“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ) — Andrew's response demonstrates faith's communicative nature; discipleship naturally overflows into witness. The translation of "Messiah" as "Christ" (Christos, "anointed") clarifies terminology while maintaining the identity claim. "We have found" suggests that recognition comes through encounter, not prior assumption.
Church Fathers on John 1:41
Andrew kept not our Lord’s words to himself; but ran in haste to his brother, to report the good tidings: He first finds his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
This is truly to find the Lord; viz. to have fervent love for Him, together with a care for our brother’s salvation.
Messias in Hebrew, Christus in Greek, Unctus in Latin. Chrism is unction, and He had a special unction, which from Him extended to all Christians, as appears in the Psalm, God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows. All holy persons are partakers with Him; but He is specially the Holy of Holies, specially anointed.
Read all 10 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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