Fragments on the Gospel of John (in the catenae) 1 Positing him as the Creator of all things, he predicates the name of the Word of him. For since, in

 but by the good pleasure of God, he willed that creation should exist. This wisdom, therefore, willed to assume a creative relation to the things that

 again overtakes the light. And that I might change the theorem to something clearer, the light is the truth but when falsehood and all deceit, that i

 but having come to him with scientific proof and articulated understanding, they believe in him and call upon him. Whence Jesus, after the great progr

 But First must be understood instead of Before. However, what he says is something like this: Jesus, being before me and prior to me, came behind

 it is accomplished by choice, then that which is from God comes to pass, and this is the giving of grace for grace from God. 12 But the law was given

 he sees by applying his own mind, just as we are said to see visible things by a glance of the eyes. But God is also seen by those to whom He judges t

 and hiding his power for proceeding toward the dispensation. Since, therefore, it is not possible for any human to show a demonstration of the manner

 a more solid body. But if this were so, the opening of the heavens would not <have> come under sight, for neither is the Holy Spirit which descended f

 he says confidently, from Nazareth is indeed the one who was found and truly he is good. To whom Philip said: “Come and see” the found Jesus, wishing

 having been cast upon it, it seemed to be thought that all things came from water〛. 30 They believed is said instead of They were confirmed. For h

 For to know certain people from their actions and words is possible even for a mere man. But Jesus, not being a mere man, but God become man, knows al

 is grieved at the loss of pleasant things, does not cling with steadfastness to the agreeable things that are present. He wants us, therefore, to be s

 saying we may signify it through the ones being ruled, declaring it either from the place † when of the earth [of him] or of the inhabited world we an

 of wild beasts, having disbelieved God, who promised them the land, thus will they be saved by gazing at the uplifted serpent because of God who comma

 that the one who has done evil should depart from evil † but look to the good and that the one who professes to rejoice in the truth should at some t

 of the only sower of good things. He is none other than Jesus, of whom you have said you baptize, who has been testified to by me, to whom you say all

 by the prophets, in the last «of the days has spoken to us, who live during the visitation

 John. He came for a witness, to bear witness «of the Light».〛 For if the prophets before John also spoke from the earth, how do they bear witness conc

 to come to a woman. 53 But perhaps someone might inquire into the reason why Jews do not associate with Samaritans, which it is possible to find in th

 it must be said, from which Jacob along with his sons was drinking spiritually, and from it were drinking also

 and being lovers of the word, they considered that it was then the time for food and supposed that perhaps just as to Daniel in Babylon by the command

 human nature is not able. But since such a discourse does not come to men bare of matter and bodily examples, for this reason Jesus spits on the groun

 For since there are differences of signs, so that, as the apostle says, both the one in the law and the lawless one, whom the lord consumes with the b

 God, being asked for things by sinners on the basis of works, does not listen. 71 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him, he sai

 of the sensible it is no longer possible to hear about the bodily... when “Jesus answered and said to her: If you knew the gift of God and who it is

 Aenon, near Salem. Aenon is interpreted as Eye of torment and Salem He who is ascending. Therefore, those who receive the second ransom are now mo

 Jesus to the one who had died. For your sakes, he says, I am glad, those of you believing from learning that he died when I was not with him, and so t

 waits at home to receive him, as one capable of his visit. And she would not have gone out of her own house, unless she had heard her sister saying: “

 outcome is uncertain. But for an allegorical interpretation, it must be said that 〚Jesus formerly walked openly among the Jews through the prophets, b

 to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance so from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from

 able to believe 〚because their eyes had been blinded by the evil one〛 it was not impossible for them to believe by approaching Jesus 〚and saying: Son

 the sun, the light that does not set and is without evening, having come to the world and through wonders both befitting God and beyond reason having

 you see that I have.”〛 And concerning how it is said to him, “Do not be unbelieving, but believing,” and concerning the name of Thomas, such things mi

 emphatic. For one who proclaims great doctrines, according to the meaning, as is fitting, utters them with a great voice. 116 And has become should

 named it from the reigning God. For indeed among us in common usage, his kingdom is sometimes signified from the one who reigns, and sometimes from th

 and the mere sight of the one envied casts no small spark into the envious.] 130 [For this reason he would have mingled with us .... and becoming for

 risen from the dead. We acknowledge him as head according to the prefiguration of his resurrection, of whom we are members in part and a body through

again overtakes the light. And that I might change the theorem to something clearer, the light is the truth; but when falsehood and all deceit, that is the darkness, pursues the light, then it is dissolved and vanishes, having drawn near to that which was pursued. For when the truth has appeared, falsehood and deceit are dissolved. And I will say the paradox: the darkness, being far off, pursues the light, but having drawn near to overtake it, it vanishes. For falsehood, insofar as it is distant from the truth, prevails and is active in man, so as to pursue the truth from the mind; but when it draws near to it, it is shown to not exist at all. Therefore, God necessarily permitted evil to exist, though being able to prevent it, so that the greatness of virtue might be shown. 4 Not so much on account of the common rendering concerning man, as on account of his being created according to the image and for likeness to God. But it must be noted that "He was made" does not always signify the generation that brings into existence, but here "He was made" has reference to "sent from God"; so that what is said is of this sort: "He was made a man sent from God for a witness." But if these things said about John are correct, how much more so the things written or said about the Son of God as being spoken of or written of and being made. 5 [ That all might believe. That is, as far as it depended on him, even if not all believed; for neither, if not all were to receive the light from the sun, would one say that the sun does not rise for this purpose, namely, that all might be enlightened. For the purpose of him who sent him was that all might believe.] 6 He was not that light. That is, the one of whom theology speaks; for it was supposed by some on account of the advantages belonging to him that he himself was the Christ. For this reason he says this, in order to completely remove such an error. For even if John <be> a light, yet he is not that light concerning which the saints say to God: "In your light we shall see light"; so that even if John was a light, according to what was said to the disciples: "You are the light of the world"; yet he was not that true light. But "true light" is said not in contradistinction to what is false but in differentiation from what is a copy. For truth and the true is at one time contrasted with falsehood and deceit, at another with an image and a copy. And it is possible to take the perceptible light as the copied light, and especially the sun, but the intelligible light as the true light; or rather that which illumines intelligible things, the holy powers. Which I think has been said by the scripture: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." For the light spoken of in theology was "the true light, which enlightens every man coming into the world." But since "coming into the world" is said ambiguously, being able to signify at one time the light, at another the man, it must be interpreted in both ways. And first, one must accept the light which enlightens every man coming at the time of his sojourn, the man being in the world, as has been said, the light coming into the world in order to enlighten man. Then, the true light enlightens every man who comes into the world. 7 Since not all turned away from him (for many of them received him, and especially the apostles), the evangelist adds: "But as many as received him, he gave them power to become children of God." For those who are being introduced to the faith, and perhaps also those who have made progress, have the power to become children of God, then becoming this, for which they have for the time being received the power, when they are perfected in virtue and faith and knowledge. And what is the reason for which they received the power, he reveals by writing that it was given to those who believe in his name, that is, of the light. For since it is not the same to believe in the name of the light as to believe in the light, power is given, that is, a fitness to become children, to those who have believed in his name. But if through progress they should pass from believing in his name to believing in him, they would <be> children of God no longer in potentiality but in actuality. For <on the one hand> those assenting to the light with a simpler and not very precise understanding believe in his name, while those

αὖ καταλαμβάνει τὸ φῶς. καὶ ἵνα ἐπὶ τὸ σαφέστερον μεταβάλω τὸ θεώρημα, φῶς ἐστὶν ἡ ἀλήθεια· ὅταν δὲ τὸ ψεῦδος καὶ ἀπάτη πᾶσα, τουτέστι τὸ σκότος, διώκῃ τὸ φῶς, τότε λύεται καὶ ἀφανίζεται πλησίασαν τῷ διωκο μένῳ. τῆς γὰρ ἀληθείας φανείσης τὸ ψεῦδος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη λύεται. καὶ τὸ παράδοξον ἐρῶ, μακρὰν οὖσα ἡ σκοτία διώκει τὸ φῶς, ἐγγί σασα δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ καταλαβεῖν αὐτὸ ἀφανίζεται. καὶ γὰρ τὸ ψεῦδος, ὅσον ἀφέστηκεν τῆς ἀληθείας, κρατεῖ καὶ ἐνεργεῖ ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, ὡς διώκειν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἀπὸ τοῦ νοῦ· ὅταν δὲ ἐγγίσῃ αὐτῇ, δείκνυ ται μηδ' ὅλως ὄν. ὅθεν ἀναγκαίως ἀφῆκεν ὁ θεὸς εἶναι κακίαν, δυνάμενος κωλῦσαι, ἵνα τὸ μέγεθος τῆς ἀρετῆς δειχθῇ. 4 Οὐ τοσοῦτον διὰ τὴν κοινὴν περὶ ἀνθρώπου ἀπόδοσιν ὅσον διὰ τὸ πεφυκέναι αὐτὸν κατ' εἰκόνα καὶ πρὸς θεὸν ὁμοίωσιν. σημειω τέον δὲ ὡς οὐκ ἀεὶ τὸ «Ἐγένετο» τὴν <εἰς> ὕπαρξιν ἄγουσαν γέννησιν δηλοῖ, ἀλλ' ἐνταῦθα τὸ «Ἐγένετο» ἀναφορὰν ἔχει πρὸς τὸ «Ἀπεσταλ»μένος παρὰ θεοῦ»· ἵνα ᾖ τὸ λεγόμενον τοιοῦτο· «Ἐγένετο ἀπεσταλ «μένος παρὰ θεοῦ εἰς μαρτυρίαν». εἰ δὲ ταῦτα περὶ Ἰωάννου λεγό μενα ὀρθῶς ἔχει, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὰ περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ γραφόμενα ἢ λεγόμενα ὡς λεγομένου ἢ γραφομένου καὶ γινομένου. 5 [ Ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν . Ὅσον ἐφ' ἑαυτῷ δηλονότι, εἰ καὶ μὴ πάντες ἐπίστευσαν· οὐδὲ γάρ, εἰ μὴ πάντες τὸν παρὰ τοῦ ἡλίου δέχοιντο φωτισμόν, ἤδη καὶ τὸν ἥλιον φαίη τις ἂν μὴ ἐπὶ τοῦτο ἀνατέλλειν, ἐφ' ᾧ τε πάντας φωτίζεσθαι. ἡ γὰρ πρόθεσις τοῦ πέμψαντος αὐτὸν ἦν πιστεῦσαι πάντας.] 6 Οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς . Τουτέστι τὸ θεολογούμενον· ὑπεί ληπτο γάρ τισι διὰ τὸ προσόντα αὐτῷ πλεονεκτήματα ὡς αὐτὸς εἴη ὁ χριστός. διὰ τοῦτο τοῦτό φησιν ἵνα ὁλόριζον τὴν τοιαύτην ἀνέλῃ πλάνην. κἂν γὰρ φῶς Ἰωάννης <ᾖ>, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐκεῖνο τὸ φῶς περὶ οὗ οἱ ἅγιοι πρὸς τὸν θεόν φασιν· «Ἐν τῷ φωτί σου ὀψόμεθα «φῶς»· ὥστε εἰ καὶ φῶς ἦν Ἰωάννης, κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον τοῖς μαθη ταῖς· «Ὑμεῖς ἐστὲ τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου»· ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐκεῖνο τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν. φῶς δὲ ἀληθινὸν οὐ πρὸς ἀντιδιαστολὴν ψεύδους ἀλλὰ πρὸς διαφορὰν εἰκονικοῦ εἴρηται. ἡ γὰρ ἀλήθεια καὶ τὸ ἀληθὲς ὁτὲ μὲν τῷ ψεύδει καὶ τῇ ἀπάτῃ, ὁτὲ δὲ εἰκόνι καὶ μιμήματι ἀντι διαστέλλεται. δυνατὸν δὲ λαβεῖν εἰκονικὸν φῶς τὸ αἰσθητόν, καὶ μάλιστα τὸν ἥλιον, ἀληθινὸν δὲ φῶς τὸ νοητόν· μᾶλλον δὲ τὸ τῶν νοητῶν φωτιστικόν, τῶν ἁγίων δυνάμεων. ὅπερ ἡγοῦμαι εἰρῆσθαι ὑπὸ τῆς γραφῆς· «Πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον ἄνω «θέν ἐστι, καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν φώτων». τὸ θεολογού μενον γὰρ φῶς ἦν «τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον «ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον». ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ τὸ «Ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν «κόσμον» ἀμφιβόλως εἴρηται, δυνάμενον σημαίνειν ὁτὲ μὲν τὸ φῶς, ὁτὲ δὲ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἑκατέρως αὐτὸ ἑρμηνευτέον. καὶ πρῶτόν γε δεκτέον τὸ φῶς ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον κατὰ τὸν ἐπιδημίας καιρόν, τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὄντα ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, ὡς εἴρηται, τὸ φῶς ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἐπὶ τῷ φωτίσαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον. εἶτα τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν φωτίζει πάντα τὸν ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἄνθρωπον. 7 Ἐπεὶ μὴ πάντες ἀπεστράφησαν αὐτόν (πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐξ αὐτῶν προσήκαντο αὐτόν, καὶ μάλιστα οἱ ἀπόστολοι), ἐπιφέρει ὁ εὐαγγελι στής· «Ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτὸν ἔσχον ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι». οἱ γὰρ πρὸς τὴν πίστιν εἰσαγόμενοι, τάχα δὲ καὶ προκόψαντες, ἐξουσίαν ἔχουσι τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τότε γενησόμενοι τοῦτο, οὗ τέως τὴν ἐξουσίαν εἰλήφασιν, ὅταν τελειωθῶσιν ἐν τῇ ἀρετῇ καὶ τῇ πίστει καὶ γνώσει. τίς δὲ ἡ αἰτία, δι' ἣν ἔσχον τὴν ἐξουσίαν, δηλοῖ γράψας δεδόσθαι αὐτὴν τοῖς πιστεύσασιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, τοῦ φωτὸς δηλονότι. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐ ταὐτὸν τῷ πιστεῦσαι εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ φωτὸς τὸ πιστεῦσαι εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἐξουσία δίδοται, τουτέστιν ἐπιτηδειότης πρὸς τὸ γενέσθαι τέκνα, τοῖς πιστεύσασιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. εἰ δὲ μετέλθοιεν διὰ προκοπῆς εἰς τὸ πιστεύειν αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ πιστεύειν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, οὐκέτι δυνάμει ἀλλ' ἐνεργείᾳ εἶεν <ἂν> θεοῦ τέκνα. οἱ <μὲν> γὰρ ἁπλουστέρᾳ καὶ μὴ πάνυ ἠκριβωμένῃ διανοίᾳ συγκατατιθέμενοι τῷ φωτὶ πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, οἱ