On John 5.20-23
STERDAY,1 as far as the Lord designed to grant, we discussed with what ability we could, and we understood with what capacity we could, how the works of the Father and the Son are inseparable, and how the Father does not do some and the Son others, but the Father does all through the Son, as through his Word about whom it was written, "all things were made through him and without him was made nothing."2 Today let us look at the following words, and let us both pray for his mercy from the same Lord, and hope that first, if he judges it appropriate, we may understand what is true, but that if we cannot do this, we may not resort to that which is false. For it is better not to know than to err; but to know is better than not to know. And so before all else we ought to strive to know. If we can, thanks be to God; but if we cannot, for the time being, attain to the truth, let us not resort to falsehood.
(2) For we ought to consider what we are and what we are discussing. We are human beings carrying flesh, walking in this life. And if we have already been reborn from the seed of the word of God,3 still we have been renewed in Christ in such a way that we have not yet been utterly stripped of Adam.4 For this mortal and corruptible part of us which burdens the soul5 is clearly from Adam; and that is evident. But
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: Tractates on the Gospel of John.
Volume: 2.
Contributors: John W. Rettig - Translator, Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo - Author.
Publisher: Catholic University of America Press.
Place of publication: Washington, DC.
Publication year: 1988.
Page number: 178.
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