Who he was
- Known as the “Golden Mouth” for the eloquence of his sermons.
- He was born in Antioch and raised by his mother. He became a monk and later was appointed deacon in 381, and then a priest in Antioch in 386.
- His reputation as a preacher increased, and in 398, he was appointed as bishop of Constantinople against his will.
- The emperor was eventually convinced to exile him on three occasions, and he died in exile.
- Referring to allegorical exegesis, he argued, “I disdain this exegesis, and consider the literal to be more accurate.” While remaining loyal to the principles of the Antiochian School,
Chrysostom was not averse on occasion to citing the figurative meaning of a passage, thus demonstrating more flexibility than Theodore.
- For Chrysostom, theology is not a theoretical exercise, but practical and pastoral. He believed the biblical message made changes in people’s lives. He declared that the Scriptures’ divine message prepared people for good works.
- In Homily 6 on Matthew St. John Chrysostom wrote: How does Paul say, “Rejoice in the Lord always”? The joy he is speaking of springs from tears of mourning. For just as worldly joy comes with sorrow, godly tears produce never- ending, unfading joy. The harlot…experienced joy when seized by this fire. Thoroughly warmed by repentance, she was moved by her longing desire for Christ. She loosened her hair, drenched His holy feet with her tears, wiped them with her tresses, and poured out all the ointment. But these were only outward expressions. Those emotions in her mind were much more fervent – things only God could see… For I seek those tears shed, not for display, but in repentance, I want those that trickle down secretly and in closets, out of sight, softly and noiselessly. I desire those that rise from depth of mind, those shed in anguish and sorrow, those which are for God alone.
What he wrote
- Among the eastern fathers none has left so extensive a literary legacy as St. John Chrysostom. His writings are almost entirely preserved.
- His printed treatises and six hundred sermons contain about eighteen thousand Scripture references, about seven thousand from the Old Testament and eleven thousand from the New. 1. Sermons
- Exegetical Homilies on the New and Old
Testaments: Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, Matthew, John, Acts of the Apostles, all the epistles of St. Paul including the Hebrews.
- Dogmatic and Polemical Homilies on the Incomprehensible Nature of God, Baptismal Catecheses, Homilies against the Jews.
- Moral Discourses: In Kalendas – celebrating the New Year, Against the Circus and the Theatre etc.
- Sermons for Liturgical Feasts.
- Occasional Discourses: The First Sermon, Homilies on the Statues, Two Homilies on Eutropius 2. Treatises
- On Priesthood, On Monastic Life, On Virginity and Widowhood, Concerning the Education of Children, On Suffering, Against Pagans and Jews. 3. Letters
- There are about 236 letters extant.