Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 13
Chrysostom — Galatians through Philemon
SECTION 41
Thus is it we ought to love our enemies, thus to imitate Christ. Thus did Paul. Stoned, suffering unnumbered cruelties, yet did he all thing
Thus is it we ought to love our enemies, thus to imitate Christ. Thus did Paul. Stoned, suffering unnumbered cruelties, yet did he all things for their good. Hear his own words. "My heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them that they may be saved." (Rom. x. 1, 2.) And again; "For I bear them witness that they have a …
1,021 wordsSECTION 42Homily VIII.
Homily VIII. Chapter IV. Verses 1, 2 "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness." It is the virtue of teachers to aim not at praise, nor at esteem from those under their authority, but at their salvation, and to do every thing w…
2,217 wordsSECTION 43"The foundations of the prison-house," we read, "were shaken" where Paul was bound, "and every one's bands were loosed." (Acts xvi. 26.) Beh
"The foundations of the prison-house," we read, "were shaken" where Paul was bound, "and every one's bands were loosed." (Acts xvi. 26.) Beholdest thou then in bonds a nature that can dissolve bonds themselves? for as the Lord's death put death itself to death, so also did Paul's bonds loose the men in bonds, shake the house of …
2,226 wordsSECTION 44Now, however, let us proceed to look at the jailor's faith. "And," saith the Scripture, "he called for lights and sprang in, and trembling f
Now, however, let us proceed to look at the jailor's faith. "And," saith the Scripture, "he called for lights and sprang in, and trembling for fear fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" He grasped fire and sword, and cried, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" "And the…
2,376 wordsSECTION 45Moral. Nothing can be more blessed than that soul. In what does he glory? In bonds, in afflictions, in chains, in scars; "I bear branded on
Moral. Nothing can be more blessed than that soul. In what does he glory? In bonds, in afflictions, in chains, in scars; "I bear branded on my body," saith he, "the marks of Jesus," (Gal. vi. 17.) as though they were some great trophy. And again, "For because of the hope of Israel," saith he, "I am bound with this chain." (Acts …
2,401 wordsSECTION 46Perceive ye how great is the power of bonds? How great the force of those praises that are sung in tribulation? Their heart failed not, they
Perceive ye how great is the power of bonds? How great the force of those praises that are sung in tribulation? Their heart failed not, they were not cast down, but were then yet more vigorous, and their courage then yet greater and justly so. While we are considering these things one question yet remains for us: Why was it tha…
926 wordsSECTION 47Homily IX.
Homily IX. Chapter IV. Verses 1-3 "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you, to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Great has the power of P…
2,681 wordsSECTION 48Now then, what impairs this bond? Love of money, passion for power, for glory, and the like, loosens them, and severs them asunder. How then
Now then, what impairs this bond? Love of money, passion for power, for glory, and the like, loosens them, and severs them asunder. How then are we to see that they be not cut asunder? If these tempers be got rid of, and none of those things which destroy charity come in by the way to trouble us. For hear what Christ saith, (Mat…
1,610 wordsSECTION 49Homily X.
Homily X. Ephesians iv. 4 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling." When the blessed Paul exhorts us to anything of special importance, so truly wise and spiritual as he is, he grounds his exhortation upon things in Heaven: this itself being a lesson he had learned from the Lord. …
2,409 wordsSECTION 50"If like Adam (or after the manner of men) I covered my transgressions
"If like Adam (or after the manner of men) I covered my transgressions By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude." [279] Behold ye a virtuous spirit? I was not ashamed, he saith, to own before the whole multitude my involuntary sins: And if he was not ashamed to confess, much more were it our d…
956 wordsSECTION 51Homily XI.
Homily XI. Ephesians iv. 4-7 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ." The l…
2,403 wordsSECTION 52Ver. 14. "That we may be no longer."--The word, "no longer," shows that they had of old been in this case, and he reckons himself moreover a
Ver. 14. "That we may be no longer."--The word, "no longer," shows that they had of old been in this case, and he reckons himself moreover as a subject for correction, and corrects himself. For this cause, he would say, are there so many workmen, that the building may not be shaken, may not be "carried about," that the stones ma…
2,445 wordsSECTION 53Speak, ye women, that are present,--for this generally is a failing of women, [305] --relate to them that are absent this similitude which I
Speak, ye women, that are present,--for this generally is a failing of women, [305] --relate to them that are absent this similitude which I have made; startle them. If any think to grieve me and thus to have their revenge, let them be well aware that they do these things in vain. For if thou wishest to revenge thyself on me, I …
1,957 wordsSECTION 54Homily XII.
Homily XII. Ephesians iv. 17 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding." It is the duty of the teacher to build up and restore the souls of his disciples, not only by counseling and instructing them, but …
2,242 wordsSECTION 55But the philosophers, it is said, discovered something truly grand, and far better than these. How? They who introduced fate, and who tell u
But the philosophers, it is said, discovered something truly grand, and far better than these. How? They who introduced fate, and who tell us that nothing is providential, and that there is no one to care for anything, but that all things consist of atoms? [311] Or, others again who say that God is a body? Or who, tell me, are t…
1,193 wordsSECTION 56Homily XIII.
Homily XIII. Ephesians iv. 17-19 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart: who being past…
2,294 wordsSECTION 57Moral. Our part then is, never to put off the garment of righteousness, which also the Prophet calls, "the garment of salvation" (Isa. lxi.
Moral. Our part then is, never to put off the garment of righteousness, which also the Prophet calls, "the garment of salvation" (Isa. lxi. 10.), that so we may be made like unto God. For He indeed hath put on righteousness. This garment let us put on. Now the word, "put on," plainly declares nothing else, than that we should ne…
2,216 wordsSECTION 58Homily XIV.
[319] ["The word implies an active giving up, not mere permission."--Meyer, Ellicott, Thayer.--G.A.] [320] [The word "swine" (choiron), though omitted from Field's text, is clearly attested, and cannot be omitted without leaving the sense difficult and obscure.--G.A.] [321] [Namely, "to work all uncleanness," &c.--G.A.] [322]…
2,302 wordsSECTION 59Ver. 28. "Let him that stole," [344] saith he, "steal no more."
Ver. 28. "Let him that stole," [344] saith he, "steal no more." Seest thou what are the members of the old man? Falsehood, revenge, theft. Why said he not, "Let him that stole" be punished, be tortured, be racked; but, "let him steal no more"? "But rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may…
2,295 wordsSECTION 60[340] ["There does not appear any allusion to the possible effect of night upon anger, as Chrysostom here, and Theophylact also."--Ellicott.
[340] ["There does not appear any allusion to the possible effect of night upon anger, as Chrysostom here, and Theophylact also."--Ellicott. The parallel Pythagorean custom is cited by Ellicott (Hammond and Wetstein): "If they were ever carried away by anger into railing, before the setting of the sun they gave the right hand to…
712 wordsSECTION 61Homily XV.
Homily XV. Ephesians iv. 31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice." As bees [353] will never settle down in an unclean vessel,--and this is the reason why those who are skilled in these matters sprinkle the spot with perfumes, and scented ointments, and sweet…
2,350 wordsSECTION 62For her passion allows her not to spare even her own mouth, but she looks to one single object, how she may wreak her vengeance on the other
For her passion allows her not to spare even her own mouth, but she looks to one single object, how she may wreak her vengeance on the other, even though she disgrace herself. And then after all these things forsooth, she will sit in state like any tyrant, and call her children, and summon her foolish husband, and treat him as a…
1,923 wordsSECTION 63Homily XVI.
Homily XVI. Ephesians iv. 31, 32 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you." If we are to attain to the kingdom of Heaven, it is not enough to abandon wick…
2,434 wordsSECTION 64Homily XVII.
However, it is right not to overlook what a little before came into my recollection, and was brought forward for a testimony. And what then was this? We were speaking of the Jews, and of the chief rulers amongst them, how that they were blamed, as seeking retaliation. And yet this the law permitted them; "eye for eye, and tooth …
2,590 wordsSECTION 65But since the matter appears to some to be one of indifference, which moreover is difficult to be guarded against, let us discuss this point
But since the matter appears to some to be one of indifference, which moreover is difficult to be guarded against, let us discuss this point a little, to show you how vast an evil it is. For indeed this is a work of the devil, to make us disregard things indifferent. First of all then, even if it were indifferent, not even in th…
1,382 wordsSECTION 66Homily XVIII.
Homily XVIII. Ephesians v. 5, 6 "For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience." Ther…
2,358 wordsSECTION 67Such for the most part are the slaughters made at the altar of covetousness. They are not satisfied, they do not stop at men's blood; no, th
Such for the most part are the slaughters made at the altar of covetousness. They are not satisfied, they do not stop at men's blood; no, the altar of covetousness is not glutted, unless it sacrifice the very soul itself also, unless it receive the souls of both, the sacrificer and the sacrificed. For he who sacrifices must firs…
2,207 wordsSECTION 68Homily XIX.
[385] [As in other places, the text of Field is here incomplete. (hosper gar esti psuches thanatos, "Psuche gar he hamartanousa," etc.) It omits the clause, hosper gar esti somatos thanatos, which is so necessary to the sense and which is attested by excellent manuscript authority, and adopted by Savile.--G.A.] [386] [This seem…
2,649 wordsSECTION 69The ungrateful, however, and unfeeling say, that this were worthy of God's goodness, that there should be an equality amongst all. Tell me,
The ungrateful, however, and unfeeling say, that this were worthy of God's goodness, that there should be an equality amongst all. Tell me, ungrateful mortal, what sort of things are they which thou deniest to be of God's goodness, and what equality meanest thou? "Such an one," thou wilt say, "has been a cripple from his childho…
2,476 wordsSECTION 70"Subjecting [413] yourselves one to another," he says, "in the fear of Christ." For if thou submit thyself for a ruler's sake, or for money'
"Subjecting [413] yourselves one to another," he says, "in the fear of Christ." For if thou submit thyself for a ruler's sake, or for money's sake, or from respectfulness, much more from the fear of Christ. Let there be an interchange of service and submission. For then will there be no such thing as slavish service. Let not one…
1,306 wordsSECTION 71Homily XX.
Homily XX. Ephesians v. 22-24 "Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church: being Himself the Saviour of the body. But as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. A certain …
2,623 wordsSECTION 72Ver. 28. "Even so ought husbands to love their own wives," saith he, "as their own bodies."
Ver. 28. "Even so ought husbands to love their own wives," saith he, "as their own bodies." What, again, means this? To how much greater a similitude, and stronger example has he come; and not only so, but also to one how much nearer and clearer, and to a fresh obligation. For that other one was of no very constraining force, f…
2,485 wordsSECTION 73Consider Abraham, and Sarah, and Isaac, and the three hundred and eighteen born in his house. (Gen. xiv. 14.) How the whole house was harmon
Consider Abraham, and Sarah, and Isaac, and the three hundred and eighteen born in his house. (Gen. xiv. 14.) How the whole house was harmoniously knit together, how the whole was full of piety and fulfilled the Apostolic injunction. She also "reverenced her husband"; for hear her own words, "It hath not yet happened unto me eve…
3,146 wordsSECTION 74Let your prayers be common. [440] Let each go to Church; and let the husband ask his wife at home, and she again ask her husband, the accoun
Let your prayers be common. [440] Let each go to Church; and let the husband ask his wife at home, and she again ask her husband, the account of the things which were said and read there. If any poverty should overtake you, cite the case of those holy men, Paul and Peter, who were more honored than any kings or rich men; and yet…
1,874 wordsSECTION 75Homily XXI.
Homily XXI. Ephesians vi. 1-3 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." As a man in forming a body, places the head first, after that the neck, then the feet, so…
2,515 wordsSECTION 76"But suppose a man is poor." Still he will be in no wise more insignificant than the man who lives in kings' courts, because he is not in ki
"But suppose a man is poor." Still he will be in no wise more insignificant than the man who lives in kings' courts, because he is not in kings' courts; no, he will be held in admiration, and will soon gain that authority which is yielded voluntarily, and not by any compulsion. For if a set of Greeks, men worthless as they are, …
1,907 wordsSECTION 77Homily XXII.
Homily XXII. Ephesians vi. 5-8 "Servants, be obedient unto them that, according to the flesh, are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers: but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good-will doing service, as …
2,243 wordsSECTION 78Ver. 11. "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Ver. 11. "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." He saith not, against the fightings, nor against the hostilities, but against the "wiles." For this enemy is at war with us, not simply, nor openly, but by "wiles." What is meant by wiles? To use "wiles," is to deceive and to …
2,678 wordsSECTION 79Oh then, let us trample under foot the power of the devil; let us trample under foot our sins, I mean everything that pertains to this life,
Oh then, let us trample under foot the power of the devil; let us trample under foot our sins, I mean everything that pertains to this life, wrath, lust, vain-glory, every passion; that when we depart to that world, we may not be convicted of betraying that power which God hath given us; for thus shall we attain also the blessin…
1,159 wordsSECTION 80Homily XXIII.
Homily XXIII. Ephesians vi. 14 "Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth." Having drawn up this army, and roused their zeal,--for both these things were requisite, both that they should be drawn up in array and subject to each other, and that their spirit should be aroused,--and having inspired them with courage, …
2,231 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.