Methodius of Olympus — Commentary on Scripture

John 1:1

Now, since He truly was and is, being in the beginning with God, and being God, He is the chief Commander and Shepherd of the heavenly ones, whom all reasonable creatures obey and attend, who tends in order and numbers the multitudes of the blessed angels. For this is the equal and perfect number of immortal creatures, divided according to their races and tribes, man also being here taken into the flock.

The Banquet of the Ten Virgins, Discourse 3, Chapter VI

John 1:1

He [Methodius] says, concerning the words "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," that one will not err who says that the "Beginning" is Wisdom. For Wisdom is said by one of the divine band to speak in this manner concerning herself: "The Lord created me the beginning of his ways for his works: of old he laid my formulation." It was fitting and more seemly that all things that came into existence should be more recent than Wisdom, since they existed through her. Now consider whether the saying "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God"—whether these statements are not in agreement with those. For we must say that the Beginning, out of which the most upright Word came forth, is the Father and Maker of all things, in whom it was. And the words "The same was in the beginning with God" seem to indicate the position of authority of the Word, which he had with the Father before the world came into existence; "beginning" signifying his power. And so, after the peculiar unbeginning beginning, who i…

He [Methodius] says, concerning the words "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," that one will not err who says that the "Beginning" is Wisdom. For Wisdom is said by one of the divine band to speak in this manner concerning herself: "The Lord created me the beginning of his ways for his works: of old he laid my formulation." It was fitting and more seemly that all things that came into existence should be more recent than Wisdom, since they existed through her. Now consider whether the saying "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God"—whether these statements are not in agreement with those. For we must say that the Beginning, out of which the most upright Word came forth, is the Father and Maker of all things, in whom it was. And the words "The same was in the beginning with God" seem to indicate the position of authority of the Word, which he had with the Father before the world came into existence; "beginning" signifying his power. And so, after the peculiar unbeginning beginning, who is the Father, he is the beginning of other things, by whom all things are made.

Extracts from the Work on Things Created, Section VIII

John 1:5

They ungratefully and malignantly ask, Who is this? as if they had never yet seen their Benefactor, and Him whom divine miracles, beyond the power of man, had made famous and renowned; for the darkness comprehended not

Methodius Oration on the Psalms

John 1:9

But Methodius: The Holy Spirit, who of God is given to all men, and of whom Solomon said, "For Thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things"

Other Fragments of Methodius

John 1:18

Let us then also sing the like song, and raise the hymn to the Holy Father, glorifying in the Spirit Jesus, who is in His bosom.
Therefore God alone is celebrated, as the unbegotten, independent, and unwearied nature; being incorporeal, and therefore invisible; for "no man hath seen God."

Methodius Concerning Free-Will

John 2:7

They heard of the wine that, without previous culture, was ministered;

Methodius Oration on the Psalms

John 4:9

And all this was, not of works of righteousness which we have done, nor because we loved Thee,-for our first earthly forefather, who was honourably entertained, in the delightful abode of Paradise, despised Thy divine and saving commandment, and was judged unworthy of that life-giving place, and mingling his seed with the bastard off-shoots of sin, he rendered it very weak;-but Thou, O Lord, of Thine own self, and of Thine ineffable love toward the creature of Thine hands, hast confirmed Thy mercy toward us, and, pitying our estrangement from Thee, hast moved Thyself at the sight of our degradation to take us into compassion. Hence, for the future, a joyous festival is established for us of the race of Adam, because the first Creator of Adam of His own free-will has become the Second Adam. And the brightness of the Lord our God hath come down to sojourn with us, so that we see God face to face, and are saved.

Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna, Section VIII

John 5:5

They saw a paralytic, who had grown up, as it were, and become one with his infirmity, at His bidding loosed from his disease.

Methodius Oration on the Psalms

John 5:17

For this is quite manifest, that God, like a painter, is at this very time working at the world, as the Lord also taught, "My Father worketh hitherto."
For he knew that Wisdom, the first-born of God, the parent and artificer of all things, brings forth everything into the world; whom the ancients called Nature and Providence, because she, with constant provision and care, gives to all things birth and growth. "For "says the Wisdom of God, "my Father worketh hitherto, and I work."

Methodius Discourse II. Theophila

John 5:39

But to search out and explain the solution of them is beyond my powers. Nevertheless, let me venture, trusting in Him who commanded to search the Scriptures.
Learn the mysteries of God; the very thing itself which is being done bears witness that it is God that is thus hymned by uninstructed tongues. Search the Scriptures, as ye have heard

Methodius Discourse VIII. Thekla

John 6:11

They saw a man, blind from his birth, proclaiming to them the God who had restored his sight. They saw a paralytic, who had grown up, as it were, and become one with his infirmity, at His bidding loosed from his disease. They saw Lazarus, who was made an exile from the region of death. They heard that He had walked on the sea. They heard of the wine that, without previous culture, was ministered; of the bread that was eaten at that spontaneous banquet; they heard that the demons had been put to flight; the sick restored to health. Their very streets proclaimed His deeds of wonder; their roads declared His healing power to those who journeyed on them.

Oration on the Psalms

John 6:27

For just as in a golden chain the links are so intimately joined and connected together, as that the one holds the other, and is fitted on to it, and so carries on the chain-even so the miracles that have been handed down by the holy Gospels, one after the other, lead on the Church of God, which delights in festivity, and refresh it, not with the meat that perisheth, but with that which endureth unto everlasting life.

Methodius Oration on the Psalms

John 10:33

Has not God of old made it manifest by the prophet, "My glory will I not give unto another;" and how dost Thou, being a man, make Thyself God? But what to this answers the long-suffering One, He who is abundant in mercy, and slow to wrath? He bears with these frenzied ones; with an apology He keeps their wrath in check; in His turn He calls the Scriptures to their remembrance; He brings forward testimony to what is done, and shrinks not from inquiry.

Oration on the Psalms, Section VII

John 11:26

Here he says believers live; they never die. Their bodies die but are brought back to life again.

ON THE RESURRECTION 3.21.6

John 11:44

They saw Lazarus, who was made an exile from the region of death.

Methodius Oration on the Psalms

John 12:13

In psalms and hymns, let us raise to Him our shouts of thanksgiving; and, without ceasing, let us exclaim, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; "

Methodius Oration on the Psalms

John 14:16

For the men of olden time and the law foretold to us the characteristics of the Church, and the Church represents those of the new dispensation which is to come. Whence we, having received Christ, saying, "I am the truth"

Methodius Discourse IX. Tusiane

John 14:28

For it was fitting that He who was greater than all things after the Father, should have the Father, who alone is greater than Himself,

Methodius Discourse VII. Procilla

John 15:1

The sober and joy-producing vine, from whose instructions, as from branches, there joyfully hang down clusters of graces, distilling love, is our Lord Jesus, who says expressly to the apostles.
The vine, and that not in a few places, refers to the Lord Himself,

Methodius Discourse V. Thallousa

John 15:23

Ye think, indeed, under a pretence of piety, to avenge the glory of God, not understanding that he that despiseth Me despiseth My Father also.

Methodius Oration on the Psalms