Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 14
Chrysostom — John and Hebrews
SECTION 81
Homily XLV.
Homily XLV. John vi. 28-30 "Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, [1251] that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. They said therefore unto Him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see and believe thee? what dost thou wor…
2,260 wordsSECTION 82[3.] And the "by whom" [1266] is also applied to the Father, as when the Apostle saith, "By whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His S
[3.] And the "by whom" [1266] is also applied to the Father, as when the Apostle saith, "By whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son" ( 1 Cor. i. 9 ): and, [1267] "By the will of the Father." And again; "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee." ( Matt. xvi. 17.) What He here…
2,202 wordsSECTION 83Homily XLVI.
[1274] al. "show." [1275] "that speaketh of himself," N.T. [1276] a polauosi [1277] al. "one to another." [1278] diakechumenon [1279] al. "none of the things present and perishable will be able to occupy us." [1280] al. "one to another." [1281] al. "seized." [1282] al. "him only." [1283] prooimion [1284] lit. "fair wea…
2,722 wordsSECTION 84[4.] Awful in truth are the Mysteries of the Church, awful in truth is the Altar. A fountain went up out of Paradise sending forth [1311] ma
[4.] Awful in truth are the Mysteries of the Church, awful in truth is the Altar. A fountain went up out of Paradise sending forth [1311] material rivers, from this table springeth up a fountain which sendeth forth rivers spiritual. By the side of this fountain are planted not fruitless willows, but trees reaching even to heaven…
927 wordsSECTION 85Homily XLVII.
Homily XLVII. John vi. 53, 54 "Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have not eternal [1315] life in yourselves. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath life [1316] in himself." [1.] When we converse of spiritual things, le…
2,371 wordsSECTION 86Ver. 66. "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him."
Ver. 66. "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." Rightly hath the Evangelist said, not that they "departed," but that they "went back"; showing that they cut themselves off from any increase in virtue, and that by separating themselves they lost the faith which they had of old. But this wa…
2,202 wordsSECTION 87Homily XLVIII.
[1315] "no life," N.T. [1316] "eternal life," N.T. [1317] al. "but having renounced all these things, and having banished all these things from our minds, let us," &c. [1318] Ben. adds, "in a city." [1319] al. "we must needs hear with." [1320] eis telos [1321] "truly," N.T. [1322] al. "but what is the, is true meat ' ?" &…
2,704 wordsSECTION 88Homily XLIX.
[1346] ou gar eichen exousian [1347] al. "they are not riddles, God forbid! but this may be said, that," &c. [1348] p. 30. [1349] p. 30. [1350] al. "both." [1351] al. "when he showed Him sitting." [1352] "The Passover was nigh," c. vi. 4 [1353] al. "to be followed." [1354] al. "we have often heard." [1355] al. "what a w…
2,540 wordsSECTION 89Ver. 20. "Thou hast a devil; who goeth about to kill thee?"
Ver. 20. "Thou hast a devil; who goeth about to kill thee?" [3.] The expression is one of wrath and anger, and of a soul made shameless by an unexpected reproof, and put to confusion before their time, as they thought. [1401] For just as a sort of robbers who sing over their plots, then when they desire to put him against whom …
1,462 wordsSECTION 90Homily L.
Homily L. John vii. 25-27 "Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is." [1.] Nothing is placed in the Holy Scriptures without a reason, for…
2,329 wordsSECTION 91Ver. 35. "Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go?"
Ver. 35. "Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go?" Yet they who had wished to be rid of Him, who did all in their power not to see Him, ought not to have asked this question, but to have said, "we are glad of it, when will the departure take place?" but they were somewhat affected at His words, and with foolish…
870 wordsSECTION 92Homily LI.
Homily LI. John vii. 37, 38 "In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." [1.] They who come to the divine preaching and give heed to the …
2,842 wordsSECTION 93Homily LII.
[1428] e phodia [1429] i.e. not of the Scripture. [1430] al. "He dwelt desiring," &c. [1431] lit. "unspeakable." [1432] lit. "the Cross." [1433] i.e. after the Crucifixion. [1434] i.e. before the Crucifixion. [1435] al. "divine." [1436] In Ben. the reading is different, and the sense seems incomplete. "Since then speakin…
2,570 wordsSECTION 94Ver. 18. "I am One that bear witness of Myself; and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me."
Ver. 18. "I am One that bear witness of Myself; and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me." Had He been of inferior substance, He would not have put this. But now that thou mayest not deem that the Father is included, to make up the number (of two), observe that His power hath nothing different (from the Father's). A ma…
997 wordsSECTION 95Homily LIII.
Homily LIII. John viii. 20 "These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the Temple; and no man laid hands on Him, for His hour was not yet come." [1.] Oh the folly of the Jews! seeking Him as they did before the Passover, and then having found Him in the midst of them, and having often attempted to take Him by th…
2,371 wordsSECTION 96Homily LIV.
Let us then, beloved, give heed to the Scriptures, and if no other part be so, let the Gospels at least be the subjects of our earnest care, let us keep them in our hands. For straightway when thou hast opened the Book thou shalt see the name of Christ there, and shalt hear one say, "The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. W…
2,263 wordsSECTION 97Ver. 38. "I speak that which I have seen with My Father, and ye do that which ye have heard from [1475] your father."
Ver. 38. "I speak that which I have seen with My Father, and ye do that which ye have heard from [1475] your father." "As," He saith, "I both by My words and by the truth declare the Father, so also do ye by your actions (declare yours). For I have not only the same Substance, but also the same Truth with the Father." Ver. 39,…
2,157 wordsSECTION 98Homily LV.
Homily LV. John viii. 48, 49 "Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor My Father." [1.] A shameless and a forward [1489] thing is wickedness, and when it ought to hide itself, then is it the fiercer. As was the case …
2,584 wordsSECTION 99Homily LVI.
[1489] i tamon [1490] a kolouthian [1491] "My Father that," Ben. [1492] al. "insult." [1493] al. "gone forth." [1494] "The Son of Man," N.T. [1495] c. vi. 39, 40 [1496] i.e. the Jews. [1497] "It is My Father," N.T. [1498] "that He is your God," N.T. [1499] i.e. the Father. [1500] "fifty," N.T. [1501] ho s loipon [15…
2,203 wordsSECTION 100He said not, "when I cannot work," but, "when no man can work": that is, when there is no longer faith, nor labors, nor repentance. For to s
He said not, "when I cannot work," but, "when no man can work": that is, when there is no longer faith, nor labors, nor repentance. For to show that He calleth faith, a "work," when they say unto Him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" ( c. vi. 28 ), He replieth, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on…
1,407 wordsSECTION 101Homily LVII.
Homily LVII. John ix. 6, 7 "When Jesus had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." [1.] Those who intend to gain any advantage from what they read, must not pass by even any small portion of the words;…
2,900 wordsSECTION 102Homily LVIII.
[1521] autothen [1522] "is being interpreted," N.T. [1523] to athroon tes parousias [1524] "which before," N.T. [1525] "was blind," N.T. Vulgate, mendicus erat [1526] lit. "dispensed." [1527] to akompaston [1528] These words occur later, ver. 26. The account of the first examination of the blind man is different; ver. 15.…
2,279 wordsSECTION 103Ver. 28. "Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples."
Ver. 28. "Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples." "But this cannot be. Ye are neither Moses' nor this Man's; for were ye Moses', ye would become this Man's also." Wherefore Christ before said unto them, because they were continually betaking themselves to these speeches, "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believ…
2,264 wordsSECTION 104Homily LIX.
[1537] "How can a man," &c., N.T. [1538] al. "the judgment amazed him not." [1539] "the Jews," N.T. [1540] "the parents of him," &c., N.T. [1541] al. "who envied." [1542] al. "was a sinner." [1543] mikropsuchian. The Bened. editor observes, that by the Fathers the word is used to signify "grudging" ; "quarreling." [1544] …
2,542 wordsSECTION 105Ver. 5. "And [1592] a stranger will they not follow, for they know not the voice of strangers."
Ver. 5. "And [1592] a stranger will they not follow, for they know not the voice of strangers." Certainly here He speaketh of Theudas and Judas, (for "all, as many as believed on them, were scattered" [ Acts v. 36], It saith,) or of the false Christs who after that time should deceive. For lest any should say that He was one of…
2,207 wordsSECTION 106Homily LX.
Homily LX. John x. 14, 15 "I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." [1.] A great matter, beloved, a great matter it is to preside over a Church: a matter needing wisdom and courage as great as that of which Chri…
2,231 wordsSECTION 107Ver. 19. "There was a division therefore [1616] among the Jews. [1617] And some [1618] said, He hath a devil (and is mad [1619] ). Others sa
Ver. 19. "There was a division therefore [1616] among the Jews. [1617] And some [1618] said, He hath a devil (and is mad [1619] ). Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil: can a devil open the eyes of the blind?" For because His words were greater than belonged to man, and not of common use, they said that…
2,349 wordsSECTION 108[6.] If we do not take by violence gold, or such and such a number of acres of land, yet we bring about the same end by deceit and robbery i
[6.] If we do not take by violence gold, or such and such a number of acres of land, yet we bring about the same end by deceit and robbery in lesser matters, and where we are able to do so. For when in making contracts, or when we must buy or sell anything, we dispute and strive to pay less than the value, and use our utmost end…
1,100 wordsSECTION 109Homily LXI.
Homily LXI. John x. 22-24 "And it was at Jerusalem, the Feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost thou make us to doubt?" [1.] Every virtue is a good thing, but most of all gentleness and meekness. This sh…
2,200 wordsSECTION 110Ver. 39-41. "Therefore they sought again to take Him, but He escaped out of their hands, and went away again beyond Jordan, into the place w
Ver. 39-41. "Therefore they sought again to take Him, but He escaped out of their hands, and went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized. [1654] And many resorted unto Him, and said, John did no miracle, but all things that John spake of this man were true." When He hath uttered anything great and…
2,128 wordsSECTION 111Homily LXII.
Homily LXII. John xi. 1, 2 "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, of the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment." [1664] [1.] Many men, when they see any of those who are pleasing to God suffering anything terrible, as, for instance, having fallen into sickn…
2,216 wordsSECTION 112Ver. 24. "I know that he shall rise again [1694] in the last day," to prove more clearly His authority, He replieth,
Ver. 24. "I know that he shall rise again [1694] in the last day," to prove more clearly His authority, He replieth, Ver. 25. "I am the Resurrection and the Life." Showing that He needed no other to help Him, if so be that He Himself is the Life; since if He needed another, [1695] how could He be "the Resurrection and the Life…
2,202 wordsSECTION 113Homily LXIII.
[1675] al. "and this He said desiring to show." [1676] al. "shall be." [1677] ver. 13-15. "Howbeit, Jesus spake of his death, but they thought that He had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; never…
2,131 wordsSECTION 114Homily LXIII.
[3.] A great blessing truly is faith, great, and one which makes great those who hold it rightly with (good) living. [1746] By this men (are enabled) to do the things of God in His [1747] name. And well did Christ say, [1748] "If ye have faith ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove, and it shall remove" ( Matt. xvii. 20 ); and …
2,082 wordsSECTION 115Homily LXIV.
Homily LXIV. John xi. 41, 42 "Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me; and I knew that Thou hearest Me always, but because of the people which stand by, I said it." And what follows. [1.] What I have often said, I will now say, that Christ looketh not so much to His own honor as to our…
2,228 wordsSECTION 116Ver. 43. "And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice."
Ver. 43. "And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice." Why said He not, "In the name of My Father come forth"? Or why said He not, "Father, raise him up"? Why did he omit all these expressions, and after assuming the attitude of one praying, show by His actions His independent authority? Because this also was a par…
2,383 wordsSECTION 117Homily LXV.
[1780] lit. "overflow." [1781] auta [1782] auta, i.e. higher sayings. [1783] al. "have passed to perfection," al. "have passed from low-mindedness." [1784] tauta [1785] al. "have been held." [1786] "so I do," N.T. [1787] al. "I speak nothing." [1788] al. "caused." [1789] a pesobei [1790] al. "not to reckon." [1791] or…
2,241 wordsSECTION 118[3.] For a dreadful, a dreadful thing is the love of money, it disables both eyes and ears, and makes men worse to deal with than a wild bea
[3.] For a dreadful, a dreadful thing is the love of money, it disables both eyes and ears, and makes men worse to deal with than a wild beast, allowing a man to consider neither conscience, nor friendship, nor fellowship, nor the salvation of his own soul, but having withdrawn them at once from all these things, like some harsh…
1,578 wordsSECTION 119Homily LXVI.
Homily LXVI. John xii. 8 "Much people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead." [1.] As wealth is wont to hurl into destruction [1858] those who are not heedful, so also is power; the first leads into covetous…
3,165 wordsSECTION 120Homily LXVII.
[1858] e ktrachelizein [1859] or, "is it not the multitude." [1860] "the Law," N.T. [1861] oikeiois akois, i.e. in matters affecting themselves. [1862] Ver. 10, 11. "But the Chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death, because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus." [1…
2,338 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.