Sign in
JOHN 8:52 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 8:51John 8:53
“Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.”
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil: for Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death — the authorities interpret Jesus's promise literally: if his saying prevents death, and Abraham and the prophets have died, then Jesus must be demon-possessed. They cannot grasp that Jesus speaks of spiritual death or the gift of eternal life. Their literalism prevents comprehension. The appeal to Abraham and the prophets (who have all died physically) is meant to ridicule Jesus's claim.

Church Fathers on John 8:52

As it is necessary that the good should grow better by contumely, so are the reprobate made worse by kindness On hearing our Lord’s words, the Jews again blaspheme: Then said the Jews to Him, Now we know you have a devil.

Gregory the Great · 6th century

Those who believe the Holy Scriptures, understand that what men do contrary to right reason, is not done without the operation of devils. Thus the Jews thought that Jesus had spoken by the influence of the devil, when He said, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. And this idea they labored under, because they did not know the power of God. For here He was speaking of that death of enmity to reason, by which sinners perish: whereas they understand Him of that…

Origen · 3rd century

Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? They might have said, Are you greater than God, whose words they are dead who heard? But they do not say this, because they thought Him inferior even to Abraham.

Chrysostom · 4th century · Again, they have recourse to the vainglorious argument of their descent
Read all 25 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!