{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/114/1140086.htm","path":"chr/ecf/114/1140086.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/114/1140086.htm","text":"\u201cI have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me, and they have kept Thy word.\u201d\n[1.] \u201c\u2018 Messenger\u2019 of great counsel\u201d ( Isa. ix. 6 , LXX.), the Son of God is called, because of the other things which He taught, and principally because He announced the Father to men, as also now He saith, \u201cI have manifested Thy Name unto the men.\u201d For after having said, \u201cI have finished Thy work,\u201d He next explaineth it in detail, telling what sort of work. Now the Name indeed was well known. For Esaias said, \u201cYe shall swear 2320 by the true God.\u201d ( Isa. lxv. 16 .) But what I have often told you I tell you now, that though it was known, yet it was so only to Jews, and not to all of these: but now He speaketh concerning the Gentiles. Nor doth He declare this merely, but also that they knew Him as the Father. For it is not the same thing to learn that He is Creator, and that He hath a Son. But He \u201cmanifested His 2321 Name\u201d both by words and actions.\n\u201cWhom Thou gavest Me out of the world.\u201d As He saith above, \u201cNo man cometh unto Me except it be given him\u201d ( John 6.65 ); and, \u201cExcept My Father 2322 draw him\u201d ( John 6.64 ); so here too, \u201cWhom thou gavest Me.\u201d ( John 14.6 .) Now He calleth Himself \u201cthe Way\u201d; whence it is clear that He establisheth two things by what is said here, that He is not opposed to the Father, and that it is the Father\u2019s will to entrust them to the Son.\n\u201cThine they were, and Thou gavest them Me.\u201d Here He desireth to teach 2323 that He is greatly loved by the Father. For that He needed not to receive them, is clear from this, He made them, He careth for them continually. How then did He receive them? This, as I said before, showeth His unanimity with the Father. Now if a man choose to enquire into the matter in a human manner, and as the words are spoken, they 2324 will no longer belong to the Father. For if when the Father had them, the Son had them not, it is evident that when He gave them to the Son, He withdrew from His dominion over them. And again, there is a yet more unseemly conclusion; for they will be found to have been imperfect while they yet were with the Father, but to have become perfect when they came to the Son. But it is mockery even to speak thus. What then doth He declare by this? 2325 \u201cThat it hath seemed good to the Father also that they should believe on the Son.\u201d\n\u201cAnd they have kept Thy word.\u201d\nJohn 17.7 . \u201cNow they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee.\u201d\nHow did they \u201ckeep Thy word\u201d? \u201cBy believing in Me, and giving no heed to the Jews. For he that believeth in Him, it saith, \u2018hath set p. 298 to his seal that God is true.\u2019\u201d ( John 3.33 .) Some read, \u201cNow I know that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee.\u201d But this would have no reason; for how would the Son be ignorant of the things of the Father? No the words are spoken of the disciples. \u201cFrom the time,\u201d He saith, \u201cthat I told them these things, they have learnt that all that Thou hast given Me is from Thee; nothing is alien, nothing peculiar to Me, with Thee.\u201d 2326 (For whatever is peculiar, puts most things in the condition of being alien. 2327 \u201cThey therefore have known that all things, whatsoever I teach, are Thy doctrines and teachings.\u201d \u201cAnd whence have they learnt it?\u201d From My words; 2328 for so have I taught them. And not only this have I taught them, but also that \u201cI came out from Thee.\u201d For this He was anxious to prove through all the Gospel.\nJohn 17.9 . \u201cI pray for them.\u201d 2329\n\u201cWhat sayest Thou?\u201d \u201cDost Thou teach the Father, as though He were ignorant? Dost Thou speak to Him as to a man who knoweth not?\u201d \u201cWhat then meaneth this distinction?\u201d Seest thou that the prayer is for nothing else than that they may understand the love which He hath towards them? For He who not only giveth what He hath of His own, but also calleth on Another to do the same, showeth greater love. What then is, \u201cI pray for them\u201d? \u201cNot for all the world,\u201d He saith, but \u201cfor them whom Thou hast given Me.\u201d He continually putteth the \u201chast given,\u201d that they might learn that this seemeth good to the Father. Then, because He had said continually, \u201cthey are Thine,\u201d and, \u201cThou gavest them unto Me,\u201d to remove any evil suspicion, and lest any one should think that His authority was recent, and that He had but now received them, what saith He?\n[2.] John 17.10 . \u201cAll Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them.\u201d\nSeest thou the equality of honor? For lest on hearing, \u201cThou hast given them Me,\u201d thou shouldest deem that they were alienated from the authority of the Father, or before this from that of the Son, He removed both difficulties by speaking as He did. It was as though He said, \u201cDo not when thou hearest that \u2018Thou hast given them to Me,\u2019 deem that they are alienated from the Father, for what is Mine is His; nor when thou hearest, \u2018Thine they were,\u2019 think that they were aliens from Me, for what is His is Mine.\u201d So that the, \u201cThou hast given,\u201d is said only for condescension; for what the Father hath is the Son\u2019s, and what the Son hath is the Father\u2019s. But this cannot even be said of a son after the manner of man, but because They 2330 are upon a greater Equality of honor. 2331 For that what belongs to the less, belongs to the greater also, is clear to every one, but the reverse not so; but here He converteth 2332 these terms, and the conversion declares 2333 Equality. And in another place, declaring this, He said, \u201cAll things that the Father hath are Mine,\u201d speaking of knowledge. And the \u201chast given Me,\u201d and the like expressions, are to show that He did not come as an alien and draw them to Him, but received them as His own. Then He putteth the cause and the proof, saying, \u201cAnd I am glorified in them,\u201d that is, either that \u201cI have power over them,\u201d or, that \u201cthey shall glorify Me, believing in Thee and Me, and shall glorify Us alike.\u201d But if He is not glorified equally in them, what is the Father\u2019s is no longer His. For no one is glorified in those over whom he hath no authority. Yet how is He glorified equally? All die for Him equally as for the Father; they preach Him as they do the Father; and as they say that all things are done in His Name, so also in the Name of the Son.\nJohn 17.11 . \u201cAnd now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world.\u201d 2334\nThat is, \u201cAlthough I appear no longer in the flesh, yet by these am I glorified.\u201d But why doth He say continuously, that, \u201cI am not in the world\u201d; and that, \u201cbecause I leave them I commit them to Thee\u201d; and that, \u201cwhen I was in the world I kept them\u201d? for if one should take these words in their simple sense, many absurdities will follow. For how could it be reasonable to say, that He is no longer in the world, and that when He departeth He committeth them to another? since these are the words of a mere man parting from them forever. Seest thou how He speaketh for the most part like a man, and in a way adapted to their state of mind, because they thought that they had a greater degree of safety from His presence? Wherefore He saith, \u201cWhile I was with them, I kept them.\u201d ( John 14.28 .) Yet He telleth them, \u201cI come to you\u201d; and, \u201cI am with you till the end.\u201d ( Matt. xxviii. 20 .) How then 2335 saith He these words, as if about to be parted from them? He addresseth Himself, as I said before, to their thoughts, 2336 that they may take breath a little when p. 299 they hear Him speaking thus, and delivering them over to the care of the Father. For since, after hearing many exhortations from Him, they were not persuaded, He then holdeth converse with the Father, manifesting His affection for them. As though He had said, \u201cSince Thou callest Me to Thyself, place these in safety; for I come to Thee.\u201d \u201cWhat sayest Thou? Art Thou not able to keep them?\u201d \u201cYea, I am able.\u201d \u201cWherefore then speakest Thou thus?\u201d \u201cThat they may have My joy fulfilled\u201d 2337 ( John 17.13 ); that is, \u201cmay not be confounded, as being imperfect.\u201d And by these words He showed that He had spoken all these things so, to give them rest and joy. For the saying appears to be contradictory. \u201cNow I am no longer in the world, and these are in the world.\u201d This was what they were suspecting. For a while therefore He condescendeth to them, because had He said, \u201cI keep them,\u201d they would not have so well believed; wherefore He saith, \u201cHoly Father, keep them through Thine own Name\u201d; that is, \u201cby thy help.\u201d\nJohn 17.12 . \u201cWhile I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name.\u201d\nAgain He speaketh as a man and as a Prophet, since nowhere doth He appear to have done anything by the Name of God.\n\u201cThose that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.\u201d\nAnd in another place He saith, \u201cOf all that Thou gavest Me, I will surely lose nothing.\u201d 2338 ( John 6.39 .) Yet not only was he 2339 lost, but also many afterwards; how then saith He, \u201cI will in nowise lose\u201d? 2340 \u201cFor My part, I will not lose.\u201d So in another place, declaring the matter was more clearly, He said, \u201cI will in nowise cast out.\u201d ( John 6.37 .) \u201cNot through fault of Mine, not because I either instigate or abandon them; but if they start away of themselves, I draw them not by necessity.\u201d\nJohn 17.13 . \u201cBut now I come to thee.\u201d\nSeest thou that the discourse is composed rather in a human manner? So that should any wish from these words to lower the Son, he will lower the Father also. Observe, in proof of this, how from the beginning He speaketh 2341 partly as though informing and explaining to Him, partly as enjoining. Informing, as when He saith, \u201cI pray not for the world\u201d; enjoining, as, \u201cI have kept them until now,\u201d \u201cand none of them is lost\u201d; and, \u201cdo Thou therefore now keep them,\u201d He saith. And again, \u201cThine they were, and Thou hast given them unto Me\u201d and \u201cWhile I was in the world I kept them.\u201d But the solution of all is, that the words were addressed to their infirmity.\nBut after having said that \u201cnone of them was lost but the son of perdition,\u201d He added, \u201cthat the Scripture might be fulfilled.\u201d Of what Scripture doth He speak? That which foretelleth many things concerning Him. Not that He perished on that account, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But we have before spoken at length on this point, that this is the peculiar manner of Scripture, which puts things which fall out in accordance with it, as though they were caused by it. 2342 And it is needful to enquire exactly into all, both the manner of the speaker, his argument, and the laws of Scripture, if at least we are minded not to draw wrong conclusions. For, \u201cBrethren, be not children in your minds.\u201d ( 1 Cor. xiv. 20 .)\n[3.] This it is necessary to consider well, 2343 not only for the understanding the Scriptures, but also for earnestness in one\u2019s way of life. For so little children do not desire great things, but are wont to admire those which are worth nothing; they are pleased at seeing chariots, and horses, and the muleteer, and wheels, all made out of earthenware; but if they see a king sitting upon a chariot, and a pair of white mules, and great magnificence, they do not even 2344 turn their heads. And they deck out as brides dolls made of the same material, but the actual brides, real and beautiful, they do not even notice; and this is their case in many other matters. Now this many men also undergo at this time; for when they hear of heavenly things, they do not even give heed to them, but toward all the things of clay they are as eager as children, and stupidly admire the wealth which is of earth, and honor the glory and luxury of the present life. Yet these are just as much toys as those; but the other are the causes of life, and glory, and repose. But as children deprived of their playthings cry, and do not know how even to desire the realities, so also are many of those who seem to be men. Wherefore it saith, \u201cBe not children in your minds.\u201d ( 1 Cor. xiv. 20 .) Desirest thou riches, tell me, and desirest thou not the wealth that lasteth, but childish toys? If thou shouldest see a man admiring a leaden coin, and stooping to pick it up, thou wouldest pronounce his penury to be extreme; and dost thou, who collectest more worthless things than this, number thyself among the rich? How can this consist with reason? We will call him rich who despises all present things. For no one, no one will choose to laugh at these little things, silver and gold, and other things of show, unless he have the desire of greater things; just as the man would p. 300 not despise the leaden coin, 2345 unless he possessed coins of gold. Do thou, therefore, when thou seest a man running by all worldly things, deem that he doth so from no other motive than because he looks to a greater world. So the husbandman despises a few grains of wheat, when he expects a larger harvest. But if, when the hope is uncertain, we despise things which are, much more ought we to do so in a case where the expectation is sure. Wherefore I pray and beseech you not to bring loss on yourselves, nor, keeping hold of mire, rob yourselves of the treasures which are above, bringing your vessel to port laden with straw and chaff. Let each say what he will concerning us, let him be angry at our continual admonitions, let him call us silly, tedious, tiresome, still we will not desist from exhorting you on these matters continually, and from continually repeating to you that of the Prophet, \u201c\u2018Break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor\u2019 ( Dan. iv. 27 ), and bind them upon thy neck.\u201d 2346 Do not act in this way to-day, and desist to-morrow. For even this body has need of daily food; and so too hath the soul, or rather that much more; and if it give not, 2347 it becomes weaker and more vile. Let us then not neglect it when it is perishing, choking. Many wounds it receives each day, by being lustful, angry, slothful, reviling, revengeful, envious. It is therefore necessary to prepare also remedies for it, and no small remedy is that of almsgiving, which can be placed on every wound. For, \u201cGive alms,\u201d it saith, \u201cof such things as ye have, and behold all things are clean unto you.\u201d ( Luke xi. 41 .) \u201cAlms,\u201d not covetousness, for that which proceeds from covetousness endures not, though thou give to those who need. For almsgiving is that which is free from all injustice, \u201cthis\u201d makes all things clean. This is a thing better even than fasting, or lying on the ground; they may be more painful and laborious, but this more profitable. It enlightens the soul, makes it sleek, 2348 beautiful, and vigorous. Not so doth the fruit of the olive hold up the athletes, as this oil recovers the combatants of piety. Let us then anoint our hands, that we may lift them up well against our adversary. He that practiceth showing mercy to him that needeth, will soon cease from covetousness, he who continues in giving to the poor, will soon cease from anger, and will never even be high-minded. For as the physician continually tending wounded persons is easily sobered, beholding human nature in the calamities of others; so we, if we enter upon the work of aiding the poor, shall easily become truly wise, and shall not admire riches, nor deem present things any great matter, but despise them all, and soaring aloft to heaven, shall easily obtain the eternal blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.\n\u201c The Father which hath sent Me, \u201d &c., N.T.\n297:2323\n\u03b2\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03be\u03b1\u03b9 , Ben. and mss. Savile omits \u03b2\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\n297:2324 297:2325\nal. \u201c by these words then He declareth. \u201d\n298:2326\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70 \u03c3\u03bf\u03af , i.e. in the Godhead, or with God. However, one Vatican ms. and Catena favor Savile\u2019s conjecture, \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac \u03c3\u03b5 , \u201c beside Thee, \u201d since the Father is in a peculiar manner His own.\n298:2327\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u1f34\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u1f61\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u0313 \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u1ff3 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70 \u03c4\u03af\u03b8\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9 , i.e. when one thing is specified as peculiar to a person, it is implied that other things not specified do not belong to him.\n298:2328\nJohn 17.8 . \u201c For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. \u201d\n298:2329\nJohn 17.9 . \u201c I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. \u201d\n298:2330 298:2331\n\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u1f30\u03c3\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 . If this be the right reading, the sense is, that the Father and the Son are more Equal in honor than human father and son. Sav. reads \u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b6\u03bf\u03bd . Ben. \u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd , omitting \u1f30 \u03c3\n298:2332 298:2333 298:2334\n\u201c in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one as we are. \u201d N.T.\n298:2335 298:2336 299:2337\n\u201c to Thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. \u201d N.T.\n299:2338 299:2339 299:2340 299:2341 299:2342\n\u1f61 \u03c2 \u03b1\u1f30\u03c4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03af\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u1f10\u03ba \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03ba\u03b2\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\n299:2343\nor, \u201c to read (and understand), \u201d \u1f00 \u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03ce\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\n299:2344 300:2345 300:2346\nnot found in the Chald. or LXX.\n300:2347\n\u03ba\u1f02\u03bd \u03bc\u1f21 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b2\u03ac\u03bb\u1fc3 . One ms. \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u03b2\u1fc3 , \u201c if it get it not. \u201d\n300:2348","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. XIV: The Homilies of...","type":"page"}