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JOHN 7:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 7:16John 7:18
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself — Jesus establishes the criterion for recognizing true doctrine: not intellectual credentials but willingness to do God's will. The promise is remarkable: 'he shall know'—understanding is conditional on obedience. Those who genuinely commit to God's will (not merely assent intellectually) will recognize whether Jesus's teaching originates with God. This overturns the world's epistemology: the learned, credentialed authorities may be blind, while the willing may see. It also establishes that faith and obedience are inseparable.

Church Fathers on John 7:17

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 7:17 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy