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JOHN 19:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 19:16John 19:18
“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:”
and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to the place called the place of a skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha — Jesus carries his own cross (contrast Synoptics' Simon of Cyrene), emphasizing his active participation in his passion. The double toponymy (Greek "Kranion," Hebrew "Golgotha") suggests eyewitness bilingual familiarity. The skull imagery evokes both death's reality and perhaps messianic significance. John's focus on Jesus' self-direction continues: even in execution's journey, Jesus is active, not merely passive.

Church Fathers on John 19:17

By the command of the governor, the soldiers took Christ to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away.

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation

They, i.e. the soldiers, the guards of the governor, as appears more clearly afterwards; Then the soldiers when they had crucified Jesus; though the Evangelist might justly have attributed the whole to the Jews, who were really the authors of what they procured to be done.

Augustine · 4th century

They compel Jesus to bear the cross, regarding it as unholy, and therefore avoiding the touch of it themselves. And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha, where they crucified Him. The same was done typically by Isaac, who carried the wood. But then the matter only proceeded as far as his father’s good pleasure ordered, but now it was fully accomplished, for the reality had appeared.

Chrysostom · 4th century
Read all 10 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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