Christological insights in the commentary of the Gospel of St. John by Cyril of Alexandria

Abstract

The first five centuries of Christianity were marked by theological and doctrinal disputes. J.D.G. Dunn in his book Christology in the Making says that: "In a real sense the history of Christological controversy is the history of the Church's attempt to come to terms with John's Christology - first to accept it and then to understand it and to re-express it." Cyril of Alexandria was a key figure in these disputes whose contribution left its mark on the Church's teaching. For him, theology was the interpretation of Scripture. He did not distinguish between theology and biblical interpretation. For a long time, this made his Commentary on John one of the best pieces in Biblical interpretation. [Excerpt]