On the Priesthood/Ascetic Treatises/Select Homilies and Letters/Homilies on the Statues [Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Vol 9]

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series #9

by John Chrysostom, W.R.W. Stephens (Translator), T.P. Brandram (Translator)

No Dust Jacket Present, Tight Seemingly Unread, No Chipping or Tears to Edges, No Markings or Creasing

514 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

John Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος), Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in 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. After his death in 407 (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek epithet chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed", in English and Anglicized to Chrysostom.

The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as a saint and as a Doctor of the Church. Churches of the Western tradition, including the Roman Catholic Church, some Anglican provinces, and parts of the Lutheran Church, commemorate him on 13 September. Some Lutheran and many Anglican provinces commemorate him on the traditional Eastern feast day of 27 January. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria also recognizes John Chrysostom as a saint (with feast days on 16 Thout and 17 Hathor).

John is known in Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist. Among his homilies, eight directed against Judaizing Christians remain controversial for their impact on the development of Christian antisemitism.

Reviews

[CJ Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the Priesthood was helpful, and the background was truly fascinating. Because it was so very personal, it felt like a lot of false modesty colored the entire discussion.

The ascetic treatises were overwrought; core ideas of self-denial and discipline were of course very biblical, but the packaging was wrongheaded. Christians are in many ways free to live that way, and some good might come of it, but as far as the normal Christian life goes, that ain't it.

Homilies were very interesting, often quite good, but I was never quite sure how the application from any and every text was always "don't take oaths".