St. Augustine as an Exegete in «The Interpretation on the Gospel of John»

Abstract

The report provides a brief introductory overview of St. Augustine's of Hippo large work «The Interpretation on the Gospel of John» (In Ioannis Euangelium Tractatus CXXIV ) which has not been published in Russian, the circumstances of its writing and reflection the personality of Augustine as an exegete and preacher in it. The author reminds the reader of the well-known difference between the so-called synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John and points to the numerical superiority of the Old Church interpretations on the Gospel of Matthew compared to those on the Gospel of John, and also probably the first example of the interpretation on this Gospel in the Latin tradition. The specificity of Augustine's interpretation on John is determined by the fact that it is rather not a scientific-exegetical treatise proper, but a collection of sermons for a wide, though demanding audience. According to a number of foreign researchers the «The Interpretation on the Gospel of John» was written and pronounced in 406-418 in the Hippo episcopal period of Augustine's life and work. The report touches upon Augustine's general attitude to Holy Scripture and his variable symbolic approach to biblical exegesis in some ways. The article is based on the study of the text of the St. Augustine and related secondary literature on the subject.