Interpretation of the Gospel of John

Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria gained experience in explaining the Holy Scriptures when, as a rhetorician of the Great Church, he instructed the people. Most of his written interpretations arose at the request of the Greek Empress Maria, whom he calls his pious patron. These works became an outstanding synthesis and transposition of the established patristic traditions, primarily the heritage of the Antiochian theological school and St. John Chrysostom. As a rule, the author presents abbreviated versions of extensive interpretations of the ancient Church Fathers, borrowing only what is necessary for understanding the text. The commentary also includes his own explanations, which often concern disputes with heretics, especially later ones, and issues of dialogue with the Latins. Thanks to his clear, concise presentation and clear semantic emphasis, his commentaries were accessible to a wide range of readers, became widespread and had a significant influence on both Byzantine and Western European theology. In “Commentary on the Gospel of John” (chapter 21), the author explores the theology of the Apostle John, expressed in the doctrine of the Divine nature of Christ, love, light and darkness, as well as eternal life. Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 The power of the Holy Spirit, as it is written (2 Cor. 12:9) and as we believe, is accomplished in weakness, in the weakness not only of the body, but also of the mind and eloquence. This is evident both from many other things, and especially from what grace showed in the great theologian and brother of Christ. His father was a fisherman; John himself was engaged in the same trade as his father; not only did he not receive Greek and Jewish education, but he was not learned at all, as the divine Luke notes about him in Acts (Acts 4:13). And his fatherland is the poorest and most humble, like a place where they were engaged in fishing, and not in science. Bethsaida gave birth to him. However, look what kind of Spirit this unlearned, ignorant, unremarkable in any respect received. He thundered about what none of the other evangelists taught us. Since they preach the gospel of the incarnation of Christ, but did not say anything quite clear and demonstrative about His eternal existence, there was a danger that people, attached to earthly things and unable to think about anything lofty, would think that Christ only began His existence when He was born of Mary, and was not born of the Father before the ages. As is known, Samosatsky Pavel fell into such an error. Therefore, the great John announces the birth on high, without failing, however, to mention the incarnation of the Word. For he says: “And the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). Others say that the Orthodox asked him to write about the birth on high, since at that time heretics appeared who taught that Jesus was a simple man. They also say that Saint John, having read the writings of the other evangelists, marveled at the truth of their narration about everything and recognized them as sensible and did not say anything to please the apostles. However, what they did not clearly say or were completely silent about, he disseminated, clarified and added to his Gospel, which he wrote while he was in captivity on the island of Patmos, thirty-two years after the Ascension of Christ. John was loved by the Lord more than all the disciples for his simplicity, meekness, good nature and purity of heart or virginity. As a result of this gift, he was also entrusted with theology, the enjoyment of the sacraments, invisible to many. For “blessed,” it is said, “are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). John was also a relative of the Lord. How? Listen. Joseph, the betrothed of the Most Pure Mother of God, had from his first wife seven children, four male and three female, Martha, Esther and Salome; This Salome John was the son. Thus, it turns out that the Lord was his uncle. Since Joseph is the father of the Lord, and Salome is the daughter of this Joseph, then Salome is the sister of the Lord, and therefore her son John is the nephew of the Lord. Perhaps it is not inappropriate to make out the names of John’s mother and the evangelist himself. The mother called Salome means peaceful, and John means her grace. So, let every soul know that peace with people and peace from passions in the soul becomes the mother of divine grace and gives birth to it in us. For a soul that is indignant and fighting with other people and with itself is unnatural to receive divine grace. We also see another marvelous circumstance in this Evangelist John. Namely: he is the only one, but he has three mothers: his native Salome, thunder, for for the great voice in the Gospel he is “the son of thunder” (Mark 3:17), and the Mother of God, for it is said: “Behold, your Mother!” (John 19:27). Having said this before explaining, we must now begin to analyze the speeches of John themselves.