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JOHN 8:53 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 8:52John 8:54
“Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?”
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? — they press the question: Is Jesus claiming to be greater than Abraham? Their sarcasm is biting: Abraham, the patriarch, died; the prophets died; yet Jesus speaks as if those who follow him will transcend death. The question 'whom makest thou thyself?' (Tina seauton poieis?) demands that Jesus account for such an audacious claim. Jesus's answer (8:54-58) will indeed affirm his transcendence over all earthly figures, rooted in his eternal being.

Church Fathers on John 8:53

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
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