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JOHN 4:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 4:20John 4:22
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.”
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth; for they are the kind of worshippers the Father is looking for. — the paradox 'is coming and has now come' indicates that the eschaton has arrived in Jesus' person. True worship (aletheia) requires Spirit (pneuma) and truth: internal, authentic, Spirit-enabled response rather than external observance. The Father actively seeks (zetei) such worshippers, suggesting divine desire for genuine covenant relationship.

Church Fathers on John 4:21

The woman is not offended at Christ’s rebuke. She does not leave Him, and go away. Far from it: her admiration for Him is raised: The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that you are a Prophet: as if she said, Your knowledge of me is unaccountable, you must be a prophet.

Chrysostom · 4th century

The husband was beginning to come to her, though He had not yet fully come. She thought our Lord a prophet, and He was a prophet: for He says of Himself, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country.

Augustine · 4th century

Or thus; The Samaritans regarded Mount Gerizim, near which Jacob dwelt, as sacred, and worshipped upon it; while the sacred place of the Jews was Mount Sion, God’s own choice. The Jews being the people from whom salvation came, are the type of true believers; the Samaritans of heretics. Gerizim, which signifies division, becomes the Samaritans; Sion, which signifies watch-tower, becomes the Jews.

Origen · 3rd century
Read all 23 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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John 4:21 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy