v. 31, 32 — If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true: there is another that beareth witn…
Commentary on the Gospel according to John · St Cyril of Alexandria
The most wise Solomon, gathering together the things in which a man may very reasonably glory, and shew his manner of life to be enviable, and placing them before those who are apt to learn, says, The righteous man is his own accuser in the opening of the trial, and again, Let thy neighbour praise thee and not thine own mouth, a stranger and not thine own lips. For a thing truly burdensome and most intolerable to the hearers, is it that some like not to be praised by the voice of others, but attest unrestrainedly their own most noble and excellent deeds. But with reason is such language distrusted; for we are wont to be invited by certain (so to speak) natural and necessary drawings of self-love, readily to ascribe to ourselves nought that is ill, but ever to put about us and not altogether truthfully, the things whereby any may be thought well-behaved and good.
CyrJn 2.31.1
When then our Lord Jesus Christ adjudged to Himself that He judgeth righteous judgments, saying openly that He could do nothing of Himself, but that He makes the Will of the Father His Rule in all His Actions, and in saying this, introduced Himself as witness to Himself, although it was true, yet of necessity considering the sophistry of the Pharisees, and what they would say in their folly (for they knew not that He is God by Nature): He anticipates them in putting it forward, and says, Ye following the practice of the common people, and not advancing beyond surmise befitting Jews, will surely say, THOU bearest record of Thyself, Thy record is not true; but ye shall hear this in reply (saith He), I endure yet with your blasphemies, I am by no means exceeding angry with you belching forth your words from the ignorance most dear to you, I grant you for argument's sake, that even this hath been well said by you: Be it so, ye reject My Voice, there is Another That beareth witness of Me. He here indicates God the Father Which is in heaven Who hath now in divers manners attested the Verity of the Essence of His Own Son; and He says that He knows that His witness is True shewing that His Own Judgement too is in fact most trustworthy and true. For lest by admitting as it were that He said things untrue of Himself, He should give room for malice, and a loophole against Himself to them who are accustomed to think otherwise, He having ceded of necessity to what is becoming and customary, that one ought not altogether to credit as true him who praises and approves himself, returns again as God to His due position and says that He knows that the witness of the Father is true, all bat teaching this; I being Very God know Myself (says Ho), and the Father will say nothing of favour concerning Me. For I am Such by Nature, as He, being True, will declare Me. In the former part then there was an assent so to say of condescension, and the words hypothetic rather than true; in His saying that He knows that the witness of the Father is true, is the demonstration of God-befitting credibility.
CyrJn 2.31.2
But it must be observed that in respect of His Own Person the Father is Other than the Son, and is not, as some uninstructed heretics have imagined, introduced as the Son-Father.
CyrJn 2.31.3
As we have just affirmed that it is disgraceful, and not without share of the uttermost folly, that any one should be seen as an admirer of his own excellencies, even though he should by reason of exceeding virtue escape untruth: so it is an absurdity cognate (so to say) and akin to this, that any not called upon to bear witness to any thing, should of their own accord appear before the judges or those who wish to enquire. For such an one would seem (and that justly) not altogether to be anxious to tell the truth, but rather to be over-eager to give his testimony, to make known not what the nature of the fact is, but rather his own account of it. Most skilfully then, yea rather as God, doth our Lord Jesus Christ, overturning beforehand the charge of the Pharisees in regard to this, say, YE have sent unto John: not of his own accord (says He) does the Baptist come to give his testimony to Me, he is clear from any charge of this: he gave free testimony; YE sent to ask John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. For when he was asked by them who were sent to him, whether he were the Christ, he confessed and denied not, but confessed I am not the Christ, but am sent before Him. He hath then borne witness to the Truth, for Christ is the Truth.
CyrJn 2.31.5
34 But I receive not testimony from man, but these things I say, that YE might be saved.
CyrJn 2.31.6
He doth not reject the word of John as useless, nor declare the witness of the truth to be of none effect (for He would with justice have seemed to have wrought absurdity against Himself, by unreasonably dismissing from credence him whom He sent to cry. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God) but as striving with the unbounded disobedience of the Jews He proceeds to what is better and of more weight, saying that not of necessity is testimony to Himself from voice of man admitted, but rather giving them more glorious proof from the Authority befitting Him Who is by Nature God, and from the Excellence of the Divine Miracles. For a person will sometimes reject the voice of man, as not true, even though he be haply enrolled among the saints. Which some not scrupling to do, used to oppose the words of the Prophets, crying out. Speak unto us other things and declare unto us another deceit: and yet besides these, certain of them of Jerusalem, or of the land of Judah, who had escaped into Egypt: to wit, Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the proud men, as it is written, openly disbelieving the prophecies of Jeremiah, said, Thou speakest falsely, the Lord sent thee not to say to us, Go not into Egypt. But demonstration through miracles, what gainsaying will it admit of; and the being borne witness to by the Excellencies of God the Father, what mode of stubbornness will it yet grant to the faultfinders? And verily Nicodemus (he was one of their rulers, and ranked among those in authority) gave incontrovertible testimony from His miracles, saying, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that THOU doest, except God be with Him.
CyrJn 2.31.7
Since then to disbelieve even the holy Baptist himself who brought testimony as far as words go, was not too much for the malice of the Jews, He says again, in a sort of irony, The blessed Baptist hath borne witness to the truth, even though questioned by you, but since nothing has been left untried by you, and ye have foolhardily accustomed yourselves to launch forth into all manner of reviling, ye have, it is likely, rejected his voice. And since this too seems to you to be right, be it so: I am haply persuaded, I agree with you, I will put aside for your sakes the voice of John too, and with you except against his testimony: I have the Father from above bearing testimony. But teaching again that the expression implies assent for argument's sake, He profitably subjoined, But these things I say that YE might be saved, that is, I used this manner of speech to you, not that the truth is so, but for argument's sake, that by every means YE may be saved.
CyrJn 2.31.8
132 We in Christ, because human nature is one. How S. John Baptist knew not Christ. 133 The Son Perfect because the Father Perfect. 135 136 The Son by Nature God and Perfect, lest the Father cease to be Father or Perfect. 137 138 God the Son always Holy; else exalted, not lowered by the Incarnation. 139 140 Words against the Son "words of wickedness." Man's loss through sin. 141 142 God the Son gives again to man the Spirit. The Son Incarnate shamed not to abase Himself. 143 144 S. John the Baptist sanctified, the Son Essentially holy. The Intimate Union between the Son and the Holy Ghost. 145 146 God the Holy Ghost, Unseen, as God. The Intimate Union between the Father and the Son. 147 148 Christ taketh away the sin of the world. The Lord looks on them who turn to Him. 149 150 The tenth hour the latter end of the world. Christ's Divine fore-knowledge. 151 152 Christ born in Bethlehem, brought up at Nazareth. Christ proves that He is God by His fore-knowledge. 153 154 Angels serve Christ as their God. Christ present at the marriage blesses marriage. 155 156 Christ begins miracles at His mother's instance. Restoration of lost nature by the Spiritual Bridegroom. 157 158 Christ's Bounty. The scourge a punishment befitting slaves. 159 160 Christ honours them who honour Him. commands even those who will not to obey. 161 162 The Temple of God. He Who says, My Father's House, is God. 163 164 Christ God, Whose Body is a Temple. Long growth & diligence needed for maturity of life. 165 166 Christ God Who knoweth the heart. God the Holy Ghost by Nature God. 167 168 The new Birth in Baptism two-fold, for body and soul. We are born of the Spirit, how. 169 170 The air, itself unseen, its working seen, a type. Teachers must teach step by step. 171 172 God and man One Christ. The brazen serpent fixed aloft a type of Christ. 173 174 God's Love, that He gave for us creatures, God the Son. 175 176 Christ tries every way not to condemn, condemns those who will be condemned. 177 178 Knowledge an aid to a holy life. S. John Baptist knows the excellence of Christ's Baptism. 179 180 Trouble of S. John Baptist's disciples. We must deeply prize what God allots us. 181 182 Christ is All. Examples of increase and decrease. 183 True meaning of From above. 185 186 God the Son God, All the creature. God the Son God apart from All. 187 188 Man teaches, God draws. Christ uses the evidence we best accredit. 189 God the Son God Who giveth. 191 192 Christ True who says, I and the Father are One. Sent, God the Son's Eternal Generation. 193 194 None but God can give the Spirit. 196 Human language weak to express things Divine. God the Son He Who emptied Himself. 197 198 God the Son receives, the Firstfruits of our clay. Christ our Life. 199 200 All rise, not all to life. The Son ever knows, does all in season. 201 202 Christ illumines the Samaritans, when He, the Very Light, passes through them. 203 204 Christ, the Strength of all, wearied with the journey. The Word made Flesh endures what is below God. 205 206 Exclusiveness of the Jews. God the Son God Who can give the gift of God. 207 208 The Samaritan woman awakes unto faith in Christ. Christ above man. Apostles wells. Mind of men stronger. 209 210 Christ above man: the woman's gradual progress. Jews and Samaritans. The Father suggests the Son. 211 WORD emptied Himself, shewn in acts. 213 214 As God He is worshipped, as Man He worshippeth; else would the FATHER too be lowered. 215 216 Either the SON GOD, or the Father below His creation. The Son told S. Peter that He was Free. 217 218 The Son worships as Man. God is Spirit. Messias' coming known. Woman zealous. 219 220 Christ teaches how to teach; kindles Samaria. The reverence of the Disciples. 221 222 The Samaritan woman's zeal and skill and example. The Samaritans shame the Jews. 223 224 The Saviour neglects food to hunt souls. Deep moment of teaching. WORD how sent. 225 226 SON, Word Counsel Will Power of FATHER. Human language powerless to express things of GOD. 227 228 Wheat, Prophets' sowing, Apostles' reaping. The Saviour loves both, gives one honour to both. 229 230 Jews through their conduct lose Christ, Samaritans gain Him: the seed left to fructify. 231 232 Grace to the good, woe to despisers. He That repels death is God. 233 234 Christ healeth the nobleman and his son. Aliens teachable, Jews perverse. 235 236 He leaveth them, but returneth; and will return to Jews at end of world. Why The Good questions. 237 238 Why one cured by pool. Christ cures with authority. Why bed carried on Sabbath: to blame Benefactor, bitter. 239 240 Mighty the Healer. Christ an example of flight. Christ observes fit time. The healed good. 241 242 False sabbath-keeping. Non-observance of sabbath under Joshua. Christ co-worker with the Father. 243 244 God works on sabbath. The Son God, because God His Father. 245 The Son cannot do counter to His Nature. 247 248 The Son Equal Who does equal works: if inferior, the Godhead admits weakness. 249 250 God Whom angels worship. Demonstration ad absurdum. The SPIRIT His: He GOD or compound. 251 252 GOD by Nature, yet Man too. Different meanings of cannot. All which the FATHER, the SON too. 253 254 Of Both the works the same, Father not antecedent. The Father's Love in Perfect sameness of the Son. 255 256 Their knowledge One of Other: Each works on sabbath. The SON GOD Who does the works of GODHEAD. 257 Receiver and giver may be equal. Judging an operation not of essence. 259 260 Creation and judging thro' the Son. Fire's operation. 262 As indicates various degrees of likeness. Christ foresaw and met the cavillings of heretics. 263 264 The SON GOD lest The TRINITY be unequal; GOD beget worse than the creature. Senses of Image. 265 266 The SON Very God, or His likeness to the FATHER that of the creatures, and in mere embellishment. 267 268 The SON Very GOD; or things made put in God's place. His treatment of the Jews. 269 270 The Son the Judge. The hour that cometh the Resurrection-day. Our Lord's mixed speech. 271 272 As man He receives to judge, as God quickeneth. His works, less and great: He will Reward and Doom. 273 The SON GOD Who is Judge, Who doth nought of Himself. 275 276 The SON hath all the Power of the FATHER. One Will in all the Holy TRINITY. Of Myself what. 277 278 The Incarnate SON Law-giver and Law-keeper. I cannot implies YE do. God tends His creatures on Sabbath. 279 280 He Just, they unjust. Self-praise worthless. The SON GOD by the witness of the FATHER. 281 282 Father Other than Son. Baptist asked witnessed. If man's witness rejected, GOD's abideth. 283 284 For their salvation every means used.
CyrJn 2.31.12