TheGospelofJohnwasbelovedbytheearlychurch,muchasitistoday,foritsspiritualinsightandcleardeclarationofJesus’divinity.ClementofAlexandriaindeeddeclareditthe“spiritualGospel.“EarlydisputerswithhereticssuchasCerinthusandtheEbionitesdrewontheGospelofJohntorefutetheirhereticalnotionsandupholdthefulldeityofChrist,andthisGospelmorethananyotherwascentraltothetrinitarianandchristologicaldebatesofthefourthandfifthcenturies.Atthesametime,theGospelofJohnwasalsothoughttobethemostchronological,andeventothisdayitisthesourceofoursenseofJesus’havingathree-yearministry.AndJohnChrysostom’sHomiliesonJohn,perhapsmorethananyothercommentary,emphasizeChrist’shumanityandcondescensiontowardthehumanrace.InadditiontotheserialhomiliesofJohnChrysostom,readersofthisAncientChristianCommentaryonScripturevolumewillfindselectionsfromOrigen,TheodoreofMopsuestia,CyrilofAlexandria,andAugustine.ThesecommentariesaresupplementedwithhomileticmaterialfromGregorytheGreat,PeterChrysologus,Caesarius,Amphilochius,BasiltheGreat,andBasilofSeleucia,amongothers.LiturgicalselectionsderivefromEphremtheSyrian,AmbroseandRomanostheMelodist,whicharefurthersupplementedwithdoctrinalmaterialfromAthanasius,theCappodocians,Hilary,andAmbrose.Thisrichtradition,someofwhichisheretranslatedforthefirsttime,offersavasttreasureoutofwhichtoday’sscribestrainedforthekingdommaybringforththatwhichisnewandwhatisold.
