My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 29. That which my Father hath given [1] me, is greater than all. We may look upon this as the true reading by Tertullian, S. Hilary, Saint Ambrose Saint Augustine and so forth The ancient Fathers make use of these words, to shew the eternal procession of the Son from the Father; and that they are one in nature, substance, power, and so forth The reading in the ordinary Greek copies is now different. My Father, who gave me them, (the sheep) is greater than all. No one can snatch, or pull them by force, out of the hand of the Father. He had said just before, no one shall, or can snatch them, out of my hand. And this shews that the hand, that is, the power of the Father and the Son, is equal, is one and the same. See Saint Augustine S. Chrysostom, and so forth Witham.