Homilies on the Gospel of John 1–40

by Augustine of Hippo

Publisher:

New City Press

, 2009

Overview

Few ancient Christian authors attempted anything like a complete commentary on the Gospel of John, among them Origen, John Chrysostom and Augustine. Of these, Augustine’s must count as the greatest. Unlike Origen’s, it has come down to us in its entirety, and of the others that remain it is certainly the most theologically profound. John’s gospel allows Augustine to range broadly over themes that were his life’s work—the Trinity, the person of Christ, the nature of the Church and its sacraments, the fulfillment of the divine plan. The 124 homilies that constitute Augustine’s commentary, however, are masterpieces not only of theological profundity but also of pastoral engagement. In the question-and-answer style that he frequently employs, for example, one can sense Augustine’s real awareness of his congregation’s struggles with the gospel text. And the congregation’s response to Augustine, which he frequently alludes to, is an indication of the success of his dialogical preaching style. The Johannine literature drew out the best in Augustine. The Homilies on the Gospel of John are the indispensable complement to The Homilies on The First Epistle of John, published in this series, and they should be a part of any serious theological library.

Contents

Top Highlights

“What did he want to make them, if he was finding fault with them for being merely human? Do you want to know what he wanted to make them? Listen to the answer from the psalms: I said, You are gods and sons of the Most High, all of you (Ps 81:6). That is what God called us to—that we not be merely human. But we will become more than merely human if we acknowledge in the first place that we are in fact human, that is, so that we might rise up to that lofty height by humility; otherwise, if we think that we are something, while in fact we are nothing, not only shall we not receive what we are not, but we shall even forfeit what we are.” (Page 41)

“Ultimately, the mercy of God will be present, so that all may be satisfied, and each one will grasp what he can; in fact, the speaker only says what he can. For who can state that which is? I dare say, my brothers and sisters, that perhaps not even John said what is, but only what he could. He, after all, as a man, spoke about God, and even though inspired by God, he was still a man. Because he was inspired, he said something; if he had not been inspired he would have said nothing. Since he was a human being, even though inspired, he did not say everything, but he said only what he could say as a human being.” (Pages 39–40)

“voice followed: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am” (Page 125)

“But because people have been so intent on other things that they have given up reflecting on the works of God and thereby praising the creator every day, it is as if God has kept in reserve some unusual things to do, and thus by miracles to rouse a slumbering humanity to render him due worship. Having died, he rose again; people were amazed; yet how many are born every day, and no one is amazed. If we thought about it a little more rationally, it is a more wonderful miracle for someone who did not exist just to be, than for someone who did exist to come back to life.⁴ And yet the same God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, makes all these things through his Word and governs what he created.” (Page 168)

Product Details

• Title: Homilies on the Gospel of John 1–40
• Author: Augustine of Hippo
• Series: The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century
• Volume: 12
• Publisher: New City Press
• Print Publication Date: 2009
• Logos Release Date: 2019
• Pages: 604
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Theology › Early church, ca. 30-600
• ISBNs: 9781565480551, 9781565483194, 9781565483187, 1565480554, 1565483197, 1565483189
• Resource ID: LLS:AGSTNHMLS64JN
• Resource Type: text.monograph.sermons
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:06:03Z

About Augustine of Hippo

Aurelius Augustinus (354–430) is often simply referred to as St. Augustine or Augustine Bishop of Hippo (the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba in Algeria). He is the preeminent Doctor of the Church according to Roman Catholicism, and is considered by Evangelical Protestants to be in the tradition of the Apostle Paul as the theological fountainhead of the Reformation teaching on salvation and grace.