Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 7
Augustine — Homilies on John & First John
SECTION 121
11. "If any man serve me, let him follow me." What is that, "let him follow me," but just, let him imitate me? "Because Christ suffered for
11. "If any man serve me, let him follow me." What is that, "let him follow me," but just, let him imitate me? "Because Christ suffered for us," says the Apostle Peter, "leaving us an example that we should follow His steps." [1041] Here you have the meaning of the words, "If any man serve me, let him follow me." But with what r…
1,395 wordsSECTION 122Chapter XII. 27-36
Chapter XII. 27-36 1. After the Lord Jesus Christ, in the words of yesterday's lesson, had exhorted His servants to follow Him, and had predicted His own passion in this way, that unless a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit; and also had stirred up those who…
2,296 wordsSECTION 1239. But then, says some one, since the devil is thus cast out of the hearts of believers, does he now tempt none of the faithful? Nay, verily
9. But then, says some one, since the devil is thus cast out of the hearts of believers, does he now tempt none of the faithful? Nay, verily, he does not cease to tempt. But it is one thing to reign within, another to assail from without; for in like manner the best fortified city is sometimes attacked by an enemy without being …
1,701 wordsSECTION 124Chapter XII. 37-43
Chapter XII. 37-43 1. When our Lord Christ, foretelling His own passion, and the fruitfulness of His death in being lifted up on the cross, said that He would draw all [things] after Him; and when the Jews, understanding that He spake of His death, put to Him the question how He could speak of death as awaiting Him, when they h…
2,572 wordsSECTION 1259. It is no wonder, then, that they could not believe, when such was their pride of will, that, being ignorant of the righteousness of God,
9. It is no wonder, then, that they could not believe, when such was their pride of will, that, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, they wished to establish their own: as the apostle says of them, "They have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." [1090] For it was not by faith, but as it were by works, …
1,397 wordsSECTION 126Chapter XII. 44-50
Chapter XII. 44-50 1. Whilst our Lord Jesus Christ was speaking among the Jews, and giving so many miraculous signs, some believed who were foreordained to eternal life, and whom He also called His sheep; but some did not believe, and could not believe, because that, by the mysterious yet not unrighteous judgment of God, they h…
2,752 wordsSECTION 127Chapter XIII. 1-5
8. There follow the words: "And I know that His commandment is life everlasting." If, then, the Son Himself is eternal life, and the Father's commandment the same, what else is expressed than this, I am the Father's commandment? And in like manner, in what He proceeds to say, "Whatsoever I speak, even as the Father said unto me,…
2,257 wordsSECTION 128Chapter XIII. 6-10
7. But why should we wonder that He rose from supper, and laid aside His garments, who, being in the form of God, made Himself of no reputation? [1131] And why should we wonder, if He girded Himself with a towel, who took upon Him the form of a servant, and was found in the likeness of a man? [1132] Why wonder, if He poured wate…
2,027 wordsSECTION 129Chapter XIII. 6-10 (continued), and Song of Sol. V. 2, 3
Chapter XIII. 6-10 (continued), and Song of Sol. V. 2, 3 In what way the Church should fear to defile her feet, while proceeding on her way to Christ. 1. I Have not been unmindful of my debt, and acknowledge that the time of payment has now come. May He give me wherewith to pay, as He gave me cause to incur the debt. For He ha…
2,049 wordsSECTION 130Chapter XIII. 10-15.
Chapter XIII. 10-15. 1. We have already, beloved, as the Lord was pleased to enable us, expounded to you those words of the Gospel, where the Lord, in washing His disciples' feet, says, "He that is once washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." Let us now look at what follows. "And ye," He says, "are c…
1,861 wordsSECTION 131Chapter XIII. 16-20.
Chapter XIII. 16-20. 1. We have just heard in the holy Gospel the Lord speaking, and saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord, nor the apostle [he that is sent] greater than he that sent him: if ye know these things, blessed shall ye be if ye do them." He said this, therefore, because He…
1,242 wordsSECTION 132Chapter XIII. 21.
Chapter XIII. 21. 1. It is no light question, brethren, that meets us in the Gospel of the blessed John, when he says: "When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." Was it for this reason that Jesus was troubled, not in flesh, but…
1,530 wordsSECTION 133Chapter XIII. 21-26.
Chapter XIII. 21-26. 1. This short section of the Gospel, brethren, we have in this lesson brought forward for exposition, as thinking that we ought also to say something of the Lord's betrayer, as now plainly enough disclosed by the dipping and holding out to him of the piece of bread. Of that indeed which precedes, (namely), …
1,634 wordsSECTION 134Chapter XIII. 26-31.
Chapter XIII. 26-31. 1. I Know, dearly beloved, that some may be moved, as the godly to inquire into the meaning of, and the ungodly to find fault with, the statement, that it was after the Lord had given the bread, that had been dipped, to His betrayer that Satan entered into him. For so it is written: "And when He had dipped …
1,652 wordsSECTION 135Chapter XIII. 31-32.
Chapter XIII. 31-32. 1. Let us give our mind's best attention, and, with the Lord's help, seek after God. The language of the divine hymn is: "Seek God and your soul shall live." [1221] Let us search for that which needs to be discovered, and into that which has been discovered. He whom we need to discover is concealed, in orde…
1,498 wordsSECTION 136Chapter XIII. 31-32.
Chapter XIII. 31-32. 1. It becomes us, dearly beloved, to keep in view the orderly connection of our Lord's words. For after having previously said, but subsequently to Judas' departure, and his separation from even the outward communion of the saints, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;"--whether He …
1,397 wordsSECTION 137Chapter XIII. 34, 35.
Chapter XIII. 34, 35. 1. The Lord Jesus declares that He is giving His disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another. "A new commandment," He says, "I give unto you, that ye love one another." But was not this already commanded in the ancient law of God, where it is written, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy…
1,630 wordsSECTION 138Chapter XIII. 36-38.
Chapter XIII. 36-38. 1. While the Lord Jesus was commending to the disciples that holy love wherewith they should love one another, "Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, whither goest Thou?" So, at all events, said the disciple to his Master, the servant to his Lord, as one who was prepared to follow. Just as for the same reason t…
1,293 wordsSECTION 139Chapter XIV. 1-3.
Chapter XIV. 1-3. 1. Our special attention, brethren, must be earnestly turned to God, in order that we may be able to obtain some intelligent apprehension of the words of the holy Gospel, which have just been ringing in our ears. For the Lord Jesus saith: "Let not your heart be troubled. Believe [1252] in God, and believe [or,…
2,267 wordsSECTION 1403. But why is it that He went away to make such preparation, when, as it is certainly we ourselves that are the subjects in need of preparat
3. But why is it that He went away to make such preparation, when, as it is certainly we ourselves that are the subjects in need of preparation, His doing so will be hindered by leaving us behind? I explain it, Lord, as I can: it was surely this Thou didst signify by the preparation of those mansions, that the just ought to live…
854 wordsSECTION 141Chapter XIV. 4-6.
Chapter XIV. 4-6. 1. We have now the opportunity, dearly, beloved, as far as we can, of understanding the earlier words of the Lord from the later, and His previous statements by those that follow, in what you have heard was His answer to the question of the Apostle Thomas. For when the Lord was speaking above of the mansions, …
1,822 wordsSECTION 142Chapter XIV. 7-10.
Chapter XIV. 7-10. 1. The words of the holy Gospel, brethren, are rightly understood only if they are found to be in harmony with those that precede; for the premises ought to agree with the conclusion, when it is the Truth that speaks. The Lord had said before, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and re…
1,691 wordsSECTION 143Chapter XIV. 10-14.
Chapter XIV. 10-14. 1. Give close attention, and try to understand, beloved; for while it is we who speak it is He Himself who never withdraweth His presence from us who is our Teacher. The Lord saith, what you have just heard read, "The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the Father, that dwelleth in me, He…
2,431 wordsSECTION 1443. "And greater works than these shall he do." Than what, pray? Shall we say that one is doing greater works than all that Christ did who is
3. "And greater works than these shall he do." Than what, pray? Shall we say that one is doing greater works than all that Christ did who is working out his own salvation with fear and trembling? [1302] A work which Christ is certainly working in him, but not without him; and one which I might, without hesitation, call greater t…
2,266 wordsSECTION 145Chapter XIV. 15-17.
[1305] Jas. iv. 3. [1306] Num. xi. 32. [1307] 1 Tim. iv. 4. [1308] Rom. xiv. 20. [1309] Gen. iii. 6. [1310] Gen. xxv. 34. [1311] 1 Cor. xv. 10. [1312] 2 Cor. xii. 8. [1313] Gal. vi. 9. [1314] Matt. vi. 9-13. Tractate LXXIV. Chapter XIV. 15-17. 1. We have heard, brethren, while the Gospel was read, the Lord saying: "I…
2,201 wordsSECTION 146Chapter XIV. 18-21.
Tractate LXXV. Chapter XIV. 18-21. 1. After the promise of the Holy Spirit, lest any should suppose that the Lord was to give Him, as it were, in place of Himself, in any such way as that He Himself would not likewise be with them, He added the words: "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." Orphani [Greek] are pupi…
1,248 wordsSECTION 147Chapter XIV. 22-24.
Chapter XIV. 22-24. 1. While the disciples thus question, and Jesus their Master replies to them, we also, as it were, are learning along with them, when we either read or listen to the holy Gospel. Accordingly, because the Lord had said, "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye shall see me," Judas--not inde…
1,497 wordsSECTION 148Chapter XIV. 25-27.
Chapter XIV. 25-27. 1. In the preceding lesson of the holy Gospel, which is followed by the one that has just been read, the Lord Jesus had said that He and the Father would come to those who loved Them, and make Their abode with them. But He had also already said above of the Holy Spirit, "But ye shall know Him; for He shall d…
1,723 wordsSECTION 149Chapter XIV. 27, 28.
Chapter XIV. 27, 28. 1. We have just heard, brethren, these words of the Lord, which He addressed to His disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come unto you: if ye loved me, ye would surely rejoice, because I go unto the Father; for the Father is …
1,509 wordsSECTION 150Chapter XIV. 29-31.
Chapter XIV. 29-31. 1. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, had said unto His disciples, "If ye loved me, ye would surely rejoice, because I go unto the Father; for the Father is greater than I." And that He so spake in His servant-form, and not in that of God, wherein He is equal with the Father, is well known to faith as it re…
1,396 wordsSECTION 151Chapter XV. 1-3.
Chapter XV. 1-3. 1. This passage of the Gospel, brethren, where the Lord calls Himself the vine, and His disciples the branches, declares in so many words that the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [1378] is the head of the Church, and that we are His members. For as the vine and its branches are of one nature…
1,336 wordsSECTION 152Chapter XV. 4-7.
Chapter XV. 4-7. 1. Jesus called Himself the vine, and His disciples the branches, and His Father the husbandman; whereon we have already discoursed as we were able. But in the present passage, while still speaking of Himself as the vine, and of His branches, or, in other words, of the disciples, He said, "Abide in me, and I in…
1,312 wordsSECTION 153Chapter XV. 8-10.
Chapter XV. 8-10. 1. The Saviour, in thus speaking to the disciples, commends still more and more the grace whereby we are saved, when He says, "Herein is my Father glorified, [1394] that ye bear very much fruit, and be made my disciples." Whether we say glorified, or made bright, both are the rendering given us of one Greek ve…
1,327 wordsSECTION 154Chapter XV. 11, 12.
Chapter XV. 11, 12. 1. You have just heard, beloved, the Lord saying to His disciples, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might be in you, and that your joy might be full." And what else is Christ's joy in us, save that He is pleased to rejoice over us? And what is this joy of ours which He says is to be made ful…
1,293 wordsSECTION 155Chapter XV. 13.
Chapter XV. 13. 1. The Lord, beloved brethren, hath defined that fullness of love which we ought to bear to one another, when He said: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Inasmuch, then, as He had said before, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you;…
1,440 wordsSECTION 156Chapter XV. 14, 15.
Chapter XV. 14, 15. 1. When the Lord Jesus had commended the love which He manifested toward us in dying for us, and had said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," He added, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." What great condescension! when one cannot even be a …
1,250 wordsSECTION 157Chapter XV. 15, 16.
Chapter XV. 15, 16. 1. It is a worthy subject of inquiry how these words of the Lord are to be understood, "But I have called you friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." For who is there that dare affirm or believe that any man knoweth all things that the only-begotten Son hath heard …
1,488 wordsSECTION 158Chapter XV. 17-19.
Chapter XV. 17-19. 1. In the Gospel lesson which precedes this one, the Lord had said: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you." On these words you rem…
1,405 wordsSECTION 159Chapter XV. 20, 21.
Chapter XV. 20, 21. 1. The Lord, in exhorting His servants to endure with patience the hatred of the world, proposes to them no greater and better example than His own; seeing that, as the Apostle Peter says, "Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps." [1462] And if we really do so, we do i…
1,363 wordsSECTION 160Chapter XV. 22, 23.
Chapter XV. 22, 23. 1. The Lord had said above to His disciples, "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not Him that sent me." And if we inquire of whom He so spake, we fin…
1,541 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.