Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series, Volume IX St.Chrysostom: On the Priesthood, Ascetic Treatises, Select Homilies and Letters, Homilies on the Statutes

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series #9

by John Chrysostom, Philip Schaff (Editor)

The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD marked the beginning of a new era in Christianity. For the first time, doctrines were organized into a single creed. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers did most of their writing during and after this important event in Church history. Unlike the previous era of Christian writing, the Nicene and Post-Nicene era is dominated by a few very important and prolific writers. In Volume IX of the 14-volume collected writings of the Nicenes and Post-Nicenes (first published between 1886 and 1889), readers will discover the early writings of Saint John Chrysostom, so named for his infamous gift with language. Mostly revered in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Chrysostom is more widely remembered for his writings that contributed to the Christian tradition of antisemitism and were exploited by the Nazis during World War II. In this book, he discusses his entry into the priesthood and offers sermons on a variety of topics, including demons and the proper conduct of Christians.

524 pages, Paperback

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".