Homilies on the Gospel of John

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

How then says He in another place, “Which You gave Me out of the world; Yours they were”? There He speaks of their nature; here of wicked actions. And He puts together a long encomium of them; first, that “they were not of the world”; then, that “the Father Himself had given them”; and that “they had kept His word;” and that on this account “they were hated.” And if He says, “As I am not of the world,” be not troubled; for the “as” is not here expressive of unvarying exactness. For as, when in the case of Him and the Father the “as” is used, a great Equality is signified, because of the Relationship in Nature; so when it is used of us and Him, the interval is great, because of the great and infinite interval between the respective natures. For if He “did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth”, how could the Apostles be reckoned equal to Him? What is it then that He says, “They are not of the world”? “They look to another world, they have nothing common with earth, but have become citizens of heaven.” And by these words He shows His love, when He commends them to the Father, and commits them to Him who begot Him. When He says, “Keep them,” He does not speak merely of delivering them from dangers, but also with regard to their continuance in the faith. Wherefore He adds,