“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God — the counterpart: those whose deeds are true approach light without fear, desiring exposure of their works' alignment with God's will. The phrase "in the sight of God" (en tō Theō) suggests that ethical truth-living is living consciously before God. This verse establishes that belief involves not mere intellectual assent but lived transformation expressed in deeds.
Church Fathers on John 3:21
Here is the reason why men believed not, and why they are justly condemned; This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world.
As if He said, So far from their having sought for it, or labored to find it, light itself has come to them, and they have refused to admit it; Men loved darkness rather than light, Thus He leaves them no excuse. He came to rescue them from darkness, and bring them to light; who can pity him who does not choose to approach the light when it comes unto him?
He calls Himself the light, whereof the Evangelist speaks, That was the true light; whereas sin He calls darkness.
Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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