--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot keep to ourselves the words of…" description: "\"We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg" --- # We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life… ![“We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. ... It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God's grace, we ourselves have received.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg) > “We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. ... It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God's grace, we ourselves have received.” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must share the spiritual gift of eternal life with everyone, as a duty from divine grace. **In simple terms:** Share faith with all. Key Takeaway Spread the message. Themes faith responsibility evangelism Mood inspirational serious Type religious ethical When to use this quote - church sermons - personal testimony - social media outreach - educational programs Key Concepts theology grace missionary work Questions to Reflect On - How can you share respectfully? - What channels best reach diverse audiences? A Different Perspective Risk of imposing beliefs; respect autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-life/) [God 's grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-grace-2/) [God'S Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-grace/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man and woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-and-woman/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [An experience without words is eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/an-experience-without-words-is-eternal/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [Lord, to whom should we go? Thy words are the words of eternal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/lord-to-whom-should-we-go-thy-words-are-the-words-of-eternal-life/) [Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/) > [I believe that fallen creatures perish, perish for ever, for only good can live, and good has not been theirs; but how durst men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/i-believe-that-fallen-creatures-perish-perish-for-ever-for-only-good/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [“If we are going to be for the world as Christ meant for us to be, we are going to have to spend more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/if-we-are-going-to-be-for-the-world-as-christ-meant-for-us-to-be-we/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [As St. Paul points out, Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary, He told us to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/as-st-paul-points-out-christ-never-meant-that-we-were-to-remain/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“These sermons of Jesus Christ are meant for your will and your conscience, not for your head. If you dispute these verses from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/these-sermons-of-jesus-christ-are-meant-for-your-will-and-your/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“The Word made flesh in Jesus Christ should show through us. We are meant to be primary evidence of the flourishing love, grace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-labberton/the-word-made-flesh-in-jesus-christ-should-show-through-us-we-are/) [Mark Labberton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-labberton/) > [Whether God has decreed all things that ever come to pass or not, all that own the being of a God, own that He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/whether-god-has-decreed-all-things-that-ever-come-to-pass-or-not-all/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“…Whatever is done for man will pass, yet all that is done for God will last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/whatever-is-done-for-man-will-pass-yet-all-that-is-done-for-god-will/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [When I walk or people see me somewhere they stop and recognize me; heads turn when I pass. God has blessed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pulkit-samrat/when-i-walk-or-people-see-me-somewhere-they-stop-and-recognize-me/) [Pulkit Samrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pulkit-samrat/) > [Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-nothing-perturb-you-nothing-frighten-you-all-things-pass-god-does/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As the arrow, loosed from the bow by the hand of the practiced archer, does not rest till it has reached the mark, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/as-the-arrow-loosed-from-the-bow-by-the-hand-of-the-practiced-archer/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Your own efforts "did not bring it to pass," only God-but rejoice if God found a use for your efforts in His work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/your-own-efforts-did-not-bring-it-to-pass-only-god-but-rejoice-if-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Let nothing Disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, Though all things pass, God does not change. Patience wins all things. But he lacks nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/let-nothing-disturb-you-let-nothing-frighten-you-though-all-things/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Nothing in all the vast universe can come to pass otherwise than God has eternally purposed. Here is a foundation of faith. Here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-in-all-the-vast-universe-can-come-to-pass-otherwise-than-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Christ quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. ... It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God's grace, we ourselves have received.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Benedict XVI" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of-eternal-life-given-to-us-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christ" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of-eternal-life-given-to-us-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_christ_we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of_830977.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they…” — Pope Benedict XVI", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pope Benedict XVI", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We cannot keep to ourselves the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of-eternal-life-given-to-us-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/we-cannot-keep-to-ourselves-the-words-of-eternal-life-given-to-us-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```