Commentary on John, Volumes 1 & 2 (Ancient Christian Texts)
Overview
Cyril of Alexandria (ca. 378–444), one of the most brilliant representatives of the Alexandrian theological tradition, is best known for championing the term Theotokos (God-bearer) in opposition to Nestorius of Constantinople. Cyril’s great Commentary on John, offered here in the Ancient Christian Text series in two volumes, predates the Nestorian controversy, however, and focuses its theological fire power against Arianism. The commentary, which is addressed to catechists, displays Cyril’s breath-taking mastery of the full content of the Bible and his painstaking attention to detail as he seeks to offer practical teaching on the cosmic story of God’s salvation.
David Maxwell provides readers with the first complete English translation of the text since the nineteenth century. It rests on Pusey’s critical edition of the Greek text and puts on display Cyril’s theological interpretation of Scripture and his appeal to the patristic tradition that preceded him. Today’s readers will find the commentary an indispensable tool for understanding Cyril’s approach to Scripture.
Top Highlights
“We are justified in believing in God the Father and the only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Volume 1, Page 11)
“Since the condemning law was given through Moses but the justifying grace came through the Only Begotten” (Volume 1, Page 69)
“The Son, by his authority, gives what belongs to him alone by nature and sets it forth as a common possession, making this a sort of image of the love he has for humanity and for the world. We who bore the image of the earthly man could not escape corruption unless the call to sonship placed in us the splendor of the image of the heavenly man.288 We became participants in him through the Spirit. We were sealed into his likeness, and we ascend to the archetypal form of the image according to which Holy Scripture says we were also made. Once we recover the ancient beauty of our nature in this way and are refashioned in relation to the divine nature, we will be superior to the evils that befell us because of transgression. Therefore, we rise up to an honor above our nature because of Christ.” (Volume 1, Page 60)
“He does not exist in some piecemeal fashion, belonging to some and not others; rather, he mixes himself by some ineffable mode of participation with all who exist. In this participation, he is wisdom and understanding (which is what light is called in rational creatures) so that things capable of reason may become rational and things capable of wisdom may have wisdom. This could not happen in any other way.” (Volume 1, Page 39)
“I do not think just anyone should attempt this, however, but only those who are enlightened by grace from above because ‘all wisdom is from the Lord,’2 as it is written, and ‘every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (Volume 1, Page 1)
- Title: Commentary on John, Volumes 1 & 2
- Author: Cyril of Alexandria
- Series: Ancient Christian Texts
- Volume: 1 & 2
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2013–2015
- Logos Release Date: 2017
- Era: era:nicene
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. John › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9780830866458, 9780830829118, 9780830898138, 9780830829125, 0830866450, 0830829113, 0830898131, 0830829121
- Resource ID: LLS:ACTJOHN
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:05:33Z