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JOHN 7:15 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 7:14John 7:16
“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? — the authorities express astonishment (thaumazō) at Jesus's knowledge of letters (grammata, the Torah and its interpretation), without formal training under the rabbinical system. The phrase 'never learned' (ouk emathēsen) indicates he lacks the credentials recognized by Jewish authorities—he has no pedigree in the rabbinic schools. Yet his authority in teaching astonishes them, raising the question: where does knowledge come from if not from the institutional pipeline? This prepares for Jesus's answer about the source of his teaching.

Church Fathers on John 7:15

Our Lord delays His visit, in order to excite men’s attention, and goes up not the first day, but about the middle of the feast: Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. Those who had been searching for Him, when they saw Him thus suddenly appear would be more attentive to His teaching, both favorers and enemies; the one to admire and profit by it; the other to find an opportunity of laying hands on Him.

Chrysostom · 4th century

At the commencement of the feast, men would be attending more to the preachings of the festival itself; and afterwards would be better disposed to hear Christ.

Theophylact · 11th century

The feast seems, as far as we can judge, to have lasted several days. And therefore it is said, “about the middle of the feast day:” i.e. when as many days of that feast had passed, as were to come. So that His assertion, I go not up yet to this feast day, (i.e. to the first or second day, as you would wish me,) was strictly fulfilled. For He went up afterwards, about the middle of the feast.

Augustine · 4th century
Read all 16 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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John 7:15 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy