Giuliano l'Apostata e il Vangelo di Giovanni

This article focuses on Julian’s criticisms of the Gospel of John. Between the third and the fourth centuries A. D. the famous text of the Prologue (Io. 1,1-3) was deeply discussed by pagan philosophers (Celsus, Porphyry, Amelius); it was also one of the most controverted texts among Christians during the Arian controversy. Julian surely had a certain knowledge of some heterodoxical doctrines (such as those of Aetius, Photinus, Eunomius) and of some anti-nicene interpretations of the Prologue, as shown by the fragments of his treatise Against the Galilaeans (Iul. c. Gal. frr. 64, 79, 80 Masaracchia). Other indirect allusions to Christian controversies can be found in his ‘dogmatic hymns’ (Orations 8 and 11 Bidez); I argue that the Apostate chose to emphasize those traits of his Hellenism (more precisely, the theological figures of Attis and Helios noeros) which would provide the best philosophical (Neoplatonic) response to the controversial doctrine of Christ-Logos.