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JOHN 14:9 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 14:8John 14:10
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you all this time, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?' — the rebuke is gentle but firm: all the signs, all the teachings, all the intimate presence Jesus has offered have not penetrated to true knowing. The radical claim—"whoever has seen me has seen the Father"—is not merely mystical poetry but the fundamental assertion of Johannine Christology: in Jesus, the invisible God becomes visible; the eternal Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. To ask to see the Father while looking upon Jesus is the ultimate blindness, a refusal to see what stands before one's eyes.

Church Fathers on John 14:9

A declaration so new startled Philip. Our Lord is seen to be man. He confesses Himself to be the Son of God, declares that, if He were known, the Father would be known, that, if He is seen, the Father is seen. The familiarity of the Apostle therefore breaks forth into questioning our Lord, Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us. He did not deny He could be seen, but wished to be shown him; nor did he wish to see with his bodily eyes, but that He whom…

Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

For to that joy of beholding His face, nothing can be added. Philip understood this, and said, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us. But he did not yet understand that he could in the same way have said, Lord, show us Yourself, and it suffices us. But our Lord’s answer enlightens him, Jesus said to him, Have I been so long with you, and yet have you not known Me, Philip?

Augustine · 4th century

Philip, because [he thought] he had seen c the Son with his bodily eye, wished to see the Father in the same way; perhaps too remembering what the Prophet said, I saw the Lord (Isaiah 6:1), and therefore he says, Show us the Father. The Jews had asked, who was His Father; and Peter and Thomas, whither He went; and neither were told plainly. Philip therefore, that he might not seem burdensome, after saying, Show us the Father, adds, And it suffices us: i.e. we seek for no…

Chrysostom · 4th century · Or thus
Read all 19 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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