it is so to be understood that we may both escape from the question. For I see how I, a
6. Return then with me to what I was saying, in case it is so to be understood that we may both escape from the question. For I see how I, according to the catholic faith, may escape without tripping or stumbling; whilst thou, on the other hand, shut in on every side, art seeking a way of escape. See by what way thou hast entere…
2,723 wordsSECTION 57Chapter V. 20-23
13. Do not imagine that thou art to do something beyond a man's ability. The Evangelist John himself did this. He soared beyond the flesh, beyond the earth which he trod, beyond the seas which he looked upon, beyond the air in which the fowls fly, beyond the sun, the moon, the stars, beyond all the spirits unseen, beyond his own…
2,325 wordsSECTION 585. "And greater works than these will He show Him, that ye may marvel." Here again we are embarrassed. And who is there that may worthily in
5. "And greater works than these will He show Him, that ye may marvel." Here again we are embarrassed. And who is there that may worthily investigate this so great a secret? But now, in that He has deigned to speak to us, Himself opens it. For He would not speak what He would not have us understand; and as He has deigned to spea…
2,421 wordsSECTION 5912. "For," saith He, "the Father judgeth no man, but all judgment hath He given to the Son." A little before we were thinking that the Fathe
12. "For," saith He, "the Father judgeth no man, but all judgment hath He given to the Son." A little before we were thinking that the Father doeth something which the Son doeth not, when He said, "The Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth;" as though the Father were doing, and the Son were seeing.…
2,506 wordsSECTION 60Chapter V. 24-30
[419] Wisd. ix. 15. [420] John i. 3, 10. [421] 1 Cor. i. 24. [422] Wisd. vii. 26. [423] Wisd. viii. 1. [424] Acts ix. 4. [425] Matt. xxv. 31-40. [426] Eph. iv. 14. [427] 1 Cor. xii. 27. [428] John i. 14. [429] John xi. 41-44. [430] Luke vii. 14. [431] Luke viii. 54. [432] John viii. 15. [433] 1 Pet. ii. 21-23. [43…
2,367 wordsSECTION 617. Himself explains that already, and goes on, "Verily, verily, I say unto you." In case, because He said "is passed from death to life," we
7. Himself explains that already, and goes on, "Verily, verily, I say unto you." In case, because He said "is passed from death to life," we should understand this of the future resurrection, and willing to show that he who believes is passed, and that to pass from death to life is to pass from unbelief to faith, from injustice …
2,412 wordsSECTION 6213. And whence, sayest thou, dost thou prove to me that He spoke about the resurrection itself? If thou hear patiently, thou wilt presently
13. And whence, sayest thou, dost thou prove to me that He spoke about the resurrection itself? If thou hear patiently, thou wilt presently prove it to thyself. Let us go on then: "Marvel not at this; for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the graves." What more evident than this resurrection? A while ago, He had not said…
894 wordsSECTION 63Chapter V. 19-40
Chapter V. 19-40 1. In a certain place in the Gospel, the Lord says that the prudent hearer of His word ought to be like a man who, wishing to build a house, digs deeply until he comes to the foundation of stability on the rock, and there establishes in security what he builds against the violence of the flood; so that, when th…
2,522 wordsSECTION 647. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son cannot of Himself do anything, but what He seeth the Father doing; for what things soever He has
7. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son cannot of Himself do anything, but what He seeth the Father doing; for what things soever He has done, these also the Son doeth in like manner." Yes, the heaven, the earth, the sea; the things that are in heaven, on the earth, and in the sea; the visible and invisible, the animals on t…
3,053 wordsSECTION 6512. Therefore let us now briefly run over what remains, and do you see how the Lord makes known to us the things which I have been here comm
12. Therefore let us now briefly run over what remains, and do you see how the Lord makes known to us the things which I have been here commending to your attention. "The Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things which Himself doeth." Himself raiseth up souls, but by the Son, that the souls raised up may enjoy the substa…
1,464 wordsSECTION 66Chapter VI. 1-14
Chapter VI. 1-14 1. The miracles performed by our Lord Jesus Christ are indeed divine works, and incite the human mind to rise to the apprehension of God from the things that are seen. But inasmuch as He is not such a substance as may be seen with the eyes, and His miracles in the government of the whole world and the administr…
2,341 wordsSECTION 67Chapter VI. 15-44
[480] 2 Cor. iii. 15. [481] Isa. xl. 6. [482] John xx. 29. [483] Acts vii. 37. [484] John iv. 44. [485] Isa. ix. 6, LXX. [486] Isa. xxxv. 4. Tractate XXV. Chapter VI. 15-44 1. Following upon yesterday's lesson from the Gospel is that of to-day, upon which this day's discourse is due to you. When that miracle was wrought…
2,363 wordsSECTION 689. "And when the multitudes had found Him." Behold, He presents Himself to the people from whom He had escaped into the mountain, afraid tha
9. "And when the multitudes had found Him." Behold, He presents Himself to the people from whom He had escaped into the mountain, afraid that He should be taken of them by force. In every way He proves to us and gives us to know that all these things are said in a mystery, and done in a great sacrament (or mystery) to signify so…
2,604 wordsSECTION 6916. Pride is the source of all diseases, because pride is the source of all sins. When a physician removes a disorder from the body, if he m
16. Pride is the source of all diseases, because pride is the source of all sins. When a physician removes a disorder from the body, if he merely cures the malady produced by some particular cause, but not the cause itself, he seems to heal the patient for a time, but while the cause remains, the disease will repeat itself. For …
1,851 wordsSECTION 70Chapter VI. 41-59
Chapter VI. 41-59 1. When our Lord Jesus Christ, as we have heard in the Gospel when it was read, had said that He was Himself the bread which came down from heaven, the Jews murmured and said, "Is not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?" These Jews we…
2,330 wordsSECTION 718. What then, brethren? If every man who has heard and learned of the Father, the same cometh unto Christ, has Christ taught nothing here? W
8. What then, brethren? If every man who has heard and learned of the Father, the same cometh unto Christ, has Christ taught nothing here? What shall we say to this, that men who have not seen the Father as their teacher have seen the Son? The Son spake, but the Father taught. I, being a man, whom do I teach? Whom, brethren, but…
2,530 wordsSECTION 7216. But lest they should suppose that eternal life was promised in this meat and drink in such manner that they who should take it should no
16. But lest they should suppose that eternal life was promised in this meat and drink in such manner that they who should take it should not even now die in the body, He condescended to meet this thought; for when He had said, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life," He forthwith subjoined, "and I wi…
1,050 wordsSECTION 73Chapter VI. 60-72
Chapter VI. 60-72 1. We have just heard out of the Gospel the words of the Lord which follow the former discourse. From these a discourse is due to your ears and minds, and it is not unseasonable to-day; for it is concerning the body of the Lord which He said that He gave to be eaten for eternal life. And He explained the mode …
2,397 wordsSECTION 749. And now addressing the few that remained: "Then said Jesus to the twelve" (namely, those twelve who remained), "Will ye also," said He, "
9. And now addressing the few that remained: "Then said Jesus to the twelve" (namely, those twelve who remained), "Will ye also," said He, "go away?" Not even Judas departed. But it was already manifest to the Lord why he remained: to us he was made manifest afterwards. Peter answered in behalf of all, one for many, unity for th…
1,649 wordsSECTION 75Chapter VII. 1-13
Chapter VII. 1-13 1. In this chapter of the Gospel, brethren, our Lord Jesus Christ has most especially commended Himself to our faith in respect of His humanity. For indeed He always keeps in view, both in His words and deeds, that He should be believed to be God and man: God who made us, man who sought us; with the Father, al…
2,403 wordsSECTION 768. What said He further? "The world cannot hate you." What is this, but, The world cannot hate its lovers, the false witnesses? For you call
8. What said He further? "The world cannot hate you." What is this, but, The world cannot hate its lovers, the false witnesses? For you call the things that are evil, good; and the things that are good, evil. "But me it hateth, because I bear witness concerning it, that its works are evil. Go ye up to this feast." What means "to…
1,871 wordsSECTION 77Chapter VII. 14-18
Chapter VII. 14-18 1. What follows of the Gospel and was read to-day, we must next in order look at, and speak from it as the Lord may grant us. Yesterday it was read thus far, that although they had not seen the Lord Jesus in the temple on the feast-day, yet they were speaking about Him: "And some said, He is a good man: but o…
2,540 wordsSECTION 78Chapter VII. 19-24
[572] 2 Cor. vi. 8. [573] Isa. vii. 9. [574] John vi. 29. [575] Rom. iv. 5. [576] Gal. v. 6. [577] 2 Thess. ii. 4. [578] John v. 45. [579] John xiv. 9. [580] John x. 30. [581] Phil. ii. 7. Tractate XXX. Chapter VII. 19-24 1. The passage of the holy Gospel of which we have before discoursed to you, beloved, is followe…
2,500 wordsSECTION 79Chapter VII. 25-36
8. Who is he that judges not according to the person? He that loves equally. Equal love causes that persons be not accepted. It is not when we honor men in diverse measure according to their degrees that we ought to fear lest we are accepting persons. For where we judge between two, and at times between relations, sometimes it h…
2,216 wordsSECTION 807. "But many of the people believed on Him." The Lord made whole the humble and the poor. The rulers were mad, and therefore they not only d
7. "But many of the people believed on Him." The Lord made whole the humble and the poor. The rulers were mad, and therefore they not only did not acknowledge the Physician, but even were eager to slay Him. There was a certain crowd of people which quickly saw its own sickness, and without delay recognized His remedy. See what t…
1,930 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.