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5 <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 60pt">10</span>
6 <p align=center><B>LECTURE I</B>
7 <BLOCKQUOTE><p>1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the
8 sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a
9 robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him
10 the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by
11 name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before
12 them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will
13 not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of
14 strangers.</BLOCKQUOTE>
15
16 <p>1364 After our Lord showed that his teaching had power to
17 enlighten, he here shows that he has power to give life. First, he shows this
18 by word; secondly, by a miracle (chap 11). Concerning the first he does three
19 things. First, he shows that he has life-giving power; secondly, his manner of
20 giving life (v 11); thirdly, he explains his power to give life (v 19). The
21 first part is divided into three parts. First, our Lord relates a parable;
22 secondly, the Evangelist mentions the necessity for explaining it (v 6);
23 thirdly, our Lord explains the parable (v 7).
24
25 <p>He relates the parable to them,
26 saying, <b>Truly, truly, I say to you</b>. It concerns two things, a thief and
27 the shepherd of the sheep. Thus he does three things. First, he mentions the
28 mark of a thief and robber; secondly, a characteristic of the shepherd (v 2);
29 thirdly, the effect each of these has (v 4).
30
31 <p>1365 To understand this parable we must consider who the
32 sheep are, namely, that they are the faithful of Christ and those in the grace
33 of God: "We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand" (Ps
34 95:7); "You, the people, are the sheep of my pasture" [Ez 34:31]. And so the
35 sheepfold is the multitude of the faithful: "I will surely gather all of you, O
36 Jacob, I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep
37 in a fold" (Mic 2:12). The door of the sheepfold is explained in different ways
38 by Chrysostom and by Augustine.
39
40 <p>1366 According to Chrysostom, Christ calls Sacred Scripture
41 the door, according to "Pray for us also that God may open to us a door for the
42 word" (Col 4:3). Sacred Scripture is called a door, as Chrysostom says, first
43 of all, because through it we have access to the knowledge of God: "which he
44 promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures" (Rom 1:2).
45 Secondly, for just as the door guards the sheep, so Sacred Scripture preserves
46 the life of the faithful: "You search the scriptures, because you think that in
47 them you have eternal life" (5:39). Thirdly, because the door keeps the wolf
48 from entering; so Sacred Scripture keeps heretics from harming the faithful:
49 "Every scripture inspired by God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof,
50 for correction" (2 Tim 3:16). So, the one who does not enter by the door is the
51 one who does not enter by Sacred Scripture to teach the people. Our Lord says
52 of such: "In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of
53 men" (Matt 15:9); "You have made void the word of God" (Matt 15:6). This, then,
54 is the mark of the thief: he does not enter by the door, but in some other way. <a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>
55
56 <p>He adds that the thief <b>climbs</b>,
57 and this is appropriate to this parable because thieves climb the walls,
58 instead of entering by the door, and drop into the sheepfold. It also corresponds
59 to the truth, because the reason why some teach what conflicts with Sacred
60 Scripture is due to pride: "If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree
61 with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords
62 with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing" (1 Tim 6:3).
63 Referring to this he says that such a person <b>climbs</b>, that is, through
64 pride. The one who <b>climbs in by another way, that man is a thief</b>,
65 because he snatches what is not his, <b>and a robber</b>, because he kills what
66 he snatches: "If thieves came to you, if plunderers by night - how you have
67 been destroyed" (Obad v 5).
68
69 <p>According to this explanation, the
70 relation with what preceded is made in this way: Since our Lord had said, "If
71 you were blind, you would have no guilt," the Jews might have answered: "We do
72 not believe you, but this is not due to our blindness. It is because of your
73 own error that we have turned away from you." And so our Lord rejects this, and
74 wishes to show that he is not in error because he enters by the door, by Sacred
75 Scripture, that is, he teaches what is contained in Sacred Scripture.
76
77 <p>1367 Against this interpretation is the fact that when our
78 Lord explains this further on, he says, <b>I am the door</b>. So it seems that
79 we should understand the door to be Christ. In answer to this, Chrysostom says
80 that in this parable our Lord refers to himself both as the door and the
81 shepherd; but this is from different points of view, because a door and a
82 shepherd are different.<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a>
83 Now aside from Christ nothing is more fittingly called a door than Sacred
84 Scripture, for the reasons given above. Therefore, Sacred Scripture is
85 fittingly called a door.
86
87 <p>1368 According to Augustine, the door is Christ, because one
88 enters through him: "After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door!" (Rev
89 4:1). Therefore, any one who enters the sheepfold should enter by the door,
90 that is, by Christ, and not by another way.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3"
91 >[3]</a>
92
93 <p>Note that both the sheep and their
94 shepherd enter into the sheepfold: the sheep in order to be secure there, and
95 the shepherd in order to guard the sheep. And so, if you wish to enter as a
96 sheep to be kept safe there, or as a shepherd to keep the people safe, you must
97 enter the sheepfold through Christ. You must not enter by any other way, as did
98 the philosophers who treated the principle virtues, and the Pharisees who
99 established the ceremonial traditions. These are neither sheep nor shepherds
100 because, as our Lord says, <b>he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door</b>,
101 i.e., does not enter by Christ, <b>but climbs in by another way, that man is a
102 thief and a robber</b>, because he destroys both himself and others. For Christ
103 and no one else is the door into the sheepfold, that is, the multitude of the
104 faithful: "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:1);
105 "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved"
106 (Acts 4:12).
107
108 <p>According to this exposition, the
109 connection with what went before is made in this way: Because they said that
110 they could see without Christ - "now that you say, 'We see'" - our Lord shows
111 that this is not true, because they do not enter by the door. Thus he says, <b>Truly,
112 truly, I say to you…</b>
113
114 <p>It should be noted that just as one
115 who does not enter by the door as a sheep cannot be kept safe, so one who
116 enters as a shepherd cannot guard the sheep unless he enters by the door,
117 namely, by Christ. This is the door through which the true shepherds have
118 entered: "And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by
119 God, just as Aaron was" (Heb 5:4). Evil shepherds do not enter by the door, but
120 by ambition and secular power and simony; and these are thieves and robbers:
121 "They set up princes, but without my knowledge," that is, without my approval
122 (Hos 8:5). Further, he says such a person <b>climbs in by another way</b>,
123 because the door, namely, Christ, since it is small through humility - "Learn
124 from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart" (Matt 11:29) - can be entered only
125 by those who imitate the humility of Christ. Therefore, those who do not enter
126 by the door but climb in by another way are the proud. They do not imitate him
127 who, although he was God, became man; and they do not recognize his lowering of
128 himself.
129
130 <p>1369 Now he considers the shepherd. First, he mentions the
131 mark of the shepherd; secondly, he shows through signs that he is the shepherd
132 (v 3).
133
134 <p>1370 The mark of the true shepherd is to enter by the door,
135 that is, by the testimony of Sacred Scripture. Thus Christ said: "Everything
136 written about me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be
137 fulfilled" (Lk 24:44). He is called a shepherd: "I am not troubled when I
138 follow you as my shepherd" [Jer 17:16]; "He rebukes and trains and teaches
139 them, and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock" (Sir 18:13).
140
141 <p>But if the door is Christ, as
142 Augustine explains it, then in entering by the door, he enters by himself.<a
143 href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a>
144 And this is special to Christ: for no one can enter the door, i.e., to
145 beatitude, except by the truth, because beatitude is nothing else than joy in
146 the truth. But Christ, as God, is the truth; therefore, as man, he enters by
147 himself, that is, by the truth, which he is as God. We, however, are not the
148 truth, but children of the light, by participating in the true and uncreated
149 light. Consequently, we have to enter by the truth which is Christ: "Sanctify
150 them in the truth" (17:17); "If any one enters by me, he will be saved" (10:9).
151 If one wishes to enter even as a shepherd, he must enter by the door, that is,
152 Christ, according to his truth, will and consent. Thus we read in Ezekiel
153 (24:23): "And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he
154 shall feed them." This is like saying: They must be given by me, and not by
155 others or themselves.
156
157 <p>1371 Now he mentions the signs of a good shepherd; and there
158 are three. The first relates to the gatekeeper, and is that the good shepherd
159 is let in by him. As to this he says, <b>to him the gatekeeper opens</b>. This
160 gatekeeper, according to Chrysostom, is the one who opens the way to a
161 knowledge of Sacred Scripture.<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5">[5]</a>
162 The first one to do this was Moses, who first received and established Sacred
163 Scripture. And Moses opened to Christ, because as was said above: "If you
164 believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me" (5:46).
165
166 <p>Or, according to Augustine, the
167 gatekeeper is Christ himself, because he brings us himself.<a href="#_ftn6"
168 name="_ftnref6">[6]</a>
169 He says, "He opens himself who reveals himself, and we enter only by his
170 grace." "For by grace you have been saved" (Eph 2:8). It does not matter if
171 Christ, who is the door, is also the gatekeeper; for certain things are
172 compatible in spiritual matters that cannot occur in physical reality. Now
173 there seems to be a greater difference between a shepherd and a door than
174 between a door and a gatekeeper. Therefore, since Christ can be called both a
175 shepherd and a door, as was said, much more so can he be called a door and a
176 gatekeeper. But if you prefer that someone other than Moses or Christ be the
177 gatekeeper, then consider the Holy Spirit the gatekeeper, as Augustine says.<a
178 href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7">[7]</a>
179 For it is the office of a gatekeeper to open the door, and it says below of the
180 Holy Spirit that "He will guide you into all the truth" (16:13). And Christ is
181 the door insofar as he is the Truth.
182
183 <p>1372 The second sign relates to the sheep, and it is that
184 they obey the shepherd. This is what he says, <b>the sheep hear his voice</b>.
185 This is reasonable if the resemblance to a natural shepherd is considered:
186 because just as sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd due to familiar
187 experience, so righteous believers hear the voice of Christ: "O that today you
188 would harken to his voice" (Ps 95:7).
189
190 <p>1373 But what of the fact that many who are Christ's sheep
191 did not hear his voice, as Paul; or that some who were not his sheep did here
192 it, as Judas? One might reply that Judas was Christ's sheep for that time as to
193 his present righteousness. And Paul, when he did not hear the voice of Christ,
194 was not a sheep but a wolf; but when the voice of Christ came it changed the
195 wolf into a sheep. This reply could be accepted if it were not contrary to a
196 statement in Ezekiel (34:4): "The crippled you have not bound up, the strayed
197 you have not brought back." It seems from this that even when they were
198 crippled and strayed they were sheep. Therefore, one must say that here our
199 Lord is speaking of his sheep not only according to their present righteousness
200 but even according to their eternal predestination. For there is a certain
201 voice of Christ that only the predestined can hear, i.e., "He who endures to
202 the end" (Matt 10:22).
203
204 <p>Again, he says, <b>the sheep hear
205 his voice</b>, because they might offer as an excuse for their unbelief the
206 fact that not only they, but none of the leaders believed in him. So he says in
207 answer to this, <b>the sheep hear his voice</b>, as if saying: They do not
208 believe because they are not my sheep.
209
210 <p>1374 The third sign is taken from the actions of the
211 shepherd. Here he mentions four actions of a good shepherd: the first being
212 that he knows his sheep. He says, <b>he calls his own sheep by name</b>, which
213 shows his knowledge of and familiarity with his sheep, for we call by name
214 those whom we know familiarly: "I know you by name" (Ex 33:17). This is part of
215 the office of a shepherd according to: "Be diligent to know the countenance of
216 your flock" [Prv 27:23]. This applies to Christ according to his present
217 knowledge, but even more so considering eternal predestination, by which he
218 knew them by name from eternity: "He determined the number of the stars, he
219 gives to all of them their names" (Ps 147:4); "The Lord knows those who are
220 his" (2 Tim 2:19).
221
222 <p>The second action of a good
223 shepherd is that he <b>leads them out</b>, i.e., he separates them from the
224 society of those who are evil: "He brought them out of darkness and gloom" (Ps
225 107:14).
226
227 <p>The third is that having separated
228 them from evil and having brought them into the sheepfold, <b>he has brought
229 out all his own</b>, from the sheepfold. He does this, first, for the salvation
230 of others: "I will send survivors to the nations" (Is 66:19); "Behold, I send
231 you as sheep in the midst of wolves" (Matt 10:16), so that they can make sheep
232 out of the wolves. Secondly, they are to show the direction and way to eternal
233 life: "To guide our feet into the way of peace" (Lk 1:79).
234
235 <p>Fourthly, the good shepherd goes
236 before his sleep by the example of a good life; so he says, <b>he goes before
237 them</b>, although this is not what the literal shepherd does, for he follows,
238 as in "I took him from following the ewes" [Ps 78:70]. But the good shepherd
239 goes before them by example, "not as domineering over those in your charge but
240 being examples to the flock" (1 Pet 5:3). And Christ does go before them: for
241 he was the first to die for the teaching of the truth - "If any man would come
242 after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matt
243 16:24); and he went before all into everlasting life - "He who opens the breach
244 will go up before them" (Mic 2:13).
245
246 <p>1375 Now he considers the effect that both the thief and the
247 shepherd have upon the sheep. First, he mentions the effect of the good
248 shepherd; secondly, the effect of the wolf and the thief (v5).
249
250 <p>1376 He says, first, that <b>the sheep follow him</b> who
251 goes before them. This is easy to see, because subjects follow in the steps of
252 their leaders, as is stated: "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
253 example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Pet 2:21); "My foot has held
254 fast to his steps" (Job 23:11). The sheep follow <b>for they know his voice</b>,
255 i.e., they know it and take delight in it: "Let me hear your voice, for your
256 voice is sweet" (Song 2:14).
257
258 <p>1377 The effect that the thief has is that the sheep do not
259 follow him for very long, but only for a time; so he says, <b>a stranger they
260 will not follow</b>, i.e., they do not follow a false and heretical teacher:
261 "The children who are strangers have lied to me" [Ps 17:46]. Thus Paul did not
262 follow false teachers for long. But <b>they will flee from him</b>, because
263 "Bad company ruins good morals" (1 Cor 15:33). They flee <b>for they do not
264 know</b>, that is, do not approve of, <b>the voice of strangers</b>, meaning
265 their teaching, which spreads stealthily like a cancer.
266 <BR><BR><BR>
267 <p align=center><B>LECTURE 2</B>
268
269 <BLOCKQUOTE><p>6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not
270 understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly,
271 truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are
272 thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the door; if any
273 one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10
274 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have
275 life, and have it abundantly."<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8"><b>[8]</b></a></BLOCKQUOTE>
276
277 <p>1378 Here the Evangelist tells why it was necessary to
278 explain the above similitude; and this necessity was caused by the failure of
279 his listeners to understand. First, he mentions the reason why they failed to
280 understand; secondly, he says they failed to understand.
281
282 <p>1379 The cause of their failure to understand was that
283 Christ was speaking in figures. The Evangelist says, <b>This figure </b>[<i>proverbium</i>]
284 <b>Jesus used with them. </b>A figure [<i>proverbium</i>], properly speaking,
285 is the use of one word in place of another, when it is intended that one word
286 be understood from its likeness to the other. This is also called a parable [<i>parabola</i>].
287 Our Lord spoke in figures, first of all, because of the wicked, in order to
288 conceal from them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: "To you it has been
289 given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in
290 parables" (Lk 8:10). Secondly, because of the good, so that his figures might
291 stir them up to make further inquiry. So, after our Lord spoke his figures or
292 parables to the crowds, his disciples questioned him in private, as mentioned
293 in Matthew (13:10) and Mark (4:10). This is the reason why Augustine says: "Our
294 Lord feeds" the believing crowds "with clear words, and stirs up" his disciples
295 "with things that are obscure."<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9">[9]</a>
296
297 <p>1380 The Evangelist discloses their failure to understand
298 when he says, <b>but they did not understand what he was saying to them</b>.
299 The ignorance which resulted from Christ's figures was both useful and harmful.
300 For the good and the just [who tried to understand them] it was useful for
301 giving praise to God; for although they did not understand, they believed and
302 praised the Lord and his wisdom which was so far above them: "It is the glory
303 of God to conceal the word" [Prv 25:2]. But for the wicked, it was a source of
304 harm, because, failing to understand, they blasphemed: "But these men revile
305 whatever they do not understand" (Jude 10). As Augustine observes, when both
306 the good and the wicked hear the words of the Gospel, and neither of them
307 understands, the good person says that what was said was true and good, but
308 that he does not understand it. Such a person is knocking and deserves to have
309 the door opened, provided he perseveres. But the wicked person says that what
310 was said had no meaning or was evil.<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10">[10]</a>
311
312
313 <p>1381 Now our Lord explains the similitude. If the above similitude
314 is examined correctly, it contains two principal clauses, followed by others.
315 The first is: "He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door…is a thief and a
316 robber." The second is: "He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the
317 sheep." Accordingly, this section is divided into two parts. First, he explains
318 the first clause; then the second clause (v 11). Concerning the first he does
319 two things: first, he explains the first clause; secondly, he proves it (v 7).
320 The first clause mentions a door, a thief and a robber; so first he explains
321 the door, then the thief and then the robber (v 8).
322
323 <p>1382 Concerning the first he says, <b>So Jesus again said to
324 them</b>, to gain their attention and have them understand the similitude: "The
325 man of understanding may acquire skill to understand a proverb and a figure"
326 (Prv 1:6). Jesus said, <b>Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door</b>. Now
327 the purpose of a door is to conduct one into the inner rooms of a house; and
328 this is fitting to Christ, for one must enter into the secrets of God through
329 him: "This is the gate of the Lord," that is, Christ, "the righteous shall
330 enter through it" (Ps 118:20). He says, <b>I am the door of the sheep</b>,
331 because through Christ not only the shepherds are brought into the present
332 Church or enter into everlasting happiness, but the sheep also. Thus he says
333 below: "My sheep hear my voice…and they follow me; and I give them eternal
334 life" (10:27).
335
336 <p>1383 Then when he says, <b>All who came before me are
337 thieves and robbers</b>, he explains what he had said about thieves and
338 robbers. First, he shows who the thieves and robbers are; secondly, their sign.
339
340 <p>1384 In regard to the first, we should avoid the error of
341 the Manicheans, who rejected the Old Testament on the ground that it says here <b>that
342 all who came before me are thieves</b>. They maintained that the fathers of the
343 Old Testament, who came before Christ, were evil and have been damned.
344
345 <p>The falsity of this view is clear
346 from three things. First, from what this parable says. For the statement, <b>all
347 who came before me</b>, is intended as a description of the previous statement,
348 which mentioned those who do not enter by the door. Therefore, <b>all who came
349 before me</b>, but not through me, that is, not entering by the door, <b>are
350 thieves and robbers</b>. It is clear that all the patriarchs and prophets, whom
351 the Christ-to-come had sent forerunners, entered by the door, i.e., Christ. For
352 although he took flesh and became man in time, he was the Word of God from all
353 eternity: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever" (Heb
354 13:8). Indeed, the prophets were sent by the Word and Wisdom of God: "In every
355 generation she," the Wisdom of God, "passes into holy souls and makes them
356 friends of God, and prophets" (Wis 7:27). Accordingly, we expressly read in the
357 prophets that the word of God came to this or that prophet, who prophesied by
358 participating in the Word of God.
359
360 <p>Secondly, the falsity of the
361 teaching of the Manicheans is seen when our Lord says, <b>all who came before
362 me</b>, implying that they were thrusting themselves forward on their own
363 authority and were not sent by God: "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran"
364 (Jer 23:21). Indeed, such prophets have not come from the Word of God: "Woe to
365 the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing" (Ez
366 13:3). But the fathers of the Old Testament were not of this type, as has been
367 said.
368
369 <p>Thirdly, this falsity is seen from
370 the fact that he shows what effect their words had, for we read, <b>but the
371 sheep did not heed them</b>. Therefore, those whom the sheep did heed were not
372 thieves and robbers. Now the people of Israel did listen to the prophets, and
373 those who did not heed them were rebuked in Sacred Scripture: "Which of the
374 prophets did not your fathers persecute?" (Acts 7:52); "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
375 killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you!" (Matt 23:37).
376
377 <p>1385 Having excluded this error, it must be said that <b>all
378 who came before me</b>, that is, independently of me, without divine
379 inspiration and authority, and not with the intention of seeking the glory of
380 God but acquiring their own, <b>are thieves</b>, insofar as they take for
381 themselves what is not theirs, that is, the authority to teach - "Your princes
382 are rebels and companions of thieves" (Is 1:23) - <b>and robbers</b>, because
383 they kill with their corrupt doctrine - "You make it a den of robbers" (Matt
384 21:13); "As robbers lie in wait for a man…they murder on the way" (Hos 6:9). <b>But
385 the sheep</b>, that is, the predestined, <b>did not heed them</b>, the thieves
386 and robbers, otherwise they would not have been Christ's sheep, because, as was
387 said before, "A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him."
388 Furthermore, this is commanded in Deuteronomy: "You shall not listen to the
389 words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams" (13:3).
390
391 <p><br>
392 1386 <b>I am the door</b>. Here he clarifies his explanation: first, of the
393 door; secondly, of the thief (v 10). Concerning the first, he does two things:
394 first, he repeats what he intends to explain; and secondly, he gives the
395 explanation (v 9).
396
397 <p>1387 He repeats what he had already said, namely, <b>I am
398 the door</b>: "If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar"
399 (Song 8:9), that is, let us grant her an incorruptible power.
400
401 <p>1388 He explains this when he says, <b>if any one enters by
402 me, he will be saved</b>. First, he shows that the purpose of a door, which is
403 to keep the sheep safe, applies to himself; secondly, he mentions the manner in
404 which they are kept safe (v 9b).
405
406 <p>1389 The door safeguards the sheep by keeping those within
407 from going out, and by protecting them from strangers who want to come in. And
408 this applies to Christ, for he is our safeguard and protection. And this is
409 what he says: <b>if any one</b>, not with insincerity, <b>enters</b>, into the
410 fellowship of the Church and of the faithful, <b>by me, the door, he will be
411 saved</b>, i.e., if he perseveres: "For there is no other name under heaven
412 given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12); "We shall be saved by
413 his life" (Rom 5:10).
414
415 <p>1390 The way the sheep are safeguarded is set forth when he
416 says that <b>he will go in and out and find pasture</b>. This statement can be
417 explained in four ways. First of all, according to Chrysostom, it simply
418 affirms the security and freedom of those who cling to Christ.<a href="#_ftn11"
419 name="_ftnref11">[11]</a>
420 For one who enters some other way than by the door does not have free entry and
421 exit; but one who does enter by the door has free exit, because he can leave
422 freely. Therefore, when he says, <b>he will go in and out</b>, the meaning is
423 that the Apostles adhering to Christ enter with security by living with the
424 faithful, who are within the Church, and with unbelievers who are outside, when
425 they became masters of the whole world and no one wished to cast them out: "Let
426 the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh appoint a man over the
427 congregation, who shall go out before them and come in before them…that the
428 congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd" (Num
429 27:16). <b>And find pasture</b>, find delight in converting others, and find
430 joy even when persecuted by unbelievers for the name of Christ: "Then they left
431 the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
432 dishonor for the name," as we read in Acts (5:41).
433
434 <p>1391 Secondly, this can be explained as Augustine does in
435 his <i>Commentary on John</i>.<a href="#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12">[12]</a>
436 Two things are incumbent upon anyone who acts well, namely to be well-ordered
437 to the things that are within him, and to those that are without. Within a
438 person is the spirit, and without is the body: "Though our outer nature is
439 wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day" (2 Cor 4:16).
440 Therefore, a person who clings to Christ <b>will go in</b> through<b> </b>contemplation,
441 to protect his conscience - "When I enter my house," i.e., my conscience, "I
442 shall find rest with her," i.e., with wisdom (Wis 8:16) - <b>and out</b>,
443 namely, by good actions, to tame the body - "Man goes forth to his work and to
444 his labor until the evening" (Ps 104:23) - <b>and find pasture</b>, in a clean
445 and sincere conscience - "I will appear before your sight: I will be satisfied
446 when your glory appears" [Ps 16:15]. Again, by his actions he will <b>find
447 pasture</b>, i.e., fruit - "He shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his
448 sheaves with him" (Ps 126:6).
449
450 <p class=MsoHeader>&nbsp;
451
452 <p>1392 The third explanation is also Augustine's as well as
453 that given by Gregory in his <i>Commentary on Ezekiel</i>.<a href="#_ftn13"
454 name="_ftnref13">[13]</a>
455 The meaning, then, is this. Such a one <b>will go in</b>, i.e., into the
456 Church, by believing - "I shall go over into the place of the wonderful
457 tabernacle" [Ps 41:5], and this is to enter the Church Militant; <b>and out</b>,
458 from the Church Militant into the Church Triumphant - "Go forth, O daughters of
459 Zion, and behold King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him
460 on the day of the wedding" (Song 3:11); <b>and find pasture</b>, that is, the
461 pastures of doctrine and grace in the Church Militant - "He makes me lie down
462 in green pastures"; and the pastures of glory in the Church Triumphant: "I will
463 feed them with good pasture" (Ez 34:14).
464
465 <p>1393 Fourthly, there is an explanation found in the work, <i>On
466 the Spirit and the Soul</i>, which has been incorrectly attributed to
467 Augustine.<a href="#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14">[14]</a>
468 Here it is said that such a one <b>will go in</b>, that is, the saints will go
469 in to contemplate the divinity of Christ, <b>and out</b>, to consider his
470 humanity; and they will <b>find pasture</b> in both, because in both they will
471 taste the joys of contemplation: "Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty"
472 (Is 33:17).
473
474 <p>1394 Now he considers the thief. First, he mentions the mark
475 of the thief; secondly, he says that he himself has the opposite
476 characteristic, <b>I came that they may have life</b>.
477
478 <p>1395 He says that those who do not enter by the door, i.e.,
479 those who have come independently of me, are thieves and robbers; and they are
480 evil. For in the first place, <b>the thief comes only to steal</b>, i.e., to
481 usurp what is not his; these are the agitators and heretics, who fasten on to
482 those who belong to Christ: "He lies in ambush to catch the ones who are poor"
483 [Ps 9:4]. Secondly, the thief comes to kill, and he kills by bringing in
484 perverse teachings and evil practices: "As robbers lie in wait for a man…they
485 murder on the way" (Hos 6:9). Thirdly, the thief comes to <b>destroy</b>, by casting
486 into everlasting destruction: "My people have been lost sheep" (Jer 50:6). But
487 these traits are not in me.
488
489 <p>1396 <b>I came that they may have life. </b>This is like
490 saying: The above have not come in by me, otherwise they would do as I do. But
491 they do the contrary, because they steal, and kill and destroy. <b>I came that
492 they may have life</b>, that is, the life of righteousness, by entering into
493 the Church Militant through faith: "My righteous one shall live by faith" (Heb
494 10:38). We read of this life in 1 John (3:14) that "We know that we have passed
495 out of death into life, because we love the brethren." <b>And have it
496 abundantly</b>, that is, have eternal life, when they leave the body. We read
497 below of this life: "This is eternal life, that they know thee the only true
498 God" (17:3).
499 <BR><BR><BR>
500 <p align=center><B>LECTURE 3</B>
501
502 <BLOCKQUOTE><p>11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down
503 his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own
504 the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the
505 wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling and
506 cares nothing for the sheep."<a href="#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15"><b>[15]</b></a></BLOCKQUOTE>
507
508 <p>1397 Here he explains the second clause of the parable, "he
509 who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep" (10:2). First, he gives
510 the explanation; secondly, he makes it clear (v 14). First, he explains that he
511 is the good shepherd; secondly, he states the office of a good shepherd (v
512 11b); thirdly, he shows that the opposite is found in an evil shepherd (v 12).
513
514 <p>1398 He says, in regard to the first, <b>I am the good
515 shepherd</b>. That Christ is a shepherd is clear enough, for as a flock is led
516 and fed by the shepherd, so the faithful are nourished by Christ with spiritual
517 food, and even with his own body and blood: "For you were straying like sheep,
518 but now have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls" (1 Pet 2:25);
519 "He will feed his flock like a shepherd" (Is 40:11). To distinguish himself
520 from an evil shepherd and thief, he adds, <b>good</b>. Good, I say, because he
521 fulfills the office of a shepherd, just as a soldier is called good who
522 fulfills the office of a soldier. But since Christ had said above that the
523 shepherd enters by the door, and here he says that he is the shepherd, and
524 before he said he was the door (v 9), then he must enter through himself. And
525 he does enter through himself, because he manifests himself and through himself
526 knows the Father. We, however, enter through him, because it is by him that we
527 are led to happiness.
528
529 <p>Note that only he is the door,
530 because no one else is the true light, but only shares in the light: "He," John
531 the Baptizer, "was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light" (1:8).
532 But we read of Christ that "He was the true light, which enlightens every man"
533 [1:9]. Therefore, no one else refers to himself as a door; Christ reserved this
534 for himself. But being a shepherd he did share with others, and conferred it on
535 his members: for Peter was a shepherd, and the other apostles were shepherds,
536 as well as all good bishops: "I will give you shepherds after my own heart"
537 (Jer 3:15). Now, although the Church's rulers, who are her children, are all
538 shepherds, as Augustine says, yet he expressly says, <b>I am the good shepherd</b>,
539 in order to emphasize the virtue of charity.<a href="#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16"
540 >[16]</a>
541 For no one is a good shepherd unless he has become one with Christ by love, and
542 has become a member of the true shepherd.
543
544 <p>1399 The office of a good shepherd is charity; thus he says,
545 <b>the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep</b>. It should be noted
546 that there is a difference between a good shepherd and an evil one: the good
547 shepherd is intent upon the welfare of the flock, but the evil one is intent
548 upon his own. This difference is touched upon by Ezekiel (34:2): "Ho, shepherds
549 of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?"
550 Therefore, one who uses the flock only to feed himself is not a good shepherd.
551 From this it follows that an evil shepherd, even over animals, is not willing
552 to sustain any loss for the flock, since he does not intend the welfare of the
553 flock, but his own. But a good shepherd, even over animals, endures many things
554 for the flock whose welfare he has at heart. Thus Jacob said in Genesis
555 (31:40): "By day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night." However, when
556 dealing with mere animals it is not necessary that a good shepherd expose
557 himself to death for the safety of the flock. But because the spiritual safety
558 of the human flock outweighs the bodily life of the shepherd, when danger
559 threatens the safety of the flock the spiritual shepherd ought to suffer the
560 loss of his bodily life for the safety of the flock. This is what our Lord
561 says, <b>the good shepherd lays down his life</b>, i.e., his bodily life, <b>for
562 the sheep</b>, the sheep who are his by authority and charity. Both are
563 required, for they must belong to him and he must love them; the first without
564 the second is not enough. Furthermore, Christ has given us an example of this
565 teaching: "He laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for
566 the brethren" (1 Jn 3:16).
567
568 <p>1400 Now he considers the evil shepherd, showing that he
569 possesses characteristics contrary to those of the good shepherd. First, he
570 mentions the marks of an evil shepherd; secondly, he shows how these marks
571 follow one another (v 12). Concerning the first he does two things: first, he
572 gives the marks of an evil shepherd; secondly, he mentions the danger which
573 threatens the flock because of an evil shepherd: <b>the wolf snatches them and
574 scatters them.</b>
575
576 <p>1401 Note that from what has been said about the good and
577 evil shepherd, there are three differences in their traits: first in their
578 intentions; secondly, in their solicitude; and thirdly in their affections.
579
580 <p>1402 First, they differ in their intentions, and this is
581 implied by their very names. For the first is called a good shepherd, and this
582 implies that he intends to feed the flock: "Should not shepherds feed the
583 sheep?" (Ez 34:2). But the other one, the evil shepherd, is called a hireling,
584 as though he were intent on his wages. Thus they differ in this: the good
585 shepherd looks to the benefit of the flock, while the hireling seeks mainly his
586 own advantage. This is also the difference between a king and a tyrant, as the
587 Philosopher says, because when a king rules he intends to benefit his subjects,
588 while a tyrant seeks his own interest.<a href="#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17"
589 >[17]</a>
590 So a tyrant is like a hireling: "If it seems right to you, give me my wages"
591 (Zech 11:12).
592
593 <p>1403 But may not even good shepherds seek a wage? It seems
594 so, for "Reward those who wait for thee" (Si 36:16); "The Lord God comes…his
595 reward is with him" (Is 40:10); "How many of my father's hired servants have
596 bread enough and to spare!" (Lk 15:17).
597
598 <p>I answer that wages can be taken in
599 a general sense and in a proper sense. In a general sense, a wage is anything
600 conferred by reason of merits. And because everlasting life, which is God -
601 "This is true God and eternal life" (1 Jn 5:20) - is conferred by reason of
602 merits, everlasting life is said to be a wage. And this is a wage that every
603 good shepherd can and should seek. In the strict sense, however, a wage is different
604 from an inheritance, and a wage is not sought after by a true child, who is
605 entitled to the inheritance. A wage is sought after by servants and hirelings.
606 Thus, since everlasting life is our inheritance, any one who works with an eye
607 towards it is working as a child; but any one who aims at something different
608 (for example, one who longs for worldly gain, or takes delight in the honor of
609 being a prelate) is a hireling.
610
611 <p>1404 Secondly, they differ in their solicitude. We read of
612 the good shepherd that the sheep are his own, not only as a trust, but also by
613 love and solicitude: "I hold you in my heart" (Phil 1:7). On the other hand, it
614 is said of the hireling, <b>whose own the sheep are not</b>, i.e., the hireling
615 has no care for them: "My shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the
616 shepherds have fed themselves" (Ez 34:8).
617
618 <p>1405 Thirdly, they differ in their affections. For the good
619 shepherd, who loves his flock, <b>lays down his life </b>for it, i.e., he
620 exposes himself to dangers that affect his bodily life. But the evil shepherd,
621 because he has no love for the flock, flees when he sees the wolf. Thus he
622 says, <b>he sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees</b>. Here, the
623 wolf is understood in three ways. First, for the devil as tempting: "What
624 fellowship has a wolf with a lamb? No more has a sinner with a godly man" (Si
625 13:17). Secondly, it stands for the heretic who destroys: "beware of false
626 prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous
627 wolves" (Matt 7:15); "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in
628 among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). Thirdly, it stands for the
629 raging tyrant: "Her princes in the midst of her are like wolves" (Ez 22:27).
630 Therefore, the good shepherd must guard the flock against these three wolves,
631 so that when he sees the wolf, i.e., the devil tempting, the deceiving heretic
632 and the raging tyrant, he can oppose him. Against those who do not, we read,
633 "You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of
634 Israel" (Ez 13:5).
635
636 <p>Accordingly, we read of the evil
637 shepherd that he <b>leaves the sheep and flees</b>: "Woe to my worthless
638 shepherd, who deserts the flock" (Zech 11:17). As if to say: You are not a
639 shepherd, but only appear to be one: "Even her hired soldiers in her midst are
640 like fatted calves; yea, they have turned and fled together, they do not stand"
641 (Jer 46:21).
642
643 <p>1406 But in Matthew (10:23) we find the contrary: "When they
644 persecute you in one town, flee to the next." Therefore, it seems to be lawful
645 for a shepherd to flee. I reply that there are two answers to this. One is that
646 given by Augustine in his <i>Commentary on John</i>.<a href="#_ftn18"
647 name="_ftnref18">[18]</a>
648 There are two kinds of flight: that of the soul and that of the body. When we
649 read here, he <b>leaves the sheep and flees</b>, we can understand it to mean the
650 flight of the soul: for when an evil shepherd fears personal danger from a
651 wolf, he does not dare to resist his injustices but flees, not by running away,
652 but by withdrawing his encouragement, refusing to care for his flock.
653
654 <p>This should be the explanation when
655 considering the first kind of wolf [the tempting devil], because it is not
656 necessary to physically flee from the devil.
657
658 <p>But since sometimes a shepherd does
659 flee physically because of certain wolves, such as powerful heretics and
660 tyrants, another answer must be given, as found in Augustine's <i>Letter to
661 Honoratus</i>.<a href="#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19">[19]</a>
662 As he says, it seems lawful to flee, even physically, from the wolves, not only
663 because of the authority of our Lord, as cited above, but because of the
664 example of certain saints, as Athanasius and others, who fled from their
665 persecutors. For what is censured is not the flight itself, but the neglect of
666 the flock; so, if the shepherd could flee without abandoning his flock, it
667 would not be blameworthy. Sometimes it is the prelate himself who is the one
668 sought, and at other times, it is the entire flock. It is obvious that if the
669 prelate alone is sought, others can be assigned to guard the flock in his
670 territory, and console and govern the flock in his place. So if he flees under
671 these circumstances, he is not said to leave the sheep. In this way, it is
672 lawful to flee in certain cases. But if the whole flock is sought, then either
673 all the shepherds should be with the people, or some should remain while the
674 others leave. But if all desert the flock, then these words apply, <b>he sees
675 the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees</b>.
676
677 <p>1407 Here he mentions the twofold danger that threatens. One
678 is the ravaging of the sheep; so he says, <b>and the wolf snatches them</b>,
679 i.e., takes for himself what belongs to another, for the faithful are Christ's
680 sheep. Therefore, leaders of sects and wolves snatch the sheep when they entice
681 Christ's faithful to their own teachings: "My sheep have become food for all
682 the wild beasts" (Ez 34:8). The other danger is that the sheep be scattered; so
683 he says, <b>and scatters them</b>, insofar as some are led astray and others
684 persevere: "My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none
685 to search or seek for them" (Ez 34:6).
686
687 <p>1408 Now he shows how the above-mentioned marks are related,
688 for the third follows from the first two. Since the evil shepherd seeks his own
689 advantage and has no love or solicitude for the flock, it follows that he is
690 not willing to endure any inconvenience for them. Thus he says of the hireling,
691 <b>he flees</b>, for this reason, <b>because he is a hireling</b>, that is, he
692 seeks his own advantage, which is the first mark; <b>and cares nothing for the
693 sheep</b>, i.e., he does not love them, and is not solicitous for them, which
694 is the second mark. So we read in Job (39:16) about the evil shepherd: "She
695 deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers." The opposite is true
696 of the good shepherd, for he seeks the welfare of his flock, and not his own:
697 "Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit"
698 (Phil 4:17). Furthermore, he is concerned for his sheep, that is, he loves them
699 and is solicitous for them: "I hold you in my heart" (Phil 1:7).
700 <BR><BR><BR>
701 <p align=center><B>LECTURE 4</B>
702
703 <BLOCKQUOTE><p>14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know
704 me, 15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for
705 the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring
706 them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one
707 shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life,
708 that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my
709 own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again;
710 this charge I have received from my Father."<a href="#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20"
711 ><b>[20]</b></a></BLOCKQUOTE>
712
713 <p>1409 Here our Lord proves his explanation. First, he
714 restates what he intends to prove; secondly, he gives the proof, <b>I know my
715 own</b>…(v 14b); and thirdly, he amplifies on it (v 17).
716
717 <p>1410 He says, <b>I am the good shepherd</b>, which has been
718 explained above: "As a shepherd seeks out his flock…so will I seek out my
719 sheep" (Ez 34:12).
720
721 <p>1411 Then he says, <b>I know my own</b>, he proves what he
722 says. Now he says two things about himself, that he is a shepherd, and that he
723 is good. First, he proves that he is a shepherd; secondly, that he is a good
724 shepherd.
725
726 <p>1412 He proves he is a shepherd by the two signs of a
727 shepherd already mentioned. The first of these is that he calls his own sheep
728 by name. Concerning this he says, <b>I know my own</b>: "The Lord knows those
729 who are his" (2 Tim 2:19). <b>I know</b>, I say, not just with mere knowledge
730 only, but with a knowledge joined with approval and love: "To him who loves us
731 and has freed us from our sins" (Rev 1:5). The second sign is that the sheep
732 hear his voice and know him. And concerning this he says, <b>and my own know
733 me. My own</b>, I say, by predestination, by vocation and by grace. This is
734 like saying: They love me and obey me. Thus, we must understand that they have
735 a loving knowledge about which we read: "They shall all know me, from the least
736 of them to the greatest" (Jer 31:34).
737
738 <p>1413 He shows that he is a good shepherd by mentioning that
739 he has the office of a good shepherd, which is to lay down his life for his
740 sheep. First, he shows the reason for this; secondly, he gives a sign of it;
741 and thirdly, he shows the fruit of his sign.
742
743 <p>1414 The reason for this sign, that is, of his laying down
744 his life for his sheep, is the knowledge he has of the Father. Concerning this
745 he says, <b>as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my
746 life for the sheep</b>. This statement can be explained in two ways. In one
747 way, so that "as" indicates just a similarity in knowledge; and taken this way,
748 such knowledge can be given to a creature: "I shall know even as I am known" [1
749 Cor 13:12], i.e., <i>as </i>I am known without obscurity, so I will know
750 without obscurity. In another way, the "as" implies an equality of knowledge.
751 And then to know the Father as he is known by him is proper to the Son alone,
752 because only the Son knows the Father comprehensively, just as the Father knows
753 the Son comprehensively: "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one
754 knows the Father except the Son" (Matt 11:27), that is, with a comprehensive
755 knowledge. Our Lord says this because in knowing the Father, he knows the will
756 of the Father that the Son should die for the salvation of the human race. He
757 is also saying here that he is the mediator between God and man. For as he is
758 related to the sheep as known by them and as knowing them, so also he is
759 related to the Father, because as the Father knows him, so he knows the Father.
760
761 <p>1415 Then when he says, <b>and I lay down my life for the
762 sheep</b>, he gives the sign: "By this we know love, that he laid down his life
763 for us" (1 Jn 3:16). But since there are three substances in Christ, namely the
764 substance of the Word, of the soul, and of the body, one might ask who is
765 speaking when he says, <b>I lay down my life</b> ["my life" can also be
766 literally translated as "my soul"]. If you say that the Word is speaking here,
767 it is not true, because the Word never laid down his soul, since He was never
768 separated from his soul. If you say that the soul is speaking, this too seems
769 impossible, because nothing is separated from itself. And if you say that
770 Christ says this referring to his body, it does not seem to be so, because his
771 body does not have the power to take up its soul. Therefore, one must say that
772 when Christ died, his soul was separated from his flesh, otherwise Christ would
773 not have been truly dead. But in Christ, his divinity was never separated from
774 his soul or his flesh; but was united to his soul, as it descended to the lower
775 world, and to his body, as it lay in the tomb. And therefore, his body, by the
776 power of his divinity, laid down his soul [or life] by the power of his
777 divinity, and took it up again.<a href="#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21">[21]</a>
778
779 <p>1416 Then when he says, <b>and I have other sheep</b>, he
780 sets down the fruit of Christ's death, which is the salvation not only of the
781 Jews but of the Gentiles as well. For since he had said, "I lay down my life
782 for the sheep," the Jews, who regarded themselves as God's sheep - "We thy
783 people, the flock of thy pasture" (Ps 79:13) - could have said that he laid
784 down his life for them alone. But our Lord adds that it is not only for them,
785 but for others too: "He prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and
786 not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are
787 scattered abroad" (11:51).
788
789 <p>1417 In regard to this fruit our Lord does three things.
790 First, he mentions the predestination of the Gentiles; secondly, their vocation
791 through grace; and thirdly their justification.
792
793 <p>As to the first he says, <b>and I
794 have other sheep</b>, that is, the Gentiles, <b>that are not of this fold, </b>i.e.,
795 of the family of the flesh of Israel, which was in a way a flock: "I will
796 surely gather all of you, O Jacob" (Mic 2:12). For as sheep are enclosed in a
797 fold, so the Jews were kept enclosed within the precepts of the Law, as we read
798 in Galatians (c 3). These other sheep, I say, that is, the Gentiles, I have
799 from my Father through an eternal predestination: "Ask of me, and I will make
800 the nations your heritage" (Ps 2:8); "I will give you as a light to the
801 nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Is 49:6).
802
803 <p>1418 As to the second he says, <b>I must bring them also</b>,
804 i.e., according to the plans of divine predestination it is time to call them
805 to grace.
806
807 <p>This seems to conflict with what
808 our Lord says in Matthew (15:24): "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the
809 house of Israel." I answer that Jesus was sent only to the sheep of the house
810 of Israel in the sense of preaching to them personally, as we read in Romans
811 (15:8): "Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness,
812 in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs." It was through the
813 apostles that he brought in the Gentiles: "From them I will send survivors to
814 the nations" (Is 66:19).
815
816 <p>1419 In regard to the third he says, <b>and they will heed
817 my voice</b>. Here he mentions three things necessary for righteousness in the
818 Christian religion. The first is obedience to the commandments of God.
819 Concerning this he says, <b>and they will heed my voice</b>, i.e., they will
820 observe my commandments: "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
821 you" (Matt 28:20); "People whom I had not known," i.e., whom I did not approve,
822 served me. As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me" (Ps 18:43).
823
824 <p>The second is the unity of charity,
825 and concerning this he says, <b>so there shall be one flock</b>, i.e., one
826 Church of the faithful from the two peoples, the Jews and the Gentiles: "One
827 faith" (Eph 4:5); "For he is our peace, who has made us both one" (Eph 2:14).
828
829 <p>The third is the unity of faith,
830 and in regard to this he says, <b>one shepherd</b>: "They shall all have one
831 shepherd," that is, the Jews and the Gentiles (Ez 37:24).
832
833 <p>1420 Now our Lord explains his proof: first, he amplifies on
834 the reason for the sign [his death for his sheep]; secondly, he explains the
835 sign, or the effect (v 18); thirdly, he shows that the reason is appropriate (v
836 18b).
837
838 <p>1421 Our Lord says that the reason for his death is the
839 knowledge he has of the Father, saying, "as the Father knows me and I know the
840 Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep." In explaining this he says, <b>for
841 this reason the Father loves me</b>. From this it is clear that the Father
842 knows him with a knowledge joined with approval, <b>for this reason</b>, I say,
843 <b>because I lay down my life, that I may take it again</b>.
844
845 <p>1422 But is it true that his death is the cause of the
846 Father's love? It seems not, because something temporal is not the cause of
847 something eternal. But Christ's death is in the temporal order, while the love
848 of God for Christ is eternal. I answer that Christ is speaking here of the
849 Father's love for him as having a human nature. Accordingly, this passage can
850 be understood in three ways. In one way, so that <b>because </b>indicates a
851 cause, while in the other way it indicates the term or sign of love.
852
853 <p>If it is taken casually, then the
854 meaning is: <b>because I lay down my life</b>, i.e., endure death, <b>for this
855 reason the Father loves me</b>, that is, he grants me the effect of his love,
856 which is the glory and exaltation of my body: "He humbled himself and became
857 obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted
858 him and bestowed on him a name which is above every name" (Phil 2:8).
859
860 <p>But one might object to this that
861 good works cannot merit the divine love. For since our works are meritorious to
862 the extent that they are given life by charity - "If I give away all I have…but
863 have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Cor 13:3) - and since God is the first to
864 love - "In this is love, not that we love God but that he first loved us" [1 Jn
865 4:10] - it is clear that his love precedes all our merit. This can be answered
866 by saying that no one can merit God's love; nevertheless, we can merit by our
867 good works the effect of God's love, that is, an increase of grace and the
868 reception of the good of glory, both of which God bestows on us because of his
869 love. Thus we can say that for this reason God loves this or that person, that
870 is, bestows on him the effect of his love, because he obeys his commandments.
871 And so we can say about Christ as man, that for this reason the Father loves
872 him, that is, has exalted him and given him the brightness of glory, because he
873 laid down his life in death.
874
875 <p>But if <b>because </b>indicates a
876 sign of love, then he meaning is this: <b>for this reason the Father loves me,
877 because I lay down my life</b>, as if to say: This is a sign that the Father
878 loves me, <b>because I lay down my life, that I may take it again</b>, that is,
879 I fulfill his commands and will and endure death. For an obvious sign of love
880 is that a person, out of charity, fulfills the commands of God.<a href="#_ftn22"
881 name="_ftnref22">[22]</a>
882
883 <p>1423 Now he explains the effect of the sign. And since the
884 sign was "I lay down my life for the sheep," he explains how he lays it down.
885 First, he excludes violence; secondly, he speaks of his power.
886
887 <p>1424 The violence he excludes is that which could be
888 employed in taking a life: such violence was not accomplished in Christ.
889 Concerning this he says, <b>no one takes it from me</b>, that is, my life, by
890 violence, <b>but I lay it down</b>, by my own power, that is, <b>of my own
891 accord</b>: "Can the prey be taken from the mighty?" (Is 49:24).
892
893 <p>But did not the Jews use violence
894 against Christ? They did insofar as it was in them; but this violence was not
895 in Christ because he laid down his life voluntarily, when he willed. Thus we
896 read above (7:30) that the Jews wanted to arrest him but were unable "because
897 his hour had not yet come." It was voluntary "not as though he was forced to
898 die, but he condescended to be killed," <a
899 href="#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23">[23]</a>
900 as Augustine says.
901
902 <p>1425 He adds something about his power when he says, <b>I
903 have power to lay it down</b>. Apropos of this it should be noted that since
904 the union of the soul and body is natural, their separation is natural. And
905 although the cause of this separation and death can be voluntary, yet among
906 human beings death is always natural. Now nature is not subject to the will of
907 any mere human, since nature, as well as the will, are from God. Therefore, the
908 death of any mere human person must be natural. But in Christ, his own nature
909 and every other nature are subject to his will, just like artifacts are subject
910 to the will of the artisan. Thus, according to the pleasure of his will, he
911 could lay down his life when he willed, and he could take it up again; no mere
912 human being can do this, although he could voluntarily use some instrument to
913 kill himself. This explains why the centurion, seeing that Christ did not die
914 by a natural necessity, but by his own [will] - since "Jesus cried again with a
915 loud voice and yielded up his spirit" (Matt 27:50) - recognized a divine power
916 in him, and said: "Truly, this was the Son of God" (Matt 27:54). Again, the
917 Apostle says in 1 Corinthians (1:18): "For the word of the cross is folly to
918 those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,"
919 that is, his great power was revealed in the very death of Christ.<a
920 href="#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24">[24]</a>
921
922 <p>1426 Here he shows that the above-mentioned reason is
923 appropriate, for to fulfill a command shows love for the one commanding. Thus
924 he says, <b>this charge I have received from my Father</b>, that is, to lay
925 down my life and take it up again: "If a man loves me, he will keep my word,
926 and my Father will love him" (14:23).
927 <BR><BR><BR>
928 <p align=center><B>LECTURE 5</B>
929 <BLOCKQUOTE><p>19 There was again a division among the Jews because of
930 these words. 20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and he is mad; why listen
931 to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the sayings of one who has a demon. Can
932 a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 22 It was the feast of the Dedication at
933 Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the
934 portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How
935 long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25
936 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do
937 in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; 26 but you do not believe,
938 because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know
939 them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never
940 perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has
941 given to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the
942 Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."<a href="#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25"
943 ><b>[25]</b></a></BLOCKQUOTE>
944
945 <p>1427 After showing that he has power to give life and
946 showing his manner of doing so, our Lord here shows how this power to give life
947 belongs to him. First, the Evangelist mentions the dispute which arose among
948 the crowd on his point; secondly, he gives the discussion between the Jewish
949 leaders and Christ (v 22). Concerning the first he does three things. First, he
950 mentions the dispute within the crowd; secondly, he gives the opinion of one
951 side; and then states the reasonable position of the other side.
952
953 <p>1428 The dispute arose within the crowd which was listening
954 to Christ because of what he said. The Evangelist says, <b>There was again a
955 division among the Jews because of these words</b>. Since some of them
956 understood his words correctly, and others did not, they argued among
957 themselves: "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword," that is, the sword
958 of gospel teaching, which some believed and others deny (Matt 10:34). "He pours
959 contempt upon princes" (Ps 107:40).
960
961 <p>1429 The opinion of one party to the argument was false.
962 About this he says, <b>Many of them said</b>…He says, <b>Many</b>, because as
963 we read in Ecclesiastes [1:15]: "The number of fools is infinite." They said, <b>He
964 has a demon, and he is mad</b>, for it is the habit of the foolish to always
965 give an evil interpretation to matters about which they are in doubt; whereas
966 the opposite should be done. Thus they revile whatever they do not know, as we
967 read in the letter of Jude. And so because they were incapable of understanding
968 our Lord's words - for "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did
969 not comprehend it" [1:5] -they blasphemed, saying, <b>he has a demon, and he is
970 mad</b>. And they try to turn others away from him, saying <b>Why listen to
971 him?</b>
972
973 <p>These blasphemers accuse Christ of
974 two things. First, that he has a demon. As if to say: He is not speaking due to
975 the Holy Spirit, but from a wicked spirit. Something similar is found in Acts
976 about Paul: "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities [demons]" (17:18).
977 Now the fact is that a person who has his own and familiar demon is always
978 spiritually mad, but not always mad in a bodily way. But some can be possessed
979 by a demon, and these are always mad even in a bodily way. Thus it was said of
980 Christ "He has become mad" (Mk 3:21). Secondly, to show that Christ has a demon
981 in this way, they say, <b>and he is mad</b>. "Your great learning is turning
982 you mad" (Acts 26:24). Yet their blasphemy is not surprising, because they are
983 sensual and, as we read in 1 Corinthians [2:14]: "The sensual person does not
984 perceive those things that pertain to the Spirit of God."
985
986 <p>1430 This opinion is refuted by the statements of the other
987 side, and this is in two ways. First, by the profundity of Christ's words. Thus
988 he says, <b>Others</b>, that is, those who rightly understood, <b>said, These
989 are not the sayings of one who has a demon</b>. This was like saying: It is
990 clear from what he is saying that he is not mad, because his words are orderly
991 and profound: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"
992 (6:69). And Paul says, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking
993 the sober truth" (Acts 26:25). Secondly, this opinion is refuted by the
994 greatness of the miracle worked by Christ. Thus they say,<b> Can a demon open
995 the eyes of the blind? </b>This means: Was not this one of the greatest of
996 miracles? They were correct in believing that it could be performed only by the
997 power of God: "If this man were not from God, he could do nothing" (9:33).
998
999 <p>1431 It should be noted that there are certain "miracles"
1000 which can be performed by the power of demons and angels, and there are others
1001 which in no way can be accomplished by their power. Those things which are
1002 above the order of nature no creature whatever can perform by its own power,
1003 since the creature itself is subject to the laws of nature. God alone, who is
1004 above nature, can act above the order of nature. Therefore, whatever any
1005 creature performs must remain within the order of nature, an angel, either good
1006 or wicked, is able to do, when it is permitted. Thus, by using the seeds which
1007 in natural things are ordered to the generation of certain animals, they are
1008 able to effect the generation of these animals, as Pharaoh's magicians did (Ex
1009 7:11). Again, they can produce changes affecting the nature of a thing; thus,
1010 they can heal the sick who could be helped by the power of nature.
1011
1012 <p>But things that absolutely
1013 transcend the order of nature can be performed by God alone, or by good angels
1014 and saintly men through God's power, which they obtain through prayer. Such
1015 would be the conferring of sight on the blind and the raising of the dead; for
1016 the power of nature cannot extend to the restoring of sight or to the raising
1017 of the dead. Consequently, a demon cannot open the eyes of a blind man or raise
1018 the dead, because this is done by God alone, and by the saints through the
1019 power of God.
1020
1021 <p>1432 Here we see the dispute which the Jewish leaders
1022 initiated with Christ. First, the Evangelist gives the question asked by the
1023 Jews; secondly, Christ's answer (v 25); and thirdly, the effect of this answer
1024 (v 31). Concerning the first he does two things: first, he describes the
1025 circumstances of the questioning; secondly, he gives the question itself (v
1026 24). The circumstances of the questioning are described with respect to three
1027 things: the time, the place, and the persons who ask the question.
1028
1029 <p>1433 He mentions the specific time first, saying, <b>it was </b>(<i>encaenia</i>)
1030 <b>the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem</b>. To understand this we have to
1031 know, as Augustine says, that an "encaenia" was the feast of the dedication of
1032 a church.<a href="#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26">[26]</a>
1033 The Greek word, <i>caenos</i>, is the same as the Latin word for "new." Thus an
1034 <i>encaenia</i> is the same as a renewal; and even in everyday speech, when
1035 something is dedicated to some use, it is said to be "encaeniated," which is
1036 the same thing as being renewed. Thus the <i>encaenia</i>, the feast of the
1037 Dedication, was the feast and commemoration of the dedication of the temple,
1038 for when we newly dedicate some church to the divine worship, we celebrate its
1039 being set aside for a sacred purpose; and in memory of this we celebrate it
1040 every year on the same day. Thus every year the Jews celebrated the <i>encaenia</i>,
1041 the remembrance of the dedication of the temple.
1042
1043 <p>1434 To understand why there is a feast for the consecration
1044 of a church, we should note that all the feasts in the Church are celebrated in
1045 remembrance of God's blessings: "I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord"
1046 (Is 63:7). Again in Psalm 117 [v 1], after David called to mind God's many
1047 blessings, saying, "Give praise to the Lord, for he is good," he adds,
1048 "Solemnize this day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the altar" [v 26].
1049
1050 <p>We recall God's benefits to us as
1051 being of three kinds. Sometimes, as they are found in our head, the Lord Jesus
1052 Christ. Thus we celebrate the feast of his birth, and of his resurrection, and
1053 so on. Sometimes we recall them as found in our fellow members, that is, in the
1054 saints, who are members of the Church. This is fitting, for as the Apostle
1055 says: "If one member is honored, all rejoice together" (1 Cor 12:26). Thus we
1056 celebrate the feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, and the other saints. But at
1057 times we recall God's benefits as found in the entire Church: for example, the
1058 benefits of the sacraments and other things granted to the Church in general.
1059 Now a material church building is like a sign of the gathering of the faithful
1060 of the Church, and in this building all the sacraments of grace are dispensed.
1061 So it is in memory of these benefits that we celebrate the feast of the
1062 dedication of a church. Indeed, such a feast is greater than the feast of any
1063 saint, just as the benefits conferred upon the whole Church, which benefits we
1064 celebrate, exceed the benefits conferred on some saint and recalled during his
1065 feast.
1066
1067 <p>1435 Recall that the temple at Jerusalem had been
1068 consecrated three times: first by Solomon (1 Kgs c 8); secondly, during the
1069 time of Ezra by Zerubbabel and Jesus, the high priest (Ezra c 6); thirdly, by
1070 the Maccabees, for it says in 1 Maccabees (c 4) that they went up to Jerusalem
1071 to cleanse the holy places. Now this feast was not celebrated in memory of the
1072 dedication by Solomon, because that took place in the fall, i.e., in the
1073 seventh month; nor was it in memory of the dedication made at the time of Ezra,
1074 for this took place during the spring, i.e., the ninth day of March. But it was
1075 in memory of the dedication made by the Maccabees, which took place during the
1076 winter. And so to show this he mentions the specific time, saying, <b>it was
1077 winter.</b>
1078
1079 <p>There is also a mystical reason for
1080 mentioning the time. As Gregory says (<i>Morals</i> 2), the Evangelist took
1081 care to mention the season as winter in order to indicate the chill of evil in
1082 the hearts of those listening, that is, the Jews: "As a well keeps its water
1083 cold, so she keeps cold her wickedness" [Jer 6:7]; and we read of this winter:
1084 "The winter is past, the rain is over and gone" (Song 2:11).<a href="#_ftn27"
1085 name="_ftnref27">[27]</a>
1086
1087 <p>1436 Then he describes the place, <b>and Jesus was walking
1088 in the temple, in the portico of Solomon</b>. He describes it first in a
1089 general way, <b>in the temple</b>: "The Lord is in his holy temple" (Ps 11:4);
1090 secondly, in more detail, saying, <b>in the portico of Solomon</b>. We have to
1091 know that the temple included not just its main building, but the surrounding
1092 porticos as well; it was on these porticos that the people stood and prayed,
1093 for only the priests prayed in the temple. It was called the portico of Solomon
1094 because it was the place where Solomon stood and prayed when the temple was
1095 being dedicated: "Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the
1096 presence of all the assembly of Israel" (1 Kgs 8:22).
1097
1098 <p>1437 One might object that the temple which Solomon built
1099 was destroyed, and so was his portico. I answer that the temple was rebuilt according
1100 to the specifications of the previous one; and so just as that portico was
1101 called the portico of Solomon in the first instance, it was called the same
1102 later out of respect for him.
1103
1104 <p>1438 The persons who question Christ are described as to
1105 their malice; thus he says, <b>so the Jews gathered round him</b>, unwarmed by
1106 loving charity, but burning with the desire to harm him. They came to attack
1107 him, surrounding and pressing him in on all sides: "Many bulls encompass me"
1108 (Ps 22:12); "Ephraim has encompassed me" (Hos 11:12).
1109
1110 <p>1439 Then when he says, <b>and said to him</b>…we see the
1111 Jews questioning him. First, he mentions the pretended reason for their
1112 questions when he says, <b>How long will you keep us in suspense?</b> Their
1113 manner is flattering because they want it to appear that they desire to know
1114 the truth about him. It is like they were saying: We are hanging in
1115 anticipation. How long will you keep us unsatisfied? "Hope deferred makes the
1116 heart sick" (Prv 13:12).
1117
1118 <p>Secondly, they state their
1119 question, <b>If you are the Christ, tell us plainly</b>. Note their perversity;
1120 for since they resent Christ's calling himself the Son of God (5:18), they do
1121 not ask him if he is the Son of God, but <b>If you are the Christ, tell us
1122 plainly</b>. They hoped by this to obtain grounds for accusing him before
1123 Pilate for inciting sedition and making himself king - which was in opposition
1124 to Caesar and offensive to the Romans. Thus it was that when the Jews accused
1125 Christ of making himself the Son of God, Pilate was not very impressed; but
1126 when they said: "Every one who makes himself a king sets himself against
1127 Caesar" (19:12), he was swayed against Christ. This is why they say, <b>If you
1128 are the Christ</b>, or a king, or anointed, <b>tell us plainly.</b>
1129
1130 <p>Secondly, notice their wickedness,
1131 because they say, <b>plainly</b>. It was like saying: Up to now you have not
1132 taught in public, but more or less in secret; but in reality, Christ said
1133 everything openly and was present for the festival days, and said nothing in
1134 secret: "I have spoken openly to the world…I have said nothing secretly"
1135 (18:20).
1136
1137 <p>1440 Now we have the answer of Christ, where he shows their
1138 unbelief, proving they were deceitful in saying they wished to know the truth
1139 when they said, "How long will you keep us in suspense?" He shows this in two
1140 ways. First, because they did not believe his words; and about this he says, <b>I
1141 told you, and you do not believe</b>. As if to say: You say to me, "If you are
1142 the Christ," the king, "tell us." But <b>I told you</b>, that is, I told you
1143 the truth, <b>and you do not believe</b>. "If I tell you, you will not believe"
1144 (Lk 22:67).
1145
1146 <p>He shows this in a second way
1147 because they do not believe his works. And about this he says: <b>the works
1148 that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me</b>. He first shows
1149 their unbelief in his works; secondly, the reason for their unbelief (v 26).
1150
1151 <p>1441 As to the first he says, <b>the works that I do</b>….
1152 This was like saying: You cannot be persuaded and satisfied by my words, nor
1153 even by those great works which I do <b>in my Father's name</b>, i.e., for his
1154 glory. <b>They bear witness to me</b>, because they can be performed by God
1155 alone. Thus they clearly show that I have come from God: "The tree is known by
1156 its fruit" (Matt 12:33); "These very works which I am doing, bear witness"
1157 (5:36). <b>But you do not believe</b>: "Though he had done so many signs before
1158 them, yet they did not believe in him" (12:37). For this reason they are
1159 inexcusable: "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did,
1160 they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father
1161 (15:24).
1162
1163 <p>1442 The reason for their unbelief is that they are
1164 separated from Christ's sheep. So he says, <b>but you do not believe, because
1165 you do not belong to my sheep</b>. He does three things concerning this. First,
1166 he says that they are excluded from membership in the sheep of Christ;
1167 secondly, he shows the dignity of his sheep (v 27); thirdly, he proves that no
1168 one will snatch his sheep out of his hands (v 29).
1169
1170 <p>1443 He mentions that they are not among his sheep when he
1171 says, <b>you do not belong to my sheep</b>, i.e., you are not predestined to
1172 believe, but foreknown to eternal destruction. For the very fact that we
1173 believe is due to God: "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of
1174 Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake" (Phil
1175 1:29); "For by grace you have been saved thorough faith; and this is not your
1176 own doing, it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8). And this is given only to those
1177 for whom it was prepared from eternity; thus, only those believe in him who
1178 have been ordained to this by God through an eternal predestination: "As many
1179 as were ordained to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48); "We believe that we
1180 shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 15:11).
1181
1182 <p>1444 But should anyone be told that he is not predestined?
1183 It seems that he should not be told: for since no one can be saved unless he is
1184 predestined, if one is told that he is not predestined, he would be driven to
1185 despair. And so our Lord was driving the Jews to despair when he said to them, <b>you
1186 do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep</b>. My answer to this is
1187 that in this group there was something common to all, that is, they were not
1188 preordained by God to believe at that time; and there was also something
1189 special, that is, some of them were preordained to believe later. Thus, some of
1190 them did believe later, for we read in Acts (c 2) that three thousand of them
1191 believed in one day. But some were not preordained to do this. Therefore, it
1192 did not militate against hope to say to a group, some of whom were preordained
1193 to believe later, that they did not belong to his sheep, because no one of them
1194 could apply this definitely to himself. But it would militate against hope if
1195 Christ had said this to some definite person.<a href="#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28"
1196 >[28]</a>
1197
1198 <p>1445 Now he reveals the dignity of his sheep when he says, <b>my
1199 sheep hear my voice</b>. He here mentions four things: two of them are what we
1200 do in reference to Christ; the other two, which correspond to the first two are
1201 what Christ does in us.
1202
1203 <p>1446 The first thing we do is to obey Christ. Concerning
1204 this he says, <b>my sheep</b>, through predestination, <b>hear my voice</b>, by
1205 believing and obeying my precepts: "O that today you would harken to his voice!
1206 Harden not your hearts" (Ps 95:7).
1207
1208 <p>1447 The second thing, corresponding to this, is what Christ
1209 does, which is to give his love and approval. Concerning this he says, <b>and I
1210 know them</b>, that is, I love and approve of them: "The Lord knows those who
1211 are his" (2 Tim 2:19). This is like saying: The very fact that they hear me is
1212 due to the fact that <b>I know them</b> by an eternal election.
1213
1214 <p>But if a person cannot believe
1215 unless God gives this to him, it seems that unbelief should not be imputed to
1216 anyone. I answer that it is imputed to them because they are the cause why it
1217 is not given to them. Thus, I cannot see the light unless I am enlightened by
1218 the sun. Yet if I were to close my eyes, I would not see the light; but this is
1219 not due to the sun but to me, because by closing my eyes I am the cause of my
1220 not being enlightened. Now sin, for example, original sin, and in some persons
1221 actual sin, is the cause why we are not enlightened by God through faith. This
1222 cause is in everyone. Thus, all who are left by God are left by reason of the
1223 just judgment of God, and those who are chosen are lifted up by God's mercy.
1224
1225 <p>1448 The third thing, which is what we do, concerns our
1226 imitation of Christ. So he says, <b>and they follow me</b>: "My foot has held
1227 fast his steps" (Job 23:11); "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
1228 example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Pet 2:21).
1229
1230 <p>1449 The corresponding fourth part, which is what Christ
1231 does, is the bestowing of a reward. Concerning this he says, <b>and I give them
1232 eternal life</b>. This is like saying: They follow me by walking the path of
1233 gentleness and innocence in this life, and I will see that afterwards they will
1234 follow me by entering into the joys of eternal life.
1235
1236 <p>Our Lord shows in three ways that
1237 this reward will never end. Something can end in three ways. First of all, by
1238 its very nature, for example, if it is corruptible. But this reward is incorruptible
1239 of its very nature. Thus He says, <b>I give them eternal life</b>, which is
1240 incorruptible and ever-living enjoyment of God: "This is eternal life, that
1241 they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (17:3).
1242 As Augustine says, this is the pasture which he spoke before (v 9).<a
1243 href="#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29">[29]</a>
1244 Indeed, eternal life is called a good pasture because it is entirely verdant
1245 and nothing withers away. Secondly, a thing can end because the one receiving
1246 it ends, or does not guard it well. But this will not happen to that reward; so
1247 he says, <b>and they shall never perish</b>, that is, the sheep will never
1248 perish. This conflicts with Origen, for he said that the saints in glory are
1249 able to sin.<a href="#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30">[30]</a>
1250 Yet our Lord says, <b>they shall never perish</b>, because they will be preserved
1251 forever: "He who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God;
1252 never shall he go out of it" (Rev 3:12). Thirdly, a thing can end by being
1253 snatched by force: for perhaps Adam would not have been cast out if the
1254 Deceiver had not been there. But this will not happen in eternal life, and so
1255 he says, <b>and no one shall snatch them</b>, that is, the sheep, <b>out of my
1256 hand</b>, that is, from my protection and loyalty: "The souls of the righteous
1257 are in the hand of God" (Wis 3:1). As Augustine says: "There the wolf does not
1258 snatch, nor the thief steal, nor the robber kill."<a href="#_ftn31"
1259 name="_ftnref31">[31]</a>
1260
1261 <p>1450 He now proves what he had said above about the dignity
1262 of his sheep, namely, that no one can snatch them from his hand. His reason is
1263 this: No one can snatch what is in the hand of my Father; but the Father's hand
1264 and mine are the same; therefore, no one can snatch what is in my hand.
1265 Concerning this he does three things: first, he gives the minor premise by
1266 showing that the Father had communicated divinity to him, saying, <b>what my
1267 Father has given to me</b>, through an eternal generation, <b>is greater than
1268 all</b>. "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also
1269 to have life in himself" (5:26). It is <b>greater</b> than any power: "He has
1270 given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man" (5:27);
1271 it is <b>greater</b> than any reverence and honor: "God had bestowed on him the
1272 name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
1273 bow" (Phil 2:9). Therefore, <b>what my Father has given to me</b>, that is,
1274 that I am his Word, his only begotten, and the splendor of his light, <b>is
1275 greater than all</b>.
1276
1277 <p>Secondly, he mentions the greatness
1278 of the Father's power, which concerns the major premise, when he says, <b>and
1279 no one is able to snatch</b>, take by violence or secretly pilfer, <b>out of my
1280 Father's hand</b>, from the power of my Father, or from me, who am the might of
1281 the Father - although as Augustine says, it is better to say "from the power of
1282 the Father" than "from me." <a href="#_ftn32"
1283 name="_ftnref32">[32]</a>
1284 Now <b>no one is able to snatch out of my Father's hand</b>, because he is the
1285 almighty One who is not subject to violence, and he is all-wise from whom
1286 nothing is hidden: "He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength" (Job 9:4).
1287
1288 <p>Thirdly, he affirms his unity with
1289 the Father, and from this the conclusion follows. Thus he says, <b>I and the
1290 Father are one</b>. As if to say: <b>no one shall snatch them out of my hand</b>,
1291 because <b>I and the Father are one</b>, by a unity of essence, for the Father
1292 and the Son are the same in nature.
1293
1294 <p>1451 This statement rejects two errors: that of Arius, who
1295 distinguished the essence [of the Father from that of the Son], and that of
1296 Sabellius, who did not distinguish the person [of the Father from the person of
1297 the Son]. We escape both Charybdis and Scylla, for by the fact that Christ
1298 says, <b>one</b>, he saves us from Arius, because if one, then they are not
1299 different [in nature]. And by the fact that he says, <b>we are</b>, he saves us
1300 from Sabellius, for if we are, then the Father and the Son are not the same
1301 [person].
1302
1303 <p>Yet the Arians, deceived by their
1304 wickedness, try to deny this, and say that a creature can in some sense be one
1305 with God, and in this sense the Son can be one with the Father. The falsity of
1306 this can be shown in three ways. First, from our very manner of speaking. For
1307 it is clear that "one" is asserted as "being"; thus, just as something is not
1308 said to be a being absolutely except according to its substance, so it is not
1309 said to be one except according to its substance or nature. Now something is
1310 asserted absolutely when it is asserted with no added qualification. Therefore,
1311 because <b>I and the Father are one</b>, is asserted absolutely, without any
1312 qualifications added, it is plain that they are one according to substance and
1313 nature. But we never find that God and a creature are one without some added qualification,
1314 as in 1 Corinthians (6:17): "He who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit
1315 with him." Therefore, it is clear that the Son of God is not one with the
1316 Father as a creature can be.<a href="#_ftn33" name="_ftnref33">[33]</a>
1317
1318 <p>Secondly, we can see this from his
1319 previous statement, <b>what my Father has given me is greater than all</b>. He
1320 draws the conclusion from this: <b>I and the Father are one</b>. This is like
1321 saying: We are one to the extent that the Father has given me that which is
1322 greater than all.
1323
1324 <p>Thirdly, it is clear from his
1325 intention. For our Lord proves that no one will snatch the sheep from his hand
1326 precisely because no one can snatch from the hand of his Father. But this would
1327 not follow if his power were less than the power of the Father. Therefore, the
1328 Father and Son are one in nature, honor and power.
1329 <BR><BR><BR>
1330 <p align=center><B>LECTURE 6</B>
1331
1332 <p>31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus
1333 answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of
1334 these do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "We stone you for no good
1335 work but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." 34 Jesus
1336 answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? 35 If he
1337 called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken),
1338 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated [sanctified] and sent into the
1339 world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 If I am
1340 not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them,
1341 even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and
1342 understand [believe] that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." 39 Again
1343 they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away
1344 again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he
1345 remained. 41 And many came to him; and they said, "John did no sign, but
1346 everything that John said about this man was true." 42 And many believed in him
1347 there.<a href="#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34"><b>[34]</b></a>
1348
1349 <p>1452 We have seen the teaching of Christ; and now we see the
1350 effect this teaching has on the Jews. First, Jesus reproves their fierceness;
1351 secondly, he defends himself against the charge of blasphemy; and thirdly, he
1352 escapes from their violence (v 39).
1353
1354 <p>1453 Concerning the first, two things are done. First, we
1355 see the violence of the Jews inciting them to stone Christ. The Evangelist
1356 says, <b>The Jews took up stones again to stone him</b>. They were hard of
1357 heart and unable to understand his profound message; and so, being like stones,
1358 they resort to stones: "When I spoke to them they fought against me without
1359 cause" [Ps 119:7].
1360
1361 <p>1454 Secondly, we see our Lord reprove their violence,
1362 saying, <b>I have shown you many good works</b>. First, he reminds them of the
1363 benefits given to them; secondly, he reproves their violence. He recalls the
1364 benefits he granted in healing the sick, in teaching them and performing his
1365 miracles. So he answered them saying, <b>I have shown you many good works</b>,
1366 by healing, teaching and working miracles - "He has done all things well" (Mk
1367 7:37) - <b>from the Father</b>, whose glory I have sought in all these things -
1368 "Yet I do not seek my own glory" (8:50). And he reproves their violence when he
1369 says, <b>for which of these do you stone me?</b> This was like saying: You
1370 should honor one who does good to you, not stone him: "Is evil a recompense for
1371 good?" (Jer 18:20).
1372
1373 <p>1455 Now our Lord defends himself from the charge of
1374 blasphemy. First, we see him accused of blasphemy by the Jews; and secondly,
1375 Christ proves his innocence (v 34).
1376
1377 <p>1456 With respect to the first, the Evangelist says, <b>The
1378 Jews answered him, We stone you for no good work but for blasphemy</b>. There
1379 are five things to be considered here. First, what seems to be the motive for
1380 their stoning him, namely, his blasphemy. For Leviticus commands that
1381 blasphemers be stoned: "Bring out of the camp him who has blasphemed; and let
1382 all who heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let the congregation stone
1383 him" [24:14]. Mentioning this motive, they say, <b>We stone you for no good
1384 work but for blasphemy</b>.
1385
1386 <p>Secondly, they specify his
1387 blasphemy. It is blasphemy not only to attribute to God what is not appropriate
1388 to him, but also to attribute to another what belongs to God alone. So, it is
1389 blasphemy not only to say that God is a body, but also to say that a creature
1390 can create: "It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mk 2:7).
1391 Thus the Jews were saying that our Lord was a blasphemer not in the first way,
1392 but for usurping for himself what is proper to God: <b>because you, being a
1393 man, make yourself God.</b>
1394
1395 <p>The third thing to be considered is
1396 that the Jews understood the words of Christ, <b>I and the Father are one</b>,
1397 better than the Arians did. Thus they were incensed because they understood
1398 that <b>I and the Father are one</b> could only be said if the Father and Son
1399 are equal. This is what they say, <b>you make yourself God</b>, claiming by
1400 your words that you are God, which is not true, you, <b>being a man</b>.
1401
1402 <p>The fourth point to consider is
1403 that the distance between God and man is so great that it was unbelievable to
1404 them that someone with a human nature could be God. So they significantly say, <b>because
1405 you, being a man, make yourself God</b>. Yet this unbelief could have been
1406 dispelled by what is read in the Psalm, "What is man that you are mindful of
1407 him? Or the son of man that you visit him?" [Ps 8:5]; and in Habakkuk (1:5):
1408 "For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told," this
1409 is, the work of the incarnation, which surpasses every mind.
1410
1411 <p>The fifth thing to consider is that
1412 they do not agree with themselves: for on the one hand, they say that Christ
1413 does good works, saying, <b>we stone you for no good work</b>; and on the other
1414 hand, they accuse him of blasphemy, usurping for himself the honor of God. Now
1415 these conflict with each other, for he could not accomplish miracles from God
1416 if he blasphemed God, because "A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a
1417 bad tree bear good fruit" (Mt 7:18). And this applied especially to Christ.
1418
1419 <p>1457 Here our Lord defends himself against the charge of
1420 blasphemy. First, he gives his defense; secondly, he shows them the truth (v
1421 37). He defends himself by divine authority, and so first, he mentions the
1422 authority of Scripture; secondly, he explains its meaning; and thirdly, he
1423 draws his conclusion.
1424
1425 <p>1458 The Evangelist says, <b>Jesus answered them: Is it not
1426 written in your law</b> (in Psalm 82:6): <b>I said, you are gods?</b> Here we
1427 should note that "law" is understood in three ways in Scripture. Some times it
1428 is taken in a general sense for the entire Old Testament, containing the five
1429 books of Moses, the prophets and the hagiographies. This is the way <b>in your
1430 law </b>is understood here, meaning in the Old Testament. For this quotation is
1431 from the psalms which are referred to as the law because the entire Old
1432 Testament is considered to have the authority of law. Sometimes "law" is
1433 understood as distinct from the prophets, psalms, and the hagiographies; this
1434 is the way Luke uses it in "Everything written about me in the law of Moses and
1435 the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled" (Lk 24:44). Again, at other
1436 times it is distinguished from the prophets. In this sense the psalms and the
1437 other books of the Old Testament, other than the Pentateuch, are included
1438 within the prophets, on the ground that the Old Testament was produced by a
1439 prophetic spirit. This is the way it is understood in Matthew: "On these two
1440 commandments depend all the law and the prophets" (Mt 23:40).
1441
1442 <p>1459 The word "God" is also used in three senses. Sometimes
1443 it signifies the divine nature itself, and then it is used only in the
1444 singular: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deut 6:4). At other
1445 times it is taken in a denominative sense: in this way idols are called gods:
1446 "All the gods of the peoples are idols" (Ps 96:5). And sometimes someone is
1447 called a god because of a certain participation in divinity, or in some sublime
1448 power divinely infused. In this way, even judges are called gods in Scripture:
1449 "If the thief is not known, the owner of the house shall be brought to the
1450 gods," that is, to the judges [Ex 22:8]; "You shall not speak ill of the gods,"
1451 that is, of the rulers [Ex 22:28]. This is the way the word "god" is taken
1452 here, when he says, <b>I said, you are gods</b>, i.e., you share in some divine
1453 power superior to the human.
1454
1455 <p>1460 Then when he says, <b>If he called them gods to whom
1456 the word of God came</b>, he shows the meaning of the authority he cited. This
1457 was like saying: He called them gods because they participated in something
1458 divine insofar as they participated in God's word, which was spoken to them.
1459 For due to God's word a person obtains some participation in the divine power
1460 and purity: "You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you"
1461 (15:3); and in Exodus (c 34) we read that the face of Moses shone when he heard
1462 the words of the Lord.
1463
1464 <p>From what has been said above, one
1465 might argue in this way: It is clear that a person by participating in the word
1466 of God becomes god by participation. But a thing does not become this or that
1467 by participation unless it participates in what is this or that by its essence:
1468 for example, a thing does not become fire by participation unless it
1469 participates in what is fire by its essence. Therefore, one does not become god
1470 by participation unless he participates in what is God by essence. Therefore,
1471 the Word of God, that is the Son, by participation in whom we become gods, is
1472 God by essence. But our Lord, rather than argue so profoundly against the Jews,
1473 preferred to argue in a more human way. He says, <b>and scripture cannot be
1474 broken</b>, in order to show the irrefutable truth of Scripture: "O Lord, your
1475 word endures forever" [Ps 118:89].<a href="#_ftn35" name="_ftnref35">[35]</a>
1476
1477 <p>1461 Then when he says, <b>do you say of him whom the Father
1478 sanctified and sent into the world, You are blaspheming</b>, he draws his
1479 conclusion. If, with Hilary, we refer this to Christ insofar as he has a human
1480 nature, the meaning is this: Some people are called gods only because they
1481 participate in God's word. How then can you say, <b>you are blaspheming</b>,
1482 that is, how can you consider it blasphemy, if that man who is united in person
1483 to the Word of God is called God? <a
1484 href="#_ftn36" name="_ftnref36">[36]</a>
1485 This is why he says, <b>whom the Father sanctified</b>. For although God
1486 sanctifies all who are sanctified - "Sanctify them in truth" (17:17) - he
1487 sanctified Christ in a special way. He sanctifies others to be adopted children
1488 - "You have received the spirit of adoption" (Rom 8:15) - but he sanctified
1489 Christ to be the Son of God by nature, united in person to the Word of God.
1490 These words, <b>whom the Father sanctified</b>, show this in two ways. For if
1491 God sanctifies as Father, it is clear that he sanctifies Christ as his Son: "He
1492 was predestined to be the Son of God by the Spirit of sanctification" [Rom
1493 1:4]. We can also see this by his saying, <b>and sent into the world</b>. For
1494 it is not fitting for a thing to be sent some place unless it existed before it
1495 was sent there. Therefore, he whom the Father sent into the world in a visible
1496 way, is the Son of God, who existed before he was visible: for as we saw above,
1497 "He was in the world, and the world was made through him" (1:10); and "God sent
1498 the Son into the world" (3:17). <b>Do you say of him whom the Father sent into
1499 the world, you are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God? </b>This
1500 was like saying: I, who am united in person to the Word, have much more reason
1501 to say this than those <b>to whom the word of God came</b>.
1502
1503 <p>1462 But how did the Jews realize that he was claiming to be
1504 the Son of God? Our Lord did not say this expressly. I answer that although our
1505 Lord did not say this expressly, yet from what he did say - <b>I and the Father
1506 are one and what my Father has given to me is greater than all </b>- they
1507 understood that he received his nature from the Father and was one in nature
1508 with him. But to receive the same nature from another, and to be it, is to be a
1509 son.
1510
1511 <p>1463 But if, with Augustine, we refer <b>him whom the Father
1512 sanctified</b> to Christ as God, then the meaning is this: <b>him whom the
1513 Father sanctified </b>is he whom he has begotten holy, or sanctified, from
1514 eternity.<a href="#_ftn37" name="_ftnref37">[37]</a>
1515 The other things which follow should be explained in the same way as Hilary
1516 does. Yet the better explanation is to refer everything to Christ as man.
1517
1518 <p>1464 Then when he says, <b>If I am not doing the works of my
1519 Father, then do not believe me</b>, he proves the truth of the foregoing. This
1520 is like saying: Although in your opinion I am only human, yet I am not
1521 blaspheming when I say that I am truly God, because I truly am. He does two
1522 things concerning this: first, he presents the argument of his works; secondly,
1523 he draws his conclusion (v 38b).
1524
1525 <p>1465 He does two things concerning the first. In the first
1526 place he says that in the absence of his works they would have an excuse. He
1527 says, <b>If I am not doing the works of my Father</b>, i.e., the same ones that
1528 he does, and with the same might and power, <b>then do not believe me</b>.
1529 "Whatever he [the Father] does, that the Son does likewise" (5:19).
1530
1531 <p>Secondly, he says that they are
1532 convicted by his very works: <b>but if I do them</b>, the same works the Father
1533 does, then <b>even though you do not believe me</b>, who appears as a son of
1534 man, <b>believe the works</b>, i.e., these works show that I am the Son of God:
1535 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not
1536 have sin" (15:24).
1537
1538 <p>1466 Now he draws his conclusion, saying, <b>that you may
1539 know and believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father</b>. For the
1540 clearest indication of the nature of a thing is taken from its works.
1541 Therefore, from the fact that he does the works of God it can be clearly known
1542 and believed that Christ is God. Accordingly he says: I will argue from my
1543 works themselves, <b>that you may know and believe</b> what you cannot see with
1544 your own eyes, that is, <b>that the Father is in me and I am in the Father</b>:
1545 "I am in the Father and the Father in me," by a unity of essence (14:10). <b>The
1546 Father is in me and I am in the Father </b>and "I and the Father are one," have
1547 the same meaning.
1548
1549 <p>Hilary explains this well by saying
1550 that there is this difference between God and man: man being a composite, is
1551 not his own nature; but God, being entirely simple, is his own existence and
1552 his own nature. Therefore, in whomever the nature of God is, there is God.<a
1553 href="#_ftn38" name="_ftnref38">[38]</a>
1554 And so, since the Father is God and the Son is God, where the nature of the
1555 Father is, there is the Father, and where the nature of the Son is, there is
1556 the Son. Therefore, since the nature of the Father is in the Son, and
1557 conversely, the Father is in the Son, and conversely. But as Augustine remarks,
1558 although God is in man and man is in God - "He who abides in love abides in
1559 God, and God abides in him" (1 Jn 4:16) - this does not mean that they are one
1560 in essence. Rather, man is in God, that is, under the divine care and protection,
1561 and God is in man, by the likeness of his grace.<a href="#_ftn39"
1562 name="_ftnref39">[39]</a>
1563 However, the only Son is in the Father and the Father is in him as equals.
1564
1565 <p>1467 Now our Lord turns away from the obstinacy of the Jews.
1566 First, the Evangelist shows they were obstinate; secondly, we see that Christ
1567 turns away from this; thirdly, we see what effect this had.
1568
1569 <p>1468 The Evangelist shows their inflexibility by the fact
1570 that after so many confirmations of the truth, after the evidence of so many
1571 miracles and wonders, they still persist in their evil. So <b>again they tried
1572 to arrest him</b>, to apprehend him, not in order to believe and understand,
1573 but in their rage to do him harm; they were even the more enraged because he
1574 had more clearly expressed his equality with the Father: "They hold fast to deceit,
1575 they refuse to return" (Jer 8:5).
1576
1577 <p>1469 But our Lord turns away from their rage, and so the
1578 Evangelist says, <b>but he escaped from their hands</b>. Here we see, first,
1579 that he left them by escaping from their hands. He did this for two reasons. To
1580 show that he could not be restrained unless he willed: "Passing through the
1581 midst of them he went away" (Lk 4:30); "No one takes it from me, but I lay it
1582 down of my own accord" (10:18). Secondly, to give us the example of turning
1583 away from persecution when this can be done without endangering the faith: "Do
1584 not make your stand against one who can injure you" [Sir 8:14].
1585
1586 <p>We see, secondly, where he went
1587 when the Evangelist says, <b>he went away again across the Jordan to the place
1588 where John at first baptized</b>. The mystical reason for this is that at some
1589 time, through the apostles, Jesus would go to convert the Gentiles. The literal
1590 reason is twofold. First, this place was near Jerusalem, and since his passion
1591 was near, he did not wish to be too far away. Secondly, he wanted to recall the
1592 witness which John had given there, when he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who
1593 takes away the sin of the world" (1:29), as well as the Father's testimony to
1594 his Son, Christ, at the time of his baptism.
1595
1596 <p>1470 The effect of this turning away was that many were
1597 converted to the faith. Three points are made about this conversion. First,
1598 many imitated his works; so he says, <b>and many came to him</b>, namely, by
1599 imitating his works: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will
1600 give you rest" (Matt 11:28). Secondly, many professed him in word, <b>and they
1601 said, John did no sign</b>. By this they profess Christ's superiority to John.
1602 The reason for this was that John was sent as a witness to Christ; thus he
1603 should show that he was worthy to be believed and his testimony would be shown
1604 to be true. Now this is fittingly done by holiness of life. On the other hand,
1605 Christ came as God; consequently, it was fitting that he show the signs of
1606 divine power. And so John stood out by the sanctity of his life; Christ,
1607 however, in addition to this, performed works which manifested his divine
1608 power. This was in accord with the practice of the rulers of antiquity that
1609 when in the presence of a higher power a lesser power did not display the
1610 insignia of its power. Thus, in the presence of the Dictator, the Consuls took
1611 down their insignia. So it was not fitting that John, who possessed less power,
1612 because he was a precursor and witness, should employ the insignia of divine
1613 power; only Christ should have done this. They profess the truth of John's
1614 witness to Christ, saying, <b>but everything that John said about this man</b>,
1615 Christ, <b>was true</b>. They were saying: Although John did no sign, he
1616 nevertheless said all things truthfully about Christ. Thirdly, he reveals the faith
1617 in their hearts, saying, <b>and many believed in him there</b>. As Augustine
1618 remarks, they grasped Christ remaining, whom the Jews wanted to seize waning,
1619 because through the lamp they had come to the day. For John was that lamp and
1620 gave testimony to the day.<a href="#_ftn40" name="_ftnref40">[40]</a>
1621
1622 </div>
1623
1624 <div><br clear=all>
1625 <BR><BR><BR>
1626 <hr align=left size=1 width="33%">
1627
1628 <div id=ftn1>
1629
1630 <p><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> <i>In
1631 Ioannem hom</i>., 59, ch. 2; PG 59, col. 324; cf.
1632 <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:1-5.
1633
1634 </div>
1635
1636 <div id=ftn2>
1637
1638 <p><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> Ibid.; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:1-5.
1639
1640 </div>
1641
1642 <div id=ftn3>
1643
1644 <p><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a> <i>Tract.
1645 in Io</i>., 45, ch. 2, col. 1720; cf. <i>Catena
1646 Aurea, </i>10:1-5.
1647
1648 </div>
1649
1650 <div id=ftn4>
1651
1652 <p><a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a> loc.
1653 cit; also <i>Tract. in Io</i>., 47, ch. 1, col. 1733; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:11-13.
1654
1655 </div>
1656
1657 <div id=ftn5>
1658
1659 <p><a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5">[5]</a> <i>In
1660 Ioannem hom</i>., 59, ch. 2; PG 59, col. 324; cf.
1661 <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:1-5.
1662
1663 </div>
1664
1665 <div id=ftn6>
1666
1667 <p><a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6">[6]</a> <i>Tract.
1668 in Io</i>., 46, ch. 2, col. 1728; cf. <i>Catena
1669 Aurea, </i>10:1-5.
1670
1671 </div>
1672
1673 <div id=ftn7>
1674
1675 <p><a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7">[7]</a> Ibid.; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:1-5.
1676
1677 </div>
1678
1679 <div id=ftn8>
1680
1681 <p><a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8">[8]</a>
1682 St. Thomas refers to Jn 10:10 in the <i>Summa
1683 Theologiae</i>: III, q. 50, a. 1, obj. 3; q. 55, a. 5, obj. 3.
1684
1685 </div>
1686
1687 <div id=ftn9>
1688
1689 <p><a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9">[9]</a> <i>Tract.
1690 in Io</i>., 45, ch. 6, col. 1721; cf. <i>Catena
1691 Aurea, </i>10:6.
1692
1693 </div>
1694
1695 <div id=ftn10>
1696
1697 <p><a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10">[10]</a> <i>Tract.
1698 in Io</i>., 45, ch. 7, col. 1722.
1699
1700 </div>
1701
1702 <div id=ftn11>
1703
1704 <p><a href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11">[11]</a> <i>In Ioannem hom</i>.,
1705 59, ch. 3; PG 59, col. 325; cf. <i>Catena Aurea</i>, 10:7-10.
1706
1707 </div>
1708
1709 <div id=ftn12>
1710
1711 <p><a href="#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12">[12]</a> <i>Tract.
1712 in Io</i>., 45, ch. 15, col. 1726-27; cf. <i>Catena
1713 Aurea, </i>10:7-10.
1714
1715 </div>
1716
1717 <div id=ftn13>
1718
1719 <p><a href="#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13">[13]</a> Gregory, <i>Super
1720 Ezek. Hom, </i>13; cf. <i>Catena Aurea</i>, 10:7-10.
1721
1722 </div>
1723
1724 <div id=ftn14>
1725
1726 <p><a href="#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14">[14]</a> <i>De Spiritu et Anima</i>,
1727 ch. IX; PL 40, col. 785.
1728
1729 </div>
1730
1731 <div id=ftn15>
1732
1733 <p><a href="#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15">[15]</a>
1734 St. Thomas refers to Jn 10:11 in the <i>Summa
1735 Theologiae</i>: II-II, q. 184, a. 5; q. 185, a. 4; Jn 12: <i>ST</i> II-II, q.
1736 185, a. 5, obj. 1.
1737
1738 </div>
1739
1740 <div id=ftn16>
1741
1742 <p><a href="#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16">[16]</a><i>
1743 Tract. in Io</i>., 46, ch. 1, col. 1727-28; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:11-13.
1744
1745 </div>
1746
1747 <div id=ftn17>
1748
1749 <p><a href="#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17">[17]</a>
1750 Aristotle.
1751
1752 </div>
1753
1754 <div id=ftn18>
1755
1756 <p><a href="#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18">[18]</a>
1757 Augustine, <i>Tract. in Io., </i>46, ch. 8, col. 1732; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:11-13.
1758
1759 </div>
1760
1761 <div id=ftn19>
1762
1763 <p><a href="#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19">[19]</a>
1764 Augustine, <i>Epistola CCXXVII, </i> ch. 2; PL 33, col.
1765 1014. cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:11-13.
1766
1767 </div>
1768
1769 <div id=ftn20>
1770
1771 <p><a href="#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20">[20]</a>
1772 St. Thomas refers to Jn 10:16 in the <i>Summa
1773 Theologiae</i>: III, q. 35, a. 8, ad 1; Jn 10:17: <i>ST </i>III, q. 5, a. 4, s.
1774 c.; Jn 10:18: <i>ST </i>III, q. 5, a. 3; q. 47, a. 1, obj. 1; q. 47, a. 2, ad
1775 1; q. 50, a. 3, obj. 1; q. 53, a. 4, s. c.
1776
1777 </div>
1778
1779 <div id=ftn21>
1780
1781 <p><a href="#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21">[21]</a>
1782 summa-three substances in Christ; his body and soul were separated at death but
1783 his divinity remained united to both.
1784
1785 </div>
1786
1787 <div id=ftn22>
1788
1789 <p><a href="#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22">[22]</a> Summa--
1790 God's love is the cause of human love, but works done in charity merit the
1791 increase of the effects of God's love.
1792
1793 </div>
1794
1795 <div id=ftn23>
1796
1797 <p><a href="#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23">[23]</a> <i>Tract.,
1798 in Io.</i>, 31, ch. 5, col. 1638.
1799
1800 </div>
1801
1802 <div id=ftn24>
1803
1804 <p><a href="#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24">[24]</a> summa-Christ's
1805 entire nature was subject to His will.
1806
1807 </div>
1808
1809 <div id=ftn25>
1810
1811 <p><a href="#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25">[25]</a>
1812 St. Thomas refers to Jn 10:27in the <i>Summa
1813 Theologiae</i>: I-II, q. 108, a. 4, ad 3; Jn 30: <i>ST </i>III, q. 17, a. 1,
1814 obj. 5.
1815
1816 </div>
1817
1818 <div id=ftn26>
1819
1820 <p><a href="#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26">[26]</a><i>
1821 Tract. in Io</i>., 48, ch. 2, col. 1741; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:22-30.<i> </i>
1822
1823 </div>
1824
1825 <div id=ftn27>
1826
1827 <p><a href="#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27">[27]</a> <i>Moralia</i>, II, ch. 2, no. 2; PL 75, col. 555C; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:22-30.<i> </i>
1828
1829 </div>
1830
1831 <div id=ftn28>
1832
1833 <p><a href="#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28">[28]</a> 1443,
1834 1444, Summa-predestination and preordination. He begins to mention
1835 predestination in 1373, but says more about it here, also 1447, why it is the
1836 fault of some why it is not given to them to believe.
1837
1838 </div>
1839
1840 <div id=ftn29>
1841
1842 <p><a href="#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29">[29]</a><i>
1843 Tract. in Io</i>., 48, ch. 5, col. 1742; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:22-30.
1844
1845 </div>
1846
1847 <div id=ftn30>
1848
1849 <p><a href="#_ftnref30" name="_ftn30">[30]</a> Origen
1850
1851 </div>
1852
1853 <div id=ftn31>
1854
1855 <p><a href="#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31">[31]</a> <i>Tract.
1856 in Io</i>., 48, ch. 6, col. 1743; cf. <i>Catena
1857 Aurea, </i>10:22-30.
1858
1859 </div>
1860
1861 <div id=ftn32>
1862
1863 <p><a href="#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32">[32]</a> <i>Ibid</i>,
1864 48, ch. 6, col. 1743; cf. <i>Catena Aurea, </i>10:22-30.
1865
1866 </div>
1867
1868 <div id=ftn33>
1869
1870 <p><a href="#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33">[33]</a> Summa,
1871 Christ is one with the Father absolutely, creatures can only become one with
1872 God in a qualified sense.
1873
1874 </div>
1875
1876 <div id=ftn34>
1877
1878 <p><a href="#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34">[34]</a>
1879 St. Thomas refers to Jn 10:36 in the <i>Summa
1880 Theologiae</i>: III, q. 34, a. 1, s. c.; Jn 10:38: <i>ST</i> III, q. 43, a. 1;
1881 Jn 10:41: <i>ST</i> III, q. 27, a. 5, ad 3; q. 38, a. 2, obj. 2.
1882
1883 </div>
1884
1885 <div id=ftn35>
1886
1887 <p><a href="#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35">[35]</a>
1888 Summa-because we become gods by participating in the Word of God, the Word must
1889 be divine.
1890
1891 </div>
1892
1893 <div id=ftn36>
1894
1895 <p><a href="#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36">[36]</a> <i>De
1896 Trin</i>., 7, ch. 24; PL 10; cf. <i>Catena
1897 Aurea, </i>10:31-38.
1898
1899 </div>
1900
1901 <div id=ftn37>
1902
1903 <p><a href="#_ftnref37" name="_ftn37">[37]</a> <i>Tract.
1904 in Io</i>., 48, ch. 10, col. 1745; cf. <i>Catena
1905 Aurea, </i>10:31-38.
1906
1907 </div>
1908
1909 <div id=ftn38>
1910
1911 <p><a href="#_ftnref38" name="_ftn38">[38]</a> Hilary,
1912 <i>De Trin</i>., 9, ch. 61; PL 10, col. 330B.
1913
1914 </div>
1915
1916 <div id=ftn39>
1917
1918 <p><a href="#_ftnref39" name="_ftn39">[39]</a> <i>Tract.
1919 in Io</i>., 48, ch. 10, col. 1745; cf. <i>Catena
1920 Aurea, </i>10:31-38.
1921
1922 </div>
1923
1924 <div id=ftn40>
1925
1926 <p><a href="#_ftnref40" name="_ftn40">[40]</a> <i>Tract.
1927 in Io</i>., 48, ch. 12, col. 1746; cf. <i>Catena
1928 Aurea, </i>10:39-42.
1929 </body></html>