John Chrysostom, On John

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and in this way comforting them so as to give them a special gift. See by how many things He exalted the discourse concerning him. He said, that Another is as I am; he said, that He does not leave you; he said, that He comes to you only, just as I also; he said, that He abides in you; but not even so did He cast out their despondency. For they were still seeking him, and his companionship, curing this, at least, he says: Neither will I leave you orphans; I am coming to you. Fear not, he says; I did not say I would send another Comforter for this reason, as if I myself were finally departing from you; I did not say, that He abides with you, for this reason, as if I would no longer see you. For I myself am also coming to you. I will not leave you orphans. For since in the beginning he was saying, Little children, for this reason here also he says: I will not leave you orphans. 2. In the beginning then he was saying, that You shall come where I am going; and, that In my Father's house there are many mansions; but here, since that time was long, he gives the Spirit. But since they did not know what was being said, they did not have sufficient comfort, I will not leave you orphans, he says. For this is what they were especially seeking. But since the phrase, I am coming to you, indicated a presence, so that they might not again seek the same presence as before, see how he did not say it clearly, but hinted at it. For after saying, Yet a little while, and the world does not see me, he added, But you see me; as if he said: I am coming to you, but not in the same way as before, being with you always every day. And so that they might not say, How then did you say to the Jews: From now on you will not see me? he resolves the contradiction by saying, To you only; since the Spirit is also such. Because I live, you also will live. For indeed the cross does not separate us completely, but only hides for a brief moment. And it seems to me he speaks not only of the present life, but also of the one to come. In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. In the case of the Father, therefore, it is of substance; but in their case, what is said is of unanimity and of the help from God. And how does it make sense, tell me, he says? how then does the opposite make sense? for the distance is great and exceedingly infinite between Christ and the disciples. But if the same words are used, do not be surprised. For Scripture knows how to use the same words applied to God and to men often not in the same way; since we are also called gods, and sons of God, and the word does not have the same force when applied to us and to God. 59.406 And the Son is called an image, and glory; and so are we; but the distance is great. And again, You are of Christ, and Christ is of God; but Christ is not of God in the same way as we are of Christ. And what is it that he says? When I rise, he says, you will know that I am not separated from the Father, but have the same power, and that I am with you always, while events proclaim the help for you that comes from me, with enemies suppressed, you speaking boldly, dreadful things removed, the preaching flourishing each day, all things yielding and giving way to the word of piety. As he sent me, I also have sent you. Do you see that not even here does the word have the same force? For if we were to take it in this way, the apostles will be in no way different from Christ. But why does he say, Then you will know? Because then they saw him risen and being with them; then they learned the exact faith. For great was the power of the Spirit, teaching them all things. He who has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is who loves me. For it is not enough just to have them, but we also need to keep them carefully. But why does he often say the same thing to them? such as: If you love me, you will keep my commandments; and, He who has my commandments, and keeps them; and, If anyone hears my word, and keeps it, he it is who loves me; he who does not hear my words, does not love me. I think he is hinting at their despondency. For since he philosophized much to them about death, saying: He who hates his soul in this world, will keep it for eternal life; and,

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καὶ ταύτῃ παραμυθούμενος αὐτοὺς τοῦ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς δῶρον ἐξαίρετον. Ὅρα πόσοις ἐπῆρε τὸν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον. Εἶπεν, ὅτι Ἄλλος ὡς ἐγώ ἐστιν· εἶπεν, ὅτι Οὐκ ἀφίησιν ὑμᾶς· εἶπεν, ὅτι Πρὸς ὑμᾶς μόνους ἔρχεται, ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ ἐγώ· εἶπεν, ὅτι Ἐν ὑμῖν μένει· ἀλλ' οὐδὲ οὕτω τὴν ἀθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἐξέβαλεν. Αὐτὸν γὰρ ἐζήτουν ἔτι, καὶ τὴν συνήθειαν τὴν αὐτοῦ, τοῦτο γοῦν θεραπεύων, φησίν· Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανούς· ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς. Μὴ δείσητε, φησίν· οὐ διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον ἄλλον Παράκλητον πέμπειν, ὡς αὐτὸς ὑμῶν εἰς τέλος ἀπανιστάμενος· οὐ διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον, ὅτι Παρ' ὑμῖν μένει, ὡς οὐκέτι ὀψόμενος ὑμᾶς. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς. Οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανούς. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἀρχόμενος ἔλεγε, Τεκνία, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἐνταῦθά φησιν· Οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανούς. βʹ. Παρὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔλεγεν, ὅτι Ἥξετε ὅπου ἐγὼ ὑπάγω· καὶ, ὅτι Ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ Πατρός μου μοναὶ πολλαί εἰσιν· ἐνταῦθα δὲ, ἐπειδὴ μακρὸς ὁ χρόνος ἐκεῖνος ἦν, δίδωσι τὸ Πνεῦμα. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ μὴ εἰδότες, ὅ τι ποτὲ ἦν τὸ λεγόμενον, οὐκ εἶχον ἱκανὴν παράκλησιν, Οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανοὺς, λέγει. Τοῦτο γὰρ μάλιστα ἐζήτουν. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ τὸ, Ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, δηλοῦντος ἦν παρουσίαν, ἵνα μὴ πάλιν τὴν αὐτὴν ἐπιζητῶσι παρουσίαν, οἵαν καὶ πρότερον, ὅρα πῶς αὐτὸ σαφῶς μὲν οὐκ εἶπεν, ᾐνίξατο δέ. Εἰπὼν γὰρ, Ἔτι μικρὸν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος οὐ θεωρεῖ με, ἐπήγαγεν, Ὑμεῖς δὲ θεωρεῖτέ με· ὡσανεὶ ἔλεγεν· Ἔρχομαι μὲν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, οὐ μὴν ὁμοίως ὡς πρότερον καθ' ἑκάστην ὑμῖν ἀεὶ συγγινόμενος τὴν ἡμέραν. Καὶ ἵνα μὴ λέγωσι, Πῶς οὖν Ἰουδαίοις εἶπας· Ἀπάρτι οὐκ ὄψεσθέ με; λύει τὴν ἀντίθεσιν εἰπὼν, Πρὸς ὑμᾶς μόνους· ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν. Ὅτι ἐγὼ ζῶ, καὶ ὑμεῖς ζήσεσθε. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ ὁ σταυρὸς διίστησιν ἡμᾶς εἰς τέλος, ἀλλ' ἢ ῥοπὴν μικρὰν ἀποκρύπτει μόνον. Ζωὴν δέ μοι δοκεῖ οὐχὶ τὴν παροῦσαν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν μέλλουσαν λέγειν. Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ γνώσεσθε, ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ Πατρὶ, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἐμοὶ, καὶ ἐγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἐπὶ μὲν οὖν τοῦ Πατρὸς, οὐσίας ἐστίν· ἐπὶ δὲ αὐτῶν, ὁμονοίας καὶ βοηθείας τῆς παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ εἰρημένον. Καὶ πῶς ἔχει λόγον, εἰπέ μοι, φησί; πῶς μὲν οὖν τὸ ἐναντίον ἔχει λόγον; πολὺ γὰρ τὸ μέσον καὶ σφόδρα ἄπειρον τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τῶν μαθητῶν. Εἰ δὲ τὰ αὐτὰ κεῖται ῥήματα, μὴ θαυμάσῃς. Οἶδε γὰρ ἡ Γραφὴ πολλάκις τοῖς αὐτοῖς ῥήμασιν ἐπὶ Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων κειμένοις οὐχ ὁμοίως κεχρῆσθαι· ἐπεὶ καὶ θεοὶ λεγόμεθα, καὶ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, καὶ οὐ τὴν αὐτὴν ἰσχὺν ἔχει τὸ ῥῆμα ἐφ' ἡμῶν καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ κείμενον. 59.406 Καὶ εἰκὼν ὁ Υἱὸς λέγεται, καὶ δόξα· καὶ ἡμεῖς· ἀλλὰ πολὺ τὸ μέσον. Καὶ πάλιν, Ὑμεῖς δὲ Χριστοῦ, Χριστὸς δὲ Θεοῦ· οὐχ ὁμοίως δὲ Θεοῦ ὁ Χριστὸς, καὶ ἡμεῖς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Τί δέ ἐστιν ὃ λέγει; Ὅταν ἀναστῶ, φησὶν, εἴσεσθε ὅτι οὐκ ἀπέσχισμαι τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἀλλὰ τὴν αὐτὴν ἔχω δύναμιν, καὶ ὅτι μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰμι διηνεκῶς, τῶν πραγμάτων ἀνακηρυττόντων τὴν περὶ ὑμᾶς βοήθειαν παρ' ἐμοῦ γινομένην, τῶν ἐχθρῶν κατεσταλμένων, ὑμῶν παῤῥησιαζομένων, τῶν δεινῶν ἐκ μέσου γινομένων, τοῦ κηρύγματος καθ' ἑκάστην ἀνθοῦντος τὴν ἡμέραν, πάντων εἰκόντων καὶ παραχωρούντων τῷ λόγῳ τῆς εὐσεβείας. Καθὼς ἀπέστειλέ με, κἀγὼ ἀπέστειλα ὑμᾶς. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα τὴν αὐτὴν ἰσχὺν ἡ λέξις ἔχει; Εἰ γὰρ τοῦτο οὕτως ἐκδεξόμεθα, οὐδὲν ἔσονται διεστηκότες οἱ ἀπόστολοι τοῦ Χριστοῦ. ∆ιατί δέ φησι, Τότε γνώσεσθε; Ὅτι τότε εἶδον αὐτὸν ἀναστάντα καὶ συνόντα αὐτοῖς· τότε τὴν ἀκριβῆ πίστιν ἔμαθον. Μεγάλη γὰρ ἡ τοῦ Πνεύματος δύναμις ἦν, ἡ πάντα αὐτοὺς παιδεύουσα. Ὁ ἔχων μου τὰς ἐντολὰς, καὶ τηρῶν αὐτὰς, ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαπῶν με. Οὐ γὰρ ἀρκεῖ τὸ ἔχειν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ φυλακῆς ἡμῖν δεῖ ἀκριβοῦς. ∆ιατί δὲ πολλάκις αὐτοῖς τὸ αὐτὸ λέγει; οἷον· Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτέ με, τὰς ἐντολάς μου τηρήσετε· καὶ, Ὁ ἔχων τὰς ἐντολάς μου, καὶ τηρῶν αὐτάς· καὶ, Ἐάν τίς μου ἀκούσῃ τὸν λόγον, καὶ τηρήσῃ αὐτὸν, ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαπῶν με· ὁ μὴ ἀκούων μου τοὺς λόγους, οὐκ ἀγαπᾷ με. Οἶμαι αὐτὸν αἰνίττεσθαι τὴν ἀθυμίαν αὐτῶν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ πολλὰ περὶ θανάτου αὐτοῖς ἐφιλοσόφησε, λέγων· Ὁ μισῶν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ, εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον φυλάξει αὐτήν· καὶ,