Commentary on John (Volume 1) (Ancient Christian Texts)

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, displaysCyril'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. Joel C. Elowsky (Ph.D., Drew University) has served as operations manager for the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and is the volume editor for its two volumes on John's Gospel. He is executive director of the Center for Early African Christianity and executive editor for the Works of Early African Christianity, and has served as adjunct professor of religion at Drew University.

David R. Maxwell (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is the Louis A. Fincke and Anna B. Shine Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the translator for volumes on Cyril of Alexandria's Commentary on John in the Ancient Christian Texts series.