Homilies on the Gospel of John

“The bread of life.”

He calls Himself, “the bread of life,” because He maintains our life both which is and which is to be, and says, “Whosoever shall eat of this bread shall live for ever.” By “bread” He means here either His saving doctrines and the faith which is in Him, or His own Body; for both nerve the soul. Yet in another place He said, “If a man hear My saying, he shall never taste of death.” And they were offended; here they had no such feeling perhaps, because they yet respected Him on account of the loaves which had been made.

2. And observe how He distinguishes between His bread and the manna, by causing them to hear the result of each kind of food. For to show that the manna afforded them no unusual advantage, He added,