New Testament IVb: John 11–21
Overview
In addition to the serial homilies of John Chrysostom, readers will find selections from those of Origen, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Cyril of Alexandria and Augustine. These commentaries are supplemented with homiletic material from Gregory the Great, Peter Chrysologus, Caesarius, Amphilochius, Basil the Great and Basil of Seleucia among others. Liturgical selections derive from Ephraim the Syrian, Ambrose and Romanos the Melodist, which are further supplemented with doctrinal material from Athanasius, the Cappadocians, Hilary and Ambrose.
Top Highlights
“Hidden first in a womb of flesh, he sanctified human birth by his own birth. Hidden afterward in the womb of the earth, he gave life to the dead by his resurrection.” (Page 337)
“What in fact is Christ’s kingdom? It is simply those who believe in him, those to whom he said, ‘You are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.’ He willed, nevertheless, that they should be in the world, which is why he prayed to the Father, ‘I ask you not to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.’7 So here also he did not say, ‘My kingdom is not’ in this world but ‘is not of this world.’ And when he went on to prove this by declaring, ‘If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews,’ he concluded by saying not ‘my kingdom is not here’ but ‘my kingdom is not from here.’” (Page 290)
“For each and every event that happened to our Savior is an outward sign of the mystery of our redemption. Just as Christ was born from his mother’s inviolate virginal womb, so too he rose again from the closed tomb. As he, the only-begotten Son of God was made the firstborn of his mother, so, by his resurrection, he became the firstborn from the dead. His birth did not break the seal of his mother’s virginal integrity. Nor did his rising from the dead break the seals on the sepulcher. And so, just as I cannot fully express his birth in words, neither can I wholly encompass his going forth from the tomb.” (Pages 336–337)
“When a sunbeam falls on a transparent substance, the substance itself becomes brilliant and radiates light from itself. So too Spirit-bearing souls, illumined by him, finally become spiritual themselves, and their grace is sent forth to others.” (Page 150)