John 4:17 — Community Reflections

JOHN 4:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:”

I have no husband, she replied. Jesus said to her, 'You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.' — Jesus' knowledge of her personal history is presented as a sign of prophetic insight (cf. 1:48). The five husbands likely represent either serial divorce or widowhood; her present situation is unlawful cohabitation. Rather than condemn, Jesus validates her truthfulness and demonstrates that he knows her completely—a prelude to revelation of his identity.

Church Fathers on John 4:17

To the woman’s question, Are you greater than our father Jacob? He does not reply, I am greater, lest He should seem to boast; but His answer implies it; Jesus answered and said to her, Whosoever drink of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; as if He said, If Jacob is to be honored because he gave you this water. what will you say, if I give you far better than this? He makes the comparison however not to…
Chrysostom · 4th century

Which is true indeed both of material water, and of that of which it is the type. For the water in the well is the pleasure of the world, that abode of darkness. Men draw it with the waterpot of their lusts; pleasure is not relished, except it be preceded by lust. And when a man has enjoyed this pleasure, i.e. drunk of the water, he thirsts again; but if he have received water from Me, he shall never thirst. For how shall they thirst, who are drunken with the abundance of the…
Augustine · 4th century

For the water which I give him is ever multiplying. The saints receive through grace the seed and principle of good; but they themselves make it grow by their own cultivation.
Theophylact · 11th century

Read all 12 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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