Homilies on the Gospel of John (1-40) - (Works of Saint Augustine) by St Augustine (Paperback)

About the Book

This volume of the first 40 homilies are masterpieces not only of theological profundity but also of pastoral engagement.

Book Synopsis

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 indispensible 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.

Review Quotes

This volume contains the first 40 of 124 homilies that Augustine needed to traverse the whole Gospel. The excellent introduction gives abundant information to guide readers in their understanding of the context in which the sermons were preached.... This volume, like others in the series, is excellently presented with clear, well-spaced pages, informative paragraph headings, and competent notes.... In general the translation is fluid; it can be read aloud and is as comprehensive as the original allows. This is a good piece of work, a necessary acquisition for any monastic library and solid spiritual nourishment for any with a taste for the writings of this great Christian thinker.' --Michael Casey, ocso, Cistercian Studies Quarterly

'Hill's translation of Augustine's homilies on the Gospel of John, commonly called tractates (tractatus), is a welcome contribution. Though there are at least three other English translations available ... Hill's translation proves superior in its nuanced interpretation of the text and in its readability, although those accustomed to Hill's translations of Augustine will find some of the same curious and at times perplexing idiosyncrasies in this volume. Nevertheless, Hill's work remains edifying, and is poised to become the standard English translation. Other strengths of this volume include useful footnotes, which display Hill's facility with the Augustinian corpus, as well as the introduction by A. Fitzgerald, a brief yet insightful look at the historical and theological context of the homilies.... These homilies contain and express the richness of Augustine's thought, and Hill's translation will do much to inspire renewed interest in these too often neglected works.' --James K. Lee, University of Notre Dame

About the Author

Augustine of Hippo is one of the greatest thinkers and writers in the Western world. After becoming a Christian he was made bishop of Hippo in Africa, where he was influential in civil and church affairs. His more than 100 books, 200 letters, and 500 sermons have 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.