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JOHN 7:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 7:15John 7:17
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”
Jesus answered them, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me — Jesus claims his teaching originates not from himself (as the authorities might assume) but from 'him that sent me,' the Father. This is not false modesty but a radical claim about the character of revelation: true teaching flows from God, not from the self or from human tradition. Jesus's authority is not his own construction or achievement but received, delegated authority. This answers the wonder of 7:15: he knows letters not through institutional training but through direct relation to God. The simplicity of the claim masks its revolutionary depth.

Church Fathers on John 7:16

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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