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John Chrysostom Quotes (349-407)
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About John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom (c. 349 β 407), Greek Ioannes Chrysostomos, early Christian theologian, archbishop of Constantinople, saint. "Chrysostom" means "Golden-mouthed", a tribute to his exemplary talent as an orator. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. His writings were originally written in Greek.
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βIs it not excessively ridiculous to seek the good opinion of those whom you would never wish to be like?β
βWe are commanded to have only one enemy, the devil. With him never be reconciled! But with a brother, never be at enmity in thy heart.β
βWhile the tongue through shame often pours not forth all its wickedness at once, the heart having no human witness, fearlessly gives birth to whatever evils it will.β
βNothing does so much turn our life upside down, as delay and procrastination in the performance of our good works. Nay, this has often caused us to lose all.β
βOne who knows that he is in need, is very grateful when he obtains assistance; but one who has not a sense of his need, will never have a plain and clear sense of the benefit.β
βAnd should you hear any one in the public thoroughfare, or in the midst of the forum, blaspheming God; go up to him and rebuke him; and should it be necessary to inflict blows, spare not to do so. Smite him on the face; strike his mouth; sanctify thy hand with the blow...β
βLet all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness. Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.β
βThe Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.β
βBeloved, we need much care, much watchfulness, to be able to look into the depth of the Divine Scriptures. For it is not possible to discover their meaning in a careless way, or while we are asleep, but there needs close search, and there needs earnest prayer, that we may be enabled to see some little way into the secrets of the divine oracles.β
βNothing is more miserable than those people who never failed to attack their own salvation. When there was need to observe the Law, they trampled it under foot. β¦ On this account Stephen said: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart, you always resist the Holy Spirit", not only by transgressing the Law but also by wishing to observe it at the wrong time.β
βFor Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force...it is necessary to make a man better not by force but by persuasion. We neither have authority granted us by law to restrain sinners, nor, if it were, should we know how to use it, since God gives the crown to those who are kept from evil, not by force, but by choice.β
βWhere an action is done for glory, all is worthless. For though a man possess all, yet if he have not the mastery over this (lust), he forfeits all claim to true philosophy, he is in bondage to the more tyrannical and shameful passion. Contempt of glory; this it is that is sufficient to teach all that is good, and to banish from the soul every pernicious passion.β
βI beg that, chiefest of all, you will remember constantly that not to share our own riches with the poor is a robbery of the poor, and a depriving them of their livelihood; and that that which we possess is not only our own, but also theirs. If our minds are disposed in accordance with this truth, we shall freely use all our possessions; we shall feed Christ while hungering here, and we shall lay up great treasures there.β
βBy descending into hades, He made hades captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. ... It took a body, and met God face to face. ... Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb! For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.β
βDo you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, βThis is my body,β and made it so by his word, is the same that said, βYou saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.β Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.β
βAs it is not to be imagined that the fornicator and the blasphemer can partake of the sacred Table, so it is impossible that he who has an enemy, and bears malice, can enjoy the holy Communion.β¦ I forewarn, and testify, and proclaim this with a voice that all may hear! βLet no one who hath an enemy draw near the sacred Table, or receive the Lordβs Body! Let no one who draws near have an enemy! Do you have an enemy? Draw not near! Do you wish to draw near? Be reconciled, and then draw near, and touch the Holy Thing!ββ
βHe loved us when we hated Him, and also continues to love us... And how comes it, some will say, that one who is our Friend threatens hell, and punishment, and vengeance? It is owing to His loving us alone. For all He does and is busied with, is with a view to strike out your wickedness, and to refrain with fear, as with a kind of bridle, your inclinableness to the worse side, and by blessings and by pains recovering you from your downward course, and leading you up to Him, and keeping you from all vice, which is worse than hell.β
βA servant, indeed, one will be able perhaps to bind down by fear; nay, not even for him, for he will soon leave you. But the partner of one's life, the mother of one's children, the foundation of one's every joy, one ought never to chain down by fear and threats, but with love and good temper. For what sort of union is that, where the wife trembles at her husband? And what sort of pleasure will the husband have if he dwells with his wife as with a slave? Yea, even though you suffer everything on her account, do not scold her; for neither did Christ do this to the Church.β
βDo not now, I warn you, seize upon the privilege of the Only Begotten. For Him is the throne of judgment reserved. Would you however be a judge? You have a court of judgment which has great profit, and bears no blame. Make consideration, as judge, to sit down upon your conscience, and bring before it all your transgressions, search out the sins of your soul, and exact with strictness the account thereof, and say, wherefore did you dare to do this and that? ... Answer for yourself, not to accuse; look to your own matters, do not those of others.β
John Chrysostom Quotes by Topic
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John Chrysostom on Christianity 5 quotes
β[T]he Jews are enduring their present troubles because of Christ.β
John Chrysostom on Christian views on birth control 4 quotes
β[I]n truth, all men know that they who are under the power of this disease [the sin of covetousness] are wearied even of their father's old age [wishing him to die so they can inherit]; and that which is sweet, and universally desirable, the having of children, they esteem grievous and unwelcome. Many at least with this view have even paid money to be childless, and have mutilated nature, not only killing the newborn, but even acting to prevent their beginning to live [sterilization]"β
John Chrysostom on Abortion 2 quotes
View all 2 quotes on Abortion →John Chrysostom on True Cross 2 quotes
βKings removing their diadems take up the cross, the symbol of their Saviour's death; on the purple, the cross; in their prayers, the cross; on their armour, the cross; on the holy table, the cross; throughout the universe, the cross. The cross shines brighter than the sun.β
John Chrysostom on Despise
John Chrysostom on Christian socialism
βNot to share oneβs wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own good, which we hold, but theirs.β
John Chrysostom on Lazarus of Bethany
βNot to share oneβs wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own good, which we hold, but theirs.β
John Chrysostom on Endurance
βEndurance is the queen of all virtues...Bible truth behind the quote βWe are exhorted to run with endurance (Hebrews 12:1), especially during times of testing (James:1.12)β
John Chrysostom on Sharing
βDo you wish to honor... He who said, βThis is my body,β and made it so by his word, is the same that said, βYou saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.β Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.β
John Chrysostom on Nudity
βDo you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, βThis is my body,β and made it so by his word, is the same that said, βYou saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.β Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.β
John Chrysostom on Clothing
βDo you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, βThis is my body,β and made it so by his word, is the same that said, βYou saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.β Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.β
Quotes About John Chrysostom
Gain deeper perspective through quotes about John Chrysostom from others.
Newman on John Chrysostom 2 quotes
βA bright, cheerful, gentle soul; a sensitive heart, a temperament open to emotion and impulse; and all this elevated, refined, transformed by the touch of heaven,βsuch was St. John Chrysostom; winning followers, riveting affections, by his sweetness, frankness, and neglect of self. In his labours, in his preaching, he thought of others only.β
Misattributed Quotes
Quotes mistakenly credited to John Chrysostom
βThe Jews are the most worthless of all men. They are lecherous, greedy, rapacious. They are perfidious murderers of Christ. They worship the Devil. Their religion is a sickness. The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance, and the Jew must live in servitude forever. God always hated the Jews. It is essential that all Christians hate them.β
βWhat else is woman but a foe to friendship, an inescapable punishment, a necessary evil, a natural temptation, a desirable calamity, a domestic danger, a delectable detriment, an evil of nature, painted with fair colors!β
About John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom (c. 349 β 407), Greek Ioannes Chrysostomos, early Christian theologian, archbishop of Constantinople, saint. "Chrysostom" means "Golden-mouthed", a tribute to his exemplary talent as an orator. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. His writings were originally written in Greek.