Homilies on the Gospel of John (1-40)

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. Johns 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 congregations struggles with the gospel text. And the congregations 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, recently published in this series, and they should be a part of any serious theological library.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Augustine of Hippo is one of the greatest thinkers and writers in the Western world. After he became Christian he was made bishop of Hippo in Africa where he was influential in civil and church affairs. With more than 100 books, 200 letters and 500 sermons, he has left a lasting impact on Western philosophy and culture. His classic and best-selling works include The Confessions, The Trinity, The City of God, and Teaching Christianity.