Fathers

John of Damascus

c. 645/675–749 AD

Monk and priest near Jerusalem who left a career at the court of Damascus. He defended the use of icons when the emperors banned them, and his Fount of Knowledge sums up the Greek Fathers' teaching in one ordered book.

Works here: 5 to read straight through

Start hereOn the Parts of the SoulJohn of Damascus's short outline of the soul: its three parts, the four virtues, three kinds of love, and five powers from intellect to sense. · 4 sections · with audio

Treatises and other works4

On the Parts of the Soul 4 sectionslistenJohn of Damascus's short outline of the soul: its three parts, the four virtues, three kinds of love, and five powers from intellect to sense.
On Theology 4 sectionslistenJohn of Damascus sums up the faith in brief: one God in three Persons, each with a distinct property, and two natures in the one Person of Christ.
On Union 4 sectionslistenJohn of Damascus lists twelve kinds of union, from wine mixed with water to union in one person, to show how Christ's two natures are joined.
What Is a Human Being? 4 sectionslistenJohn of Damascus answers what a human being is, with a short account of the four humors, their seats in the body, temperaments, and stages of life.

Commentaries and notes1

Fragments on Luke 4 sectionslistenA brief note by John of Damascus on why Christ is said to baptize with fire: the tongues of fire on the apostles, or the punishing fire to come.