Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 14
Chrysostom — John and Hebrews
SECTION 41
It might be expected that the bridegroom would reply to this, (the ruler's speech,) and say something, but the Evangelist, hastening to more
It might be expected that the bridegroom would reply to this, (the ruler's speech,) and say something, but the Evangelist, hastening to more pressing matters, has only touched upon this miracle, and passed on. For what we needed to learn was, that Christ made the water wine, and that good wine; but what the bridegroom said to th…
1,069 wordsSECTION 42Homily XXIII.
Homily XXIII. John ii. 11 "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee." [1.] Frequent and fierce is the devil in his attacks, on all sides besieging our salvation; we therefore must watch and be sober, and everywhere fortify ourselves against his assault, for if he but gain some slight vantage ground, [588] he go…
2,219 wordsSECTION 43Ver. 22. "When He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word whi
Ver. 22. "When He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." But at the time when this was spoken, the Jews were perplexed as to what it might mean, and cast about to discover, saying, Ver. 20. "Forty and six years was this Templ…
1,386 wordsSECTION 44Homily XXIV.
Homily XXIV. John ii. 23 "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast, many believed on Him." [1.] Of the men of that time some clung to their error, others laid hold on the truth, while of these last, some having retained it for a little while again fell off from it. Alluding to these, Christ compared them to …
2,346 wordsSECTION 45"Can a man," he saith, "enter into his mother's womb, and be born?"
"Can a man," he saith, "enter into his mother's womb, and be born?" Seest thou how when one commits spiritual things to his own reasonings, he speaks ridiculously, seems to be trifling, or to be drunken, when he pries into what has been said beyond what seems good to God, and admits not the submission of faith? Nicodemus heard …
935 wordsSECTION 46Homily XXV.
Homily XXV. John iii. 5 "Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." [1.] Little children who go daily to their teachers receive their lessons, and repeat [638] them, and never cease from this kind of acquisition, but sometimes employ nights as well as day…
2,774 wordsSECTION 47Homily XXVI.
Let us then, as receiving great things though we give but little, still give the little that we may gain the great. While it is yet time, let us sow, that we may reap. When the winter overtakes us, when the sea is no longer navigable, we are no longer masters of this traffic. But when shall the winter be? When that great and man…
2,483 wordsSECTION 48Ver. 11. "We speak that We do know, and testify that We have seen, and none receiveth [690] Our witness."
Ver. 11. "We speak that We do know, and testify that We have seen, and none receiveth [690] Our witness." This He added, making His words credible by another argument, and condescending in His speech to the other's infirmity. [3.] And what is this that He saith, "We speak that We do know, and testify that We have seen"? Becaus…
873 wordsSECTION 49Homily XXVII.
Homily XXVII. John iii. 12, 13 "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven." [1.] What I have often said I shall now repeat, and shall not cease t…
2,477 wordsSECTION 50Homily XXVIII.
But perhaps you do not lay them by in your coffers, but wear them and make yourself fine with them. And what gain you by this? Is it that the street people may see you? What then? They will not admire thee who wearest such apparel, but the man who supplies garments to the needy; so if you desire to be admired, by clothing others…
2,301 wordsSECTION 51"Well," says some one, "but are there no Christians that do evil, and heathens that live discreetly?" [728] That there are Christians who do
"Well," says some one, "but are there no Christians that do evil, and heathens that live discreetly?" [728] That there are Christians who do evil, I know; but whether there are heathens who live a righteous life, I do not yet know assuredly. For do not speak to me of those who by nature are good and orderly, (this is not virtue,…
1,348 wordsSECTION 52Homily XXIX.
Homily XXIX. John iii. 22 "And He came and His disciples into the land of Judæa, and there He tarried with them (and baptized)." [1.] Nothing can be clearer or mightier than the truth, just as nothing is weaker than falsehood, though it be shaded by ten thousand veils. For even so it is easily detected, it easily melts away. …
2,210 wordsSECTION 53[3.] But what meaneth, "He which standeth and heareth Him rejoiceth greatly, because of the Bridegroom's voice"? He transfers the expression
[3.] But what meaneth, "He which standeth and heareth Him rejoiceth greatly, because of the Bridegroom's voice"? He transfers the expression from the parable to the subject in hand; for after mentioning the bridegroom and the bride, he shows how the bride is brought home, that is, by a "Voice" and teaching. For thus the Church i…
1,086 wordsSECTION 54Homily XXX.
Homily XXX. John iii. 31 "He that cometh from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth." [1.] A dreadful thing is the love of glory, dreadful and full of many evils; it is a thorn hard to be extracted, a wild beast untamable and many headed, arming itself against those that feed it; fo…
2,602 wordsSECTION 55Homily XXXI.
[756] ho sa epadei [757] e pantlei, lit. "foments." [758] a no kai kato strephete [759] ho heor kai ek touto m. G. T. [760] i.e. the credibility of Christ. [761] e gnorisa humin, G. T. [762] marturoumen, G. T. [763] or, "at the comm. of the Gospel." [764] tou Theou logou [765] or, "he." [766] a telesteron [767] oude o…
2,237 wordsSECTION 56[3.] Nor was it merely to describe the place that the Evangelist has reminded us of Jacob, but to show that the rejection of the Jews had ha
[3.] Nor was it merely to describe the place that the Evangelist has reminded us of Jacob, but to show that the rejection of the Jews had happened long ago. For during the time of their forefathers these Jews possessed the land, and not the Samaritans; and the very possessions which not being theirs, their forefathers had gotten…
2,302 wordsSECTION 57[5.] If now a woman of Samaria is so earnest to learn something profitable, if she abides by Christ though not as yet knowing Him, what pard
[5.] If now a woman of Samaria is so earnest to learn something profitable, if she abides by Christ though not as yet knowing Him, what pardon shall we obtain, who both knowing [817] Him, and being not by a well, nor in a desert place, nor at noon-day, nor beneath the scorching sunbeams, but at morning-tide, and beneath a roof l…
883 wordsSECTION 58Homily XXXII.
Homily XXXII. John iv. 13, 14 "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting Life." [1.] Scripture calls the…
2,216 wordsSECTION 59Ver. 20. "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain," (meaning Abraham and his family, for thither they say that he led up his son,) "and how s
Ver. 20. "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain," (meaning Abraham and his family, for thither they say that he led up his son,) "and how say ye [843] that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship?" [3.] Seest thou how much more elevated in mind she has become? She who was anxious that she might not be troubled for…
1,346 wordsSECTION 60Homily XXXIII.
Homily XXXIII. John iv. 21, 22 "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews." [1.] Everywhere, beloved, we have need of faith, faith the mother of b…
2,439 wordsSECTION 61What then was it which caused this especial love? To my thinking, it was that the man displayed great gentleness and meekness, for which rea
What then was it which caused this especial love? To my thinking, it was that the man displayed great gentleness and meekness, for which reason he doth not appear in many places speaking openly. And how great a thing this is, is plain also from the case of Moses. It was this which made him such and so great as he was. There is n…
738 wordsSECTION 62Homily XXXIV.
Homily XXXIV. John iv. 28, 29 "The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a Man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?" [1.] We require much fervor and uproused zeal, for without these it is impossible to obtain the blessings promised to us. An…
2,177 wordsSECTION 63Homily XXXIV.
[3.] Let us then also imitate this woman, and in the case of our own sins not be ashamed of men, but fear, as is meet, God who now beholdeth what is done, and who hereafter punisheth those who do not now repent. At present we do the opposite of this, for we fear not Him who shall judge us, but shudder at those who do not in anyt…
1,483 wordsSECTION 64Homily XXXV.
Homily XXXV. John iv. 40-43 "So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own Word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that This is indeed …
2,235 wordsSECTION 65[3.] At that time then, owing to his emotion, the nobleman gave no great heed to the words, or to those only which related to his son, [937]
[3.] At that time then, owing to his emotion, the nobleman gave no great heed to the words, or to those only which related to his son, [937] yet he would afterwards recollect what had been said, and draw from thence the greatest advantage. As indeed was the case. But what can be the reason why in the case of the centurion He by…
1,060 wordsSECTION 66Homily XXXVI.
Homily XXXVI. John iv. 54; v. 1 "This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when He was come out of Judæa into Galilee. After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." [1.] As in gold mines one skillful in what relates to them would not endure to overlook even the smallest vein as producing mu…
2,447 wordsSECTION 67Homily XXXVII.
[949] lit. "distracting." [950] lit. "wonder." [951] al. "feasts." [952] probatike kolumbethra [e pi te p. G. T.]. [953] [a sthenounton] G. T. and Ben. [954] hu pographei, al. proup [955] al. "harm the faith of the hearers." [956] a po kedeias, Num. v [957] lit. "faith of," al. "the gift of." [958] Morel. and ms. in Bod…
2,788 wordsSECTION 68Homily XXXVIII.
Considering then that even when we labor not, by rejoicing with him that laboreth, we become sharers of his crown, let us cast aside all envy, and implant charity in our souls, that by applauding those of our brethren who are well pleasing unto God, we may obtain both present and future good things, through the grace and lovingk…
2,357 wordsSECTION 69[3.] In that place [1015] then He did all on the Sabbath day by words only, and added nothing more, but refuted their charges by what was do
[3.] In that place [1015] then He did all on the Sabbath day by words only, and added nothing more, but refuted their charges by what was done in the Temple and from their own practice. But here where He commanded a work to be done, the taking up a bed, (a thing of no great importance as regarded the miracle, [1016] though by it…
2,210 wordsSECTION 70What then is His meaning? It was because He had strengthened the paralytic, and was about to raise the dead, that He thus spake, all but say
What then is His meaning? It was because He had strengthened the paralytic, and was about to raise the dead, that He thus spake, all but saying, "Wonder ye that I have strengthened the paralyzed? Ye shall see greater things than these." But He spake not thus, but proceeded somehow in a humbler strain, in order that He might soot…
1,377 wordsSECTION 71Homily XXXIX.
Homily XXXIX. John v. 23, 24 "For My Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." [1.] Beloved, we need great diligence in all things, for we shall render account of and undergo a strict enquiry both of words and works. Our interests stop…
2,414 wordsSECTION 72Ver. 26. "For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself."
Ver. 26. "For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself." [3.] Seest thou that this declareth a perfect likeness save in one [1061] point, which is the One being a Father, and the Other a Son? for the expression "hath given," merely introduceth this distinction, but declareth that a…
2,444 wordsSECTION 73Now bearing all this in mind, let us not, I exhort you, carelessly pass by Christ's words, but enquire closely into them all, everywhere con
Now bearing all this in mind, let us not, I exhort you, carelessly pass by Christ's words, but enquire closely into them all, everywhere considering the reason of what has been said; and let us not deem that ignorance and simplicity will be sufficient to excuse us, for He hath bidden us not merely to be "harmless," but "wise." (…
1,594 wordsSECTION 74Homily XL.
Homily XL. John v. 31, 32 "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true; there is another that beareth witness of Me, and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of Me is true." [1.] If any one unpracticed in the art undertake to work a mine, he will get no gold, but confounding all aimlessly and together, will und…
2,410 wordsSECTION 75Ver. 37. "And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me."
Ver. 37. "And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me." Where did He "bear witness of" Him? In Jordan: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" ( Matt. iii. 16 ); hear Him. [1112] Yet even this needed proof. The testimony of John then was clear, for they themselves had sent to him, and could …
1,573 wordsSECTION 76Homily XLI.
Homily XLI. John v. 39, 40 "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me that ye might have [eternal [1126] ] life." [1.] Beloved, let us make great account of spiritual things, and not think that it is sufficient for us to salvation to pur…
2,794 wordsSECTION 77Homily XLII.
[1126] not in G. T. [1127] al. "inquisitive." [1128] al. "being destitute of." [1129] al. "and promised all those things so as to draw them to Himself." [1130] al. "they often." [1131] al. "veiling." [1132] al. "whom also He putteth." [1133] al. "ought ye to do this." [1134] al. "enviousness." [1135] al. "kindness, sayi…
2,315 wordsSECTION 78"And He gave to them that were set down, and they were filled." [1185]
"And He gave to them that were set down, and they were filled." [1185] Seest thou how great is the interval between the servants and the Master? They having grace by measure, wrought their miracles accordingly, but God, who acteth with free power, did all most abundantly. Ver. 12. "And He said [1186] unto His disciples, Gather…
2,203 wordsSECTION 79Homily XLIII.
[1204] or, "consent with." [1205] dia ton pragmaton [1206] or, "consent with." [1207] al. "couldest reply nothing." Homily XLIII. John vi. 16-18 "And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto [1208] the sea and entered [1209] into a ship, and went over [1210] the sea toward Capernaum. And it was [1211] now dark,…
2,207 wordsSECTION 80Homily XLIV.
[1229] al. "came." [1230] al. "hence." [1231] euthrauston hormen, al. eukolon gnomen [1232] lit. "all." [1233] a strong east wind. [1234] lit. "back." [1235] al. "much." [1236] al. "lack." [1237] e piousion, i.e. eis ten epiousan hem [1238] al. "came." [1239] al. "no pains, but rather neither to have nor to desire them…
2,078 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.