St. John Chrysostom says, “what is more pitiable than [the condition] of Phillip’s wife [Matt. 3:14] who beheaded John? or the brethren of Joseph who sold him away, and transported him into the land of exile? or the devil who tortured Job with such great calamities? For not only on account of his other iniquities, but at the same time also for this assault he will pay no trifling penalty … And what shall I say of Paul? Did he not suffer so many distresses that even to make a list of them is no easy matter? … and why need I mention the greater part of them? he was dying every day: but yet, although subjected to so many and such grievous sufferings, he not only uttered no blasphemous word, but rejoiced over these things and gloried in them: and one time he says ‘I rejoice in my sufferings’ (Col. 1:24), and then again ‘not only this but we also glory in afflictions’ (Rom. 5:3). If then he rejoiced and gloried when suffering such great troubles what excuse will you have, and what defence will you make if you blaspheme when you do not undergo the smallest fraction of them.”659
The Fathers cited
- St. John Chrysostom