JOHN 18:36 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would fight for me, so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.' — Jesus redefines kingship itself: his kingdom's origin is not ek tou kosmou ("of this world"), but from above, from God's realm. The thought experiment—"if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight"—illuminates the distinction: kingdoms of this age employ violence; God's kingdom operates differently. The absence of armed resistance proves Jesus' kingdom's transcendent character.
Church Fathers on John 18:36
Pilate, wishing to rescue Him from the hatred of the c Jews, protracted the trial a long time. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall, and called Jesus.
i.e. Apart, because he had a strong suspicion that He was innocent, and thought he could examine Him more accurately, away from the crowd: and said to Him, Are you the King of the Jews?
Wherein Pilate shows that the Jews had charged Him with calling Himself King of the Jews.
Read all 20 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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