John 7:42 — Community Reflections

JOHN 7:42 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

Hath not the scripture said, That Christ should come of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? — the objectors cite scripture (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Micah 5:2) that the Messiah will be of David's line and born in Bethlehem. Their argument is scripturally sound but factually incomplete: Jesus is indeed of David's line and born in Bethlehem (though the Gospel of John never explicitly states his Bethlehem birth, John 1:45 mentions he is from Nazareth). The crowd's scripturally-based objection, while understandable, prevents recognition of who Jesus is. Scripture rightly understood would support his claim.

Church Fathers on John 7:42

Our Lord having invited those, who believed in Him, to drink of the Holy Spirit, a dissension arose among the multitude: Many of the people therefore, when they heart these saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Augustine · 4th century

The one, that is, who was expected. Others, i.e. the people said, This is the Christ.
Theophylact · 11th century

These had now begun to drink in that spiritual thirst, and had laid aside the unbelieving thirst. But others still remained dried up in their unbelief: But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said, That Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? They knew what were the predictions of the Prophets respecting Christ, but knew not that they all were fulfilled in Him. They knew that He had been brought up…
Alcuin · 8th century

Read all 28 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!