Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 9 · Cyril of Alexandria

013 - Chapter 1 pt 4 Jn 1416-19

·26 min·1 clip

The Spirit makes believers “temples of God” and gives them “the adoption of sons.”

1. Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 9, Chapter 1 Part 4 centers on John 14:16–19 and Cyril of Alexandria’s reading of “another Comforter.” 2. Cyril of Alexandria is the named author of the commentary, Reverend Thomas Randall is the translator, and the LibriVox recording is identified as public domain. 3. The episode asks what Jesus means by “another Paraclete” and how John 14 fits the doctrine of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 4. Cyril says Christ “mingles once more the human with the divine” and speaks in ways that preserve language “befitted the dispensation in flesh.” 5. He explains that Jesus says the Father will be a “co-supplier” and will give the Paraclete without diminishing the Father’s power. 6. Cyril argues that “another Paraclete” does not mean a different essence, because Jesus himself is also called a paraclete in 1 John 2:1. 7. He adds that the Spirit is “the Spirit of the Father and of the Son,” and that this shared relation matters for the reading of John 14:16. 8. Cyril uses the image of breath, citing John 20:22, to argue that the Spirit proceeds from the divine essence rather than as something added from outside. 9. He says the Father gives the Spirit through the Son, and that “when the Son is said to give, the Father also gives.” 10. Cyril insists the Spirit is not a creature, because believers who receive him are made “partakers of God” and “temples of God.” 11. One recurring claim is that the Spirit is “uncontainable and invisible” to “them that are in the world.” 12. Cyril contrasts that with “the saints,” who can receive the Spirit by cleansing “the eye of their understanding” through virtue. 13. He says the Spirit “will sanctify them” and “release them from the shame of man-befitting slavery.” 14. Paul’s line “the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” appears as a key proof text in the argument. 15. Cyril also returns to John 14:18, reading “I will not leave you desolate. I come unto you” as a promise that Christ will not abandon the faithful. 16. On John 14:19, he contrasts “the world” with those who “behold” Christ, linking the difference to whether people love temporal things or heavenly things. 17. The tone is dense, scriptural, and explanatory, with long doctrinal sentences and repeated citations from John, Paul, and the Psalms. 18. The format is a solo theological exposition with no conversation, no break in argument, and no narrative storytelling. 19. Listeners interested in Trinity doctrine and John 14. 20. Listeners wanting light, fast-paced, or non-technical audio.

As heard by us

Careful theology that lingers on the Spirit's promise and the relation of Father, Son, and Spirit.

This reading tracks Christ's promise not to leave his disciples desolate through a disciplined doctrinal argument. It moves from the Spirit's indwelling to the adoption of sons, then sets that promise against worldliness and the need for a heart fit for divine presence.

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Why you'd press play

You want John 14:16-19 read as a serious, slow look at the Spirit's indwelling and Christ's promise not to leave you desolate.

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