THE COMMENTARY AND HOMILIES OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, ON THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE GALATIANS AND EPHESIANS.

The Oxford Translations Revised, with Additional Notes, by REV. GROSS ALEXANDER, D.D.

Contents

COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS.

CHAPTER 1 , VERSE 1-3. "Paul, an Apostle, (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren which are with me, unto the Churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

CHAPTER 2 , VERSE 1-2. "Then after the space of fourteen year's, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. And I went up by revelation."

CHAPTER 3 , VERSE 1. "O foolish Galatians who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth, crucified?"

CHAPTER 4 , VERSE 1-3. "But I say, that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bond-servant, though he is lord of all; but is under guardians and stewards, until the term appointed of the father. So we also when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world."

CHAPTER 5 , VERSE 1. "With freedom did Christ set us free; stand fast therefore."

CHAPTER 6 , VERSE 1. "Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass."

HOMILIES ON EPHESIANS

THE ARGUMENT

HOMILY I.--Ephesians 1:1-2. "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

HOMILY II.--Ephesians 1:11-14. "In whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will."

HOMILY III.--Ephesians 1:15-20. "For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus, which is among you, and which ye show toward all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: having the eyes of your heart enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of His might, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead.

HOMILY IV.--Ephesians 2:1-3. "And you did He quicken, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, wherein aforetime ye walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived, in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest."

HOMILY V.--Ephesians 2:11, 12. "Wherefore remember, that aforetime ye the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."

HOMILY VI.--Ephesians 2:17-22. "And He came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh, for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner-stone. In whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."

HOMILY VII.--Ephesians 3:8-11. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from all ages hath been hid in God, who created all things:[1] to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

HOMILY VIII.--Ephesians 4:1, 2. "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness."

HOMILY IX.--Ephesians 4:1-3. "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you, to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

HOMILY X.--Ephesians 4:4. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling."

HOMILY XI.--Ephesians 4:4-7. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

HOMILY XII.--Ephesians 4:17. "This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, bring darkened in their understanding."

HOMILY XIII.--Ephesians 4:17-19. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart: who being past feeling, gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

HOMILY XIV.--Ephesians 4:25-27. "Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor; for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil."

HOMILY XV.--Ephesians 4:31. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice."

HOMILY XVI.--Ephesians 4:31, 32. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing be put away from you, with all malice And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you."

HOMILY XVII.--Ephesians 4:32, & 5:1, 2. "And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell."

HOMILY XVIII.--Ephesians 5:5, 6. "For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience."

HOMILY XIX.--Ephesians 5:15, 16, 17. "Look then carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

HOMILY XX.--Ephesians 5:22-24. "Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church: being Himself the Saviour of the body. But as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything."

HOMILY XXI.--Ephesians 6: 1-3. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

HOMILY XXII.--Ephesians 6:5-8. "Servants, be obedient unto them that, according to the flesh, are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers: but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good-will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free."

HOMILY XXIII.--Ephesians 6:14. "Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth."

HOMILY XXIV.--Ephesians 6:14-17. "Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."