RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
John of Damascus John Frederick
Sieben Hauptsiinden, pp. 53 sqq., Munich, 1893). The " On Dragons " and " On Witches " (MPG, xciv. 1600 sqq.) are only fragments of a larger work. The two short expositions of the Eucharist (MPG, xcv. 401 sqq.) and the tract " On the Unleavened Bread " (MPG, xcv. 388 sqq.) are of doubtful authenticity. The great commentary (on all the Pauline epistles and the Hebrews) ascribed to John (MPG, xcv. 441 sqq.) needs further investigation. For the many homilies which go under his name (MPG, xcvi. 545-814; Eng. transl. of three on the Assumption in Allies, St. John Damascene, ut sup.), consult Langen, 213 sqq. For the " Barlaam and Josaphat," see the article under that title. The " Letter on Confession and on Binding and Loosing " (MPG, xcv. 284 sqq.) belongs to Symeon the New Theologian (cf. K. Holl, Enthusiasmus und Bussgewaltim griechischen M onchtum, Leipsic, 1898).
(F. Kattenbusch.)
Bibliography: The indispensable edition of the works of John is by M. Le Quien, 2 vols., Paris, 1712, Venice, 1748, practically reproduced in MPG, xciv.-xcvi. The prolegomena to Le Quien are excellent. There is an Eng. transl. of the De fide orthodoxa in NPNF, 2 ser., vol. ix. His work on " Holy Images " and three " Sermons on the Assumption " are translated by Mary H. Allies, in St. John Damascene, ut sup. The early life, by " John, Patriarch of Jerusalem " (possibly the one who died c. 970, cf. Le Quien, Oriens Christianus, iii. 466 sqq., Paris, 1740) and based upon an older lost Arabic work, is in MPG, xciv. 429-489. It is hagiographic in style and selection of facts. The best modern treatise is J. Langen, Johannes von Damaskus, Gotha, 1879, in which summaries of the writings of John are given. Other monographs are: F. A. Perrier, Strasburg, 1861; J. D. Grundlehner, Utrecht, 1877; J. H. Lupton, London, 1883. On the theology of John consult the works on the history of doctrine (Dogmengeschichte) of F. A. B. Nitzsch, Berlin, 1870; J. Bach, Vienna, 1873; G. Thomasius, ed. Bonwetsch, Leipsic, 1886; F. Loofs, Halle, 1893; R. Seeberg, vol. i., Erlangen, 1895; A. Dorner, Berlin, 1899, and Harnack, Dogma, vols, iii.— vii., passim. Further references are F. Neve, in Revue beige et etrangere, xii (1861), i. sqq., 117 sqq.; DCB, iii. 409-423 (an elaborate discussion); Krumbacher, Geschichte, pp. 68 sqq., 674 sqq.; O. Bardenhewer, Patrologie, Freiburg, 1894; and especially F. Kattenbusch, Vergleichende Konfessionskunde, vol. i., Freiburg, 1892. On the " Sacred Parallels " consult Krumbacher, ut sup., pp. 216 sqq., 600 sqq.; F. Loofs, Studien iiber die dem Johannes von Damaskus zugeschriebenen Parallelen, Halle, 1892; K. Holl, in TV, xvi. 1 (1897), xx. 2 (1899). On John as a hymnologist and for specimens of his hymns consult: MPG, xcvi. 817-856, 1364- 1408 (the canons at 1372-1408 are for the most part erroneously ascribed to John); Anthologia Graeca, ed. W. Christ and M. Paranikas, pp. xliv.-xlv., 117 sqq., 205 sqq., Leipsic, 1871; Kattenbusch, ut sup., i. 484 sqq.; Krumbacher, ut sup., pp. 674 sqq., 690 sqq.; J. Jakobi, in ZKG, v (1882), 177 sqq,; A. Nauck, Melanges grecoromain,vi.2 (1894); Julian, Hymnology, pp. 603-604; Eng. transl. of nineteen pieces in B. Pick, Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church, pp. Ill sqq., New York, 1908. Consult also W. F. Adeney, The Greek and Eastern Churches, pp. 211, 284, New York, 1908.
JOHN OF DARA: Jacobite bishop of Dara, in Mesopotamia, in the first half of the ninth century. He was a contemporary of Dionysius of Telmera (d. 845), who dedicated to him his great chronicle. Four of his works are known: (1) " On the Resurrection of the Bodies," in four books: (2) " On the Heavenly and Ecclesiastical Hierarchy," two books, based on the pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita (cf. Frothingham, Stephen bar Sudaili, Leyden, 1886, p. 66); (3) " On the Priesthood," four books (fragments in Overbeck, Opera Ephraemi Syri, Oxford, 1865, pp. 409-413, and Monumenta Syriaca, i., Inns-
bruck, 1869, pp. 105-110; cf. notice by Zingerle in
TQ, 1867-68); (4) a book on the soul (extracts in
Codex Vaticanus Syriacus 147). There is also an
anaphora. E. Nestle.
Bibliography: J. S. Assemani, Bibliotheca orientalis, ii.
118, 219, 347, Rome, 1719-28; G. Bickell, Conspectus rei
Syrorum literariae, p. 42, Minister, 1871; W. Wright,
Short Hist, of Syriac Literature, London, 1894; R. Duval,
Litterature syriaque, Paris, 1899; DCB, iii. 369.
JOHN OF EPHESUS (JOHN OF ASIA): Monophysite church historian of the sixth century; b. at Amida in Mesopotamia early in the sixth century; place and date of death unknown. He became deacon in Amida in 529, was in Palestine at the outbreak of the plague in 534, and from 535 was in Constantinople, where the Monophysites had a monastery near the Golden Horn. For thirty years he was a favorite of the Emperor Justinian, who from 546 employed him to combat heathenism in Asia Minor and the capital. He styles himself " the teacher " or " overseer of the heathen " and " the destroyer of idols." He is said to have converted 70,000 and to have built ninety-six churches. He was interested in the missions to the Nubians and Alodes and recommended not to trouble them with the Christological controversies. After the death of Justinian, John suffered in the persecution of the Monophysites and excused the confused state of his church history by the incidents of his life, which forced him to write it in single leaves and to keep it concealed for several years. The first two parts, each in six books, extend from Caesar to the sixth year of Justin (571); part i. is entirely lost; a good portion of part ii. is preserved in the socalled " Chronicle " of Dionysius of Telmera. The third part, containing biographies of men personally known to the writer — Jacobus Baradseus, Severus, Theodosius, Anthimus, and others — collected about 569, is a source of first-rate importance for the time.
E. Nestle. Bibliography: The third part of the "Ecclesiastical History " was edited by W. Cureton, Oxford, 1853, Eng. transl. by P. Smith, ib. 1860; the rest of his writings were edited by J. P. N. Land, in Anecdota Syriaca, vol. ii., 4 vols., Leyden, 1862-75, and translated into Latin by W. J. van Dowen and J. P. N. Land, Amsterdam, 1889. An analysis of the second part of the " History " by F. Nau is in Revue de I'orient chretien, ii (1897), 4 sqq. Consult: J. S. Assemani, Bibliotheca orientalis, i. 359, ii. 48, 84, Rome, 1719- 1728; Gregory bar Hebraeus, Chronicon ecclesiasticum, i. 196; J. P. N. Land, Johannes von Ephesus, Leyden, 1856; idem, in Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie, Letlerkunde, vol. iii., part v., Amsterdam, 1888; W. Wright, Short Hist, of Syriac Literature, London, 1894; R. Duval, Litterature syriaque, Paris, 1899; DCB, iii. 370-373.
JOHN FREDERICK, THE MAGNANIMOUS: Son of John the Steadfast and elector of Saxony, 1532- 1547; b. at Torgau June 30, 1503; d. at Weimar Mar. 3, 1554. He received his education from Spalatin, whom he highly esteemed during his whole life. His knowledge of history was comprehensive, and his library, which extended over all sciences, was one of the largest in Germany. He came early into personal relations with Luther, beginning to correspond with him in the days when the bull of excommunication was hurled against the Reformer, and showing himself even then a convinced adherent of the Gospel. With vivid interest he observed
John Frederick John of Nepomuk