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St. John Chrysostom: Homilies on the Old Testament: Homilies on Isaiah and Jeremiah
Three volumes with Chrysostom's homilies on Old Testament prophets, heroes and texts. Volume One includes homilies on Hannah, David and Saul. Volume Two includes homilies on Isaiah and Jeremiah. Volume Three includes homilies on various Psalms and on the obscurity of the Old Testament. "Sometimes by choice, sometimes of necessity, St John Chrysostom in the course of his ministry in Antioch and Constantinople addressed congregations on Old Testament texts and figures, including the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. It may have been political developments in Antioch, like the Statues affair in 387 putting emperor and bishop at odds, that made a prolonged commentary on David and Saul also an apposite subject. Or the liturgy of the day may have required exposition of a psalm text sung as a response. Or perhaps the relative obscurity of the Old Testament in general called for comment. In these three volumes a score of Chrysostom's homilies on Old Testament prophets, heroes and texts are finally made available in English, throwing light on him as homilist, scriptural interpreter, liturgical leader, moral and spiritual guide, and even as political commentator. Volume Two includes homilies on Isaiah and Jeremiah."
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First published February 26, 2007
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September 19, 2016
This is a re-read for a few years ago, but I found a copy of this and one of the books in the series at my favourite theological bookstore, so I couldn't resist it. It is as good as I remember it.
I should start with saying that I like John Chyrsostom or, Johnny C, as I say in my more frivolous moods. I like his directness and his bluntness. I like his Antiochine concern with sense of the text and his resistance to over-indulging in allegory (take that Alexandria!). He's crusty and a crumudgin, but I still, kind of like him. So, I was already two thirds of the way to like this book right there.
These are, of course, a set of homilies on passages from Isaiah and Jeremiah. Of course, the Old Testament is hard to preach on which is another reason why these are useful because John makes sense of these passages in a masterful manner. He is still worth looking at as an example of effective preaching and he makes sense of these prophets well.
The translations are effective and readable. I don't know the Greeks texts of these homiliies, so I don't think I can comment on accuracy, but it does have the feel of a good translation rather than a paraphrase. This is a slim volume, so there aren't a lot of sermons, but they are good ones, especially the reflections on King Uzziah.
These sermons by this homiletic master remain accessible and very useful reading.
I should start with saying that I like John Chyrsostom or, Johnny C, as I say in my more frivolous moods. I like his directness and his bluntness. I like his Antiochine concern with sense of the text and his resistance to over-indulging in allegory (take that Alexandria!). He's crusty and a crumudgin, but I still, kind of like him. So, I was already two thirds of the way to like this book right there.
These are, of course, a set of homilies on passages from Isaiah and Jeremiah. Of course, the Old Testament is hard to preach on which is another reason why these are useful because John makes sense of these passages in a masterful manner. He is still worth looking at as an example of effective preaching and he makes sense of these prophets well.
The translations are effective and readable. I don't know the Greeks texts of these homiliies, so I don't think I can comment on accuracy, but it does have the feel of a good translation rather than a paraphrase. This is a slim volume, so there aren't a lot of sermons, but they are good ones, especially the reflections on King Uzziah.
These sermons by this homiletic master remain accessible and very useful reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review