23. Et dicebat eis: Vos de 23. And he said to them: You deorsum estis, ego de supernis are from beneath, I am from sum. Vos de mundo hoc estis, above. You are of this world, ego non sum de hoc mundo. I am not of this world. 23. Taking no notice of what had just been said, Jesus proceeds in His discourse. *You*, He says, *are from beneath, I am from above* (see iii. 31); _i.e._, you are earthly in origin and nature, I am of heaven; moreover, you are earthly in sentiment, you belong to the _wicked_ world (see xv. 19), I do not belong to it. Thus He shows them there is a twofold difference between Him and them; and unless by the supernatural principle of faith they are lifted above their nature, and taken out of the wicked world, they shall die in their sins, and shall never here or hereafter be able to follow whither He goeth. Instead of _peccato_ (Vulg.) in the end of verse 24, read _peccatis_. *For if you believe not that I am he.* “He” is not represented in the Greek or Latin text, and ought not to stand in the English. The predicate may be purposely suppressed in order to leave the meaning, which was still sufficiently intelligible, obscure, and thus afford no opportunity to His enemies of charging Him with blasphemy. 24. Dixi ergo vobis quia 24. Therefore I said to you, moriemini in peccatis vestris: that you shall die in your si enim non credideritis quia sins. For if you believe not ego sum, moriemini in peccato that I am he, you shall die in vestro. your sin. 25. Dicebant ergo ei: Tu quis 25. They said therefore to es? Dixit eis Iesus: him: Who art thou? Jesus said Principium, qui et loquor to them: The beginning, who vobis. also speak unto you. 25. This is a very obscure verse. Christ had just spoken of faith in Himself; but in Himself _under what aspect_ He had not defined; and now in the hope of evoking an answer for which they could punish Him, they ask: *Who art thou?* His answer is purposely obscure. It is according to the Greek text, τὴν ἀρχὴν ὅτι (or ὅ τι) καὶ λαλῶ ὑμῖν; which is rendered in the Vulgate: _Principium qui et loquor vobis_, and in our Rheims version: *The beginning, who also speak unto you*.