8. It is clear from these words that the good works of the just give glory to God. Instead of “efficiamini,” the more probable Greek reading is γενήσεσθε (efficiemini), and the meaning is; And so you shall become more and more My disciples.
| 9. Sicut dilexit me Pater, et ego dilexi vos. Manete in dilectione mea. | 9. As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. |
9. As (καθώς) expresses not equality, but resemblance. The resemblance consists in this, [pg 271] that as the Father loved Christ's humanity gratuitously, without any previous merit on its part, and united it with the Person of the Word, so Christ loved the disciples gratuitously, and united them with Himself. So Toletus, following St. Aug. Then Christ adds as a practical conclusion: Take care to remain in the enjoyment of that love of mine for you. Or the meaning of the whole verse according to the Greek text may be: as the Father hath loved Me, and as I have loved you, so abide ye in the enjoyment of that love of Mine for you.
| 10. Si praecepta mea servaveritis, manebitis in dilectione mea, sicut et ego Patris mei praecepta servavi, et maneo in eius dilectione. | 10. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father's commandments, and do abide in his love. |
10. Here he points out how they are to continue to enjoy His love: it is by keeping His commandments.
| 11. Haec locutus sum vobis, ut gaudium meum in vobis sit, et gaudium vestrum impleatur. | 11. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. |
11. The meaning is: these things, namely, that you should keep My commandments and continue to retain My love, I have spoken in order that My joy on account of you may continue (the true reading is ᾖ, not μείνῃ, but does not alter the sense), and your joy may be perfected.
| 12. Hoc est præceptum meum ut diligatis invicem, sicut dilexi vos. | 12. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. |
12. He had just said that the observance of His commandments is a necessary condition to be fulfilled by those who would retain His love, and now He goes on to point to one commandment that in a special manner is His, the “new commandment” ([xiii. 34]), to which they must attend.
| 13. Maiorem hac dilectionem nemo habet, ut animam suam ponat quis pro amicis suis. | 13. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. |