Commentary on John

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 (mother of God) 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.

Ancient Christian Texts are new English translations of full-length commentaries or sermon series from ancient Christian authors that allow you to study key writings of the early church fathers in a fresh way.



The Rev. Dr. Joel C. Elowsky (PhD, Drew University) is associate professor of historical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has served as the operations manager for the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and has edited the two volumes on John's Gospel in that series. He is the volume editor for We Believe in the Holy Spirit in the Ancient Christian Doctrine series and has edited volumes on Theodore of Mopsuestia and Cyril of Alexandria in the Ancient Christian Texts series.



David R. Maxwell (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is associate professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. His primary research interest is in the early church, particularly the Christological controversies of the 4th-6th centuries. An ordained minister in the Lutheran Church and a trained organist, Maxwell has also done work on the theological symbolism of J.S. Bach's Clavierübung III. His essay "What Was 'Wrong' with Augustine? The Sixth-Century Reception (or Lack Thereof) of Augustine's Christology" appeared in the book In the Shadow of the Incarnation: Essays in Honor of Brian E. Daley.

General Introduction


Abbreviations


Translator's Introduction


Expanded Table of Contents


Commentary on the Gospel of John


Book 1


Book 2


Book 3


Book 4


Book 5


Indexes