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JOHN 7:4 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 7:3John 7:5
“For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.”
For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, shew thyself to the world — the brothers' logic is pragmatic and worldly: if you have power, use it publicly to establish your reputation. The phrase 'seeketh to be known openly' reflects a fundamental category error about Jesus's mission. They assume messianic greatness requires public demonstration and acclaim, but Jesus's true 'showing' (revelation) comes through hiddenness, suffering, and death. The 'world' (kosmos) in John's theology cannot receive Jesus on these terms; the world seeks glory, not truth.

Church Fathers on John 7:4

As the believer in Christ would have in time to, come to hide himself from persecution, that no guilt might attach to such concealment, the Head began with doing Himself, what He sanctioned in the member; After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

Augustine · 4th century

The connection of this passage admits of much taking place in the interval previously. Judea and Galilee are divisions of the province of Palestine. Judea has its name from the tribe of Judah; but it embraces not only the territories of Judah, but of Benjamin, all of which were called Judea, because Judah was the royal tribe Galilee has its name, from the milky, i.e. white, color of its inhabitants; Galilee being Greek for milk.

Bede · 8th century

That is to say, He displayed the attribute both of divinity and humanity. He fled from His persecutors as man, He remained and appeared amongst them as God; being really both.

Chrysostom · 4th century
Read all 20 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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