Description: This volume of the first 40 homilies are masterpieces not only of theological profundity but also of pastoral engagement.
Review Quotes:
This volume contains the first 40 of 124 homilies that Augustine needed to traverse the whole Gospel. The excellent introduction gives abundant information to guide readers in their understanding of the context in which the sermons were preached.... This volume, like others in the series, is excellently presented with clear, well-spaced pages, informative paragraph headings, and competent notes.... In general the translation is fluid; it can be read aloud and is as comprehensive as the original allows. This is a good piece of work, a necessary acquisition for any monastic library and solid spiritual nourishment for any with a taste for the writings of this great Christian thinker.' --Michael Casey, ocso, Cistercian Studies Quarterly
'Hill's translation of Augustine's homilies on the Gospel of John, commonly called tractates (tractatus), is a welcome contribution. Though there are at least three other English translations available ... Hill's translation proves superior in its nuanced interpretation of the text and in its readability, although those accustomed to Hill's translations of Augustine will find some of the same curious and at times perplexing idiosyncrasies in this volume. Nevertheless, Hill's work remains edifying, and is poised to become the standard English translation. Other strengths of this volume include useful footnotes, which display Hill's facility with the Augustinian corpus, as well as the introduction by A. Fitzgerald, a brief yet insightful look at the historical and theological context of the homilies.... These homilies contain and express the richness of Augustine's thought, and Hill's translation will do much to inspire renewed interest in these too often neglected works.' --James K. Lee, University of Notre Dame