ACC ~ John 21 v24

THE WRITINGS OF JOHN

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: John, who reclined on the bosom of Jesus, [1] has left us one Gospel, although he confessed that he might have written so many that the world could not contain them. And he wrote also the Apocalypse, but he was commanded to keep silence and not to write the words of the seven thunders. He has left also an epistle of very few lines; perhaps also a second and third. But not all consider them genuine, and together they do not contain one hundred lines. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 6.25.9-10. [2]

[1] See Jn 13:23.

[2] NPNF 2 1:273*.

JOHN WROTE THE GOSPEL OUT OF LOVE

CHRYSOSTOM: Why is it then, that, when none of the others do so, he alone uses these words and that for the second time witnessed to himself? For it seems to be offensive to the hearers. Why then does he do it? He is said to have been the last one who embarked on writing [a Gospel]. Christ [1] had moved and roused him to the work, which is why he continually sets forth his love, alluding to the cause by which he was impelled to write. Therefore he also continually makes mention of it, to make his record trustworthy and to show that he came to this work motivated by that love. “And I know,” [2] he says, “that the things are true that he says.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 88.2. [3]

[1] Alternatively, God.

[2] Chrysostom replaces the first person plural “we know” with “I know” without further explanation.

[3] NPNF 1 14:333**; PG 59:480-81.

THE END OF THE GOSPEL IS BY ANOTHER

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: The interpreter [that is, Theodore himself] says that the words, “But there are also, etc.” are not by John but by someone else. [1] COMMENTARY ON JOHN 7.21.24-25. [2]

[1] The Greek version of Theodore’s commentary expands on the Syriac text of this “someone else,” saying, “This is probably an addition that was placed at the margin by one of the scholars [Gk philoponoi] to show that the miracles that were performed by the Lord were more than those written, and partly by mistake, in ignorance it was placed by others inside and became part of the text of the gospel. Later, time and habit caused it to appear in the gospels, and so all believers are certain that it is a true part of the text and the true ending of what was written in the gospel” (EC 7:146).

[2] CSCO 4 3:364.