Greek · Commentarii in Iohannem
A large commentary on John's Gospel, written partly in reply to the Valentinian Heracleon's commentary. Book 5 (preserved by Eusebius) comments on the number of the apostles' writings.
Dating
Books 1-5 were written in Alexandria before 231/232 and the rest in Caesarea; the work stops at John 13 and was probably finished in the 240s. Only nine of 32 books survive.Books it uses
Comm. Jo. 1.4–6: the Gospel is 'the first fruits of all the Scriptures'; 'the Gospels then being four', with John first among them.
Comm. Jo. 1.4–6: the Gospel is 'the first fruits of all the Scriptures'; 'the Gospels then being four', with John first among them.
Comm. Jo. 1.4–6: the Gospel is 'the first fruits of all the Scriptures'; 'the Gospels then being four', with John first among them.
Comm. Jo. 1.4–6: the Gospel is 'the first fruits of all the Scriptures'; 'the Gospels then being four', with John first among them.
Comm. Jo. 1.6 'as Paul says, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself' (2 Cor 5:19).
Comm. Jo. 5.3: Peter 'left only one epistle of acknowledged genuineness'.
Comm. Jo. 5.3: 'Suppose we allow that he left a second; for this is doubtful.' Origen reports the doubt; elsewhere (Latin homilies) he cites 2 Peter.
Comm. Jo. 5.3: John 'left also an epistle of very few lines'.
Comm. Jo. 5.3: 'Suppose also a second and a third, since not all pronounce these to be genuine.'
Comm. Jo. 5.3, as for 2 John.
Comm. Jo. 1.1–2 expounds the 144,000 of Rev 7 and 14 'in John'; 5.3 'he wrote also the Apocalypse'.
Quotations
For we may venture to say that the Gospel is the first fruits of all the Scriptures. Where, then, could be the first fruits of our activity, since the time when we came to Alexandria, but in the first fruits of the Scriptures?
Comm. Jo. 1.4Names the book
ANF vol. 9 (1896), ed. Allan Menzies (tr. Allan Menzies) · Source (opens in a new tab)
The Gospels as the pinnacle within 'the Scriptures'.
The Gospels then being four, I deem the first fruits of the Gospels to be that which you have enjoined me to search into according to my powers, the Gospel of John,
Comm. Jo. 1.6Names the book
ANF vol. 9 (1896), ed. Allan Menzies (tr. Allan Menzies) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Four Gospels assumed; John ranked first among them.
And Peter, on whom the Church of Christ is built, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail left only one epistle of acknowledged genuineness. Suppose we allow that he left a second; for this is doubtful. What are we to say of him who leaned on Jesus’ breast, namely, John, who left one Gospel, though confessing that he could make so many that the world would not contain them? But he wrote also the Apocalypse, being commanded to be silent and not to write the voices of the seven thunders. But he also left an epistle of very few lines. Suppose also a second and a third, since not all pronounce these to be genuine; but the two together do not amount to a hundred lines.
Comm. Jo. 5.3 (Philocalia 5; Eus. HE 6.25.8–10)Names the book
ANF vol. 9 (1896), ed. Allan Menzies (tr. Allan Menzies) · Source (opens in a new tab)
1 Peter acknowledged, 2 Peter doubtful; 1 John accepted, 2–3 John not accepted by all. Origen reports others' doubts.