Homilies on the Gospel of John

“For a good work we stone you not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou being a man makest yourself God”; hear His answer; “If the Scripture called them gods unto whom the word of God came, how say ye that I blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son of God?”

What He says is of this kind: “If those who have received this honor by grace, are not found fault with for calling themselves gods, how can He who has this by nature deserve to be rebuked?” Yet He spoke not so, but proved it at a later time, having first relaxed and yielded somewhat in His discourse, and said, “Whom the Father has sanctified and sent.” And when He had softened their anger, He brings forward the plain assertion. For a while, that His speech might be received, He spoke in a humbler strain, but afterwards He raised it higher, saying,