Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 13
Chrysostom — Galatians through Philemon
SECTION 201
Moral. Let us then so live, that the name of God be not blasphemed. Let us not, on the one hand, look to human reputation; nor on the other,
Moral. Let us then so live, that the name of God be not blasphemed. Let us not, on the one hand, look to human reputation; nor on the other, subject ourselves to an evil report, but on both sides let us observe moderation; as he saith, "Among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philip. ii. 15.) For on this account He left us…
1,299 wordsSECTION 202Homily XI.
Homily XI. 1 Timothy iii. 8-10 "Likewise must the Deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given much to wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved: then let them use the office of a Deacon, being found blameless." Discoursing of Bishops, and hav…
2,317 wordsSECTION 203Goods [1213] are named from use, [1214] not from lordship, and are not our own, and possessions are not a property but a loan. For how many
Goods [1213] are named from use, [1214] not from lordship, and are not our own, and possessions are not a property but a loan. For how many masters has every estate had, and how many will it have! There is a sensible proverb, (and popular proverbs, when they contain any wisdom, are not to be despised,) "O field, how many men's h…
769 wordsSECTION 204Homily XII.
Homily XII. 1 Timothy iv. 1-3 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God …
2,257 wordsSECTION 205Moral. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach." Did Paul then suffer rep
Moral. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach." Did Paul then suffer reproach, and art thou impatient? Did Paul labor, and wouldest thou live luxuriously? But had he lived luxuriously, he would never have attained such great blessings. For if worldly goods, whic…
1,778 wordsSECTION 206Homily XIII.
Homily XIII. 1 Timothy iv. 11-14 "These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was giv…
2,344 wordsSECTION 207Is he then to be numbered with the living? Who can describe that storm that comes of luxury, that assails his soul and body? For as a sky co
Is he then to be numbered with the living? Who can describe that storm that comes of luxury, that assails his soul and body? For as a sky continually clouded admits not the sunbeams to shine through it, so the fumes of luxury and wine enveloping his brain, as if it were some rock, and casting over it a thick mist, suffer not rea…
1,875 wordsSECTION 208Homily XIV.
Homily XIV. 1 Timothy v. 8 "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." Many consider that their own virtue is sufficient for their salvation, and if they duly regulate their own life, that nothing further is wanting to save them. But …
2,215 wordsSECTION 209Be thou the dispenser of thine own gifts. Thine own benevolence and the fear of God appoint thee to that ministry. Thus vainglory is exclude
Be thou the dispenser of thine own gifts. Thine own benevolence and the fear of God appoint thee to that ministry. Thus vainglory is excluded. This refreshes the soul, this sanctifies the hands, this pulls down pride. This teaches thee philosophy, this inflames thy zeal, this makes thee to receive blessings. Thy head, as thou de…
2,448 wordsSECTION 210Homily XV.
Why takest thou so many witnesses? Let not thy servant know it, nor, if possible, thy wife. Many are the impediments of the deceitful one. Often she who never before interfered, will impede such works, either from vainglory, or some other motive. Even Abraham, who had an admirable wife, when he was about to offer up his son, con…
2,423 wordsSECTION 211"Especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." Where then are those who say that there is no occasion for the word and doctrine? Whe
"Especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." Where then are those who say that there is no occasion for the word and doctrine? Whereas he says to Timothy, "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them"; and, "Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; for in doing this thou shalt save both thys…
2,722 wordsSECTION 212Homily XVI.
Beloved, see how we are honored! yet some are so unreasonable and so ungrateful as to say, "Why are we endowed with free will?" But how in all the particulars which we have mentioned could we have imitated God, if there had been no free will? I rule Angels, He says, and so dost thou, through Him who is the First-fruits. (1 Cor. …
2,320 wordsSECTION 213And it is not merely so great honor, [1287] that we enjoy from the King of the universe. What master ever gave his own son for his servant?
And it is not merely so great honor, [1287] that we enjoy from the King of the universe. What master ever gave his own son for his servant? No one, but all would rather choose to give their servants for their sons. Here on the contrary, "He spared not His own Son, but gave Him up for us all," for His enemies who hated Him. Serva…
1,017 wordsSECTION 214Homily XVII.
Homily XVII. 1 Timothy vi. 2-7 "These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,…
2,272 wordsSECTION 215What evils then does it not cause! what fraudulent practices, what robberies! what miseries, enmities, contentions, battles! Does it not str
What evils then does it not cause! what fraudulent practices, what robberies! what miseries, enmities, contentions, battles! Does it not stretch forth its hand even to the dead, nay, to fathers, and brethren? Do not they who are possessed by this passion violate the laws of nature, and the commandments of God? in short everythin…
1,226 wordsSECTION 216Homily XVIII.
Homily XVIII. 1 Timothy vi. 13-16 "I give thee charge in the sight of God, Who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times He shall show, Who is …
2,401 wordsSECTION 217Homily I.
[1309] Edd. aph' hou, "from whom"; but B. has eph' hou, and Old Lat. sub quo, which is much better. [1310] Savile's punctuation. Ben. joins this to the preceding clause, but so it is scarcely grammatical. [1311] anenneton. [1312] That is, in His divine nature, considered apart from the human. See on Philip. ii. 5-11, Hom. vii…
2,207 wordsSECTION 218"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind": [1317] he calls a healthy state of the soul
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind": [1317] he calls a healthy state of the soul a sound mind, or it may mean sobriety of mind, or else a sobering of the mind, that we may be sober-minded, and that if any evil befall us, it may sober us, and cut off superfluities. Moral…
1,995 wordsSECTION 219Homily II.
Homily II. 2 Timothy i. 8-10 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, wh…
2,822 wordsSECTION 220But thou sayest, "He ought to be better than I." Wherefore? "Because he is a Priest." And is he not superior to thee in his labors, his dang
But thou sayest, "He ought to be better than I." Wherefore? "Because he is a Priest." And is he not superior to thee in his labors, his dangers, his anxious conflicts and troubles? But if he is not better, oughtest thou therefore to destroy thyself? These are the words of arrogance. [1338] For how is he not better than thyself? …
1,625 wordsSECTION 221Homily III.
Homily III. 2 Timothy i. 13-18 "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost Which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus …
2,300 wordsSECTION 222How is it then that God, "the righteous Judge, strong and patient" (Ps. vii. 11, Sept.), bears thus with men, and does not exact punishment?
How is it then that God, "the righteous Judge, strong and patient" (Ps. vii. 11, Sept.), bears thus with men, and does not exact punishment? Here thou hast the cause, He is longsuffering, and thereby would lead thee to repentance. But if thou continuest in sin, thou "after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy…
1,014 wordsSECTION 223Homily IV.
Homily IV. 2 Timothy ii. 1-7 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warre…
2,303 wordsSECTION 224Such is not the nature of the good things, they are eternal, they are in heaven. That is true glory, this is dishonor.
Such is not the nature of the good things, they are eternal, they are in heaven. That is true glory, this is dishonor. Moral. For observe, I pray, beloved, that is not glory which is on earth, the true glory is in heaven. But if any one would be glorified, let him be dishonored. If he would obtain rest, let him suffer afflictio…
2,143 wordsSECTION 225Homily V.
Homily V. 2 Timothy ii. 11-14 "It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the…
2,234 wordsSECTION 226For if any one will examine carefully, he will perceive the great bitterness of injustice, not to those who suffer it, but to those who prac
For if any one will examine carefully, he will perceive the great bitterness of injustice, not to those who suffer it, but to those who practice it, and to these more than to the others. And let us not speak of things future, but for the present of things here. Hath it not battles, judgments, condemnation, ill will, abuse? what …
1,781 wordsSECTION 227Homily VI.
Homily VI. 2 Timothy ii. 20, 21 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good wo…
2,245 wordsSECTION 228Moral. Seest thou that a failure in alms-giving is enough to cast a man into hell fire? For where will he avail who does not give alms? Dost
Moral. Seest thou that a failure in alms-giving is enough to cast a man into hell fire? For where will he avail who does not give alms? Dost thou fast every day? So also did those virgins, but it availed them nothing. Dost thou pray? What of that? prayer without alms-giving is unfruitful, without that all things are unclean and …
2,206 wordsSECTION 229Homily VII.
[1400] B. "those other things are." Homily VII. 2 Timothy iii. 1-7 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incont…
2,470 wordsSECTION 230I will now cite you from the Scriptures a wonderful instance of friendship. Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David, and his soul was so knit
I will now cite you from the Scriptures a wonderful instance of friendship. Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David, and his soul was so knit to him, that David in mourning over him says, "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. Thou wast wounded unto death." (2 Sam. i. 25, 26.) What then? did he envy David? Not …
1,465 wordsSECTION 231Homily VIII.
Homily VIII. 2 Timothy iii. 1-4 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those th…
2,206 wordsSECTION 232What then, if the good be in prosperity, and the wicked be punished? The one is likely to happen, the other not so. For the wicked will poss
What then, if the good be in prosperity, and the wicked be punished? The one is likely to happen, the other not so. For the wicked will possibly be punished, but the good cannot always be rejoicing. No one was equal to Paul, yet he passed all his life in afflictions, in tears and groanings night and day. "For the space of three …
2,340 wordsSECTION 233Homily IX.
[1408] Gr. "by saying entering, the word implies entering covertly." [1409] Lit. "heaped." [1410] B. has this punctuation. [1411] Gr. "followed up." [1412] al. "I have." [1413] This corresponds to Job xl. 8, in our version, which stands thus: "Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be righteous?" Still he was approved, c. x…
2,401 wordsSECTION 234"I have kept the faith," he says. There were many things that would have robbed him of it, not only human friendships, but menaces, and deat
"I have kept the faith," he says. There were many things that would have robbed him of it, not only human friendships, but menaces, and death, and countless other perils: but he stood firm against all. How? by being sober and watchful. This might have sufficed for the consolation of his disciples, but he further adds the rewards…
1,311 wordsSECTION 235Homily X.
Homily X. 2 Timothy iv. 9-13 "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus ha…
2,435 wordsSECTION 236"Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick." Miletus was near Ephesus. Did this happen then when he sailed to Judea, or upon some other occasion
"Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick." Miletus was near Ephesus. Did this happen then when he sailed to Judea, or upon some other occasion? For after he had been in Rome, he returned to Spain, but whether he came thence again into these parts, we know not. [1437] We see him however deserted by all. "For Demas," he says, "hath …
2,226 wordsSECTION 237Homily I.
[1433] katholikas. [1434] He takes this to allude to the written Gospel. [1435] phelonen. Some make it an ecclesiastical vestment. [1436] B. prosresis, as had been before conjectured. [1437] This is, however, a strong presumption that he did. See p. 476, note. [1438] i.e. the next. See Euseb. iii. 2, and note in Reading's E…
2,224 wordsSECTION 238"To Titus mine own [1450] son," that is, my true son. For it is possible for men not to be true sons, as he of whom he says, "If any man tha
"To Titus mine own [1450] son," that is, my true son. For it is possible for men not to be true sons, as he of whom he says, "If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, with such an one no not to eat." (1 Cor. v. 11.) Here is a son, [1451] but not a true son. A s…
2,229 wordsSECTION 239Homily II.
[1444] In the Vulgate, Acts xviii. 7, there is mention of "Titus, surnamed Justus," at Corinth, and a few mss. have the name. In the Syriac, which St. Chrysostom might know, "Titus" stands for "Justus." [W. and Hort. read: Titiou 'Ioustou.--P.S.] [1445] al. "first we are apprehended, and afterwards we apprehend; first we are kn…
2,369 wordsSECTION 240And after this, lift up thy thoughts to the theater [1462] above. When in doing any good thou considerest that it ought to be displayed to m
And after this, lift up thy thoughts to the theater [1462] above. When in doing any good thou considerest that it ought to be displayed to men, and thou seekest for some spectators of the action, and art in travail to be seen, reflect that God beholds thee, and all that desire will be extinguished. Retire from the earth, and loo…
1,449 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.