ARGUMENT
xvi
CONTENTS,
EPISTLE TO PHILEMON.
ARGUMENT.
Page 333.
HOMILY I.
Page 337.
Philemon 1, 2, 3.
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the Church in thy house : Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
HOMILY II.
Page 345.
Philemon 4, 5, 6.
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints.
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in us, in Christ Jesus.
HOMILY III.
Page 356.
Philemon 17—19.
If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself :
If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account ; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
HOMILIES OF
S. JOHN CHRYSOSTOMj
ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE,
ON THE
FIRST EPISTLE OP S. PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO TIMOTHY.
A R G U M E N T .
1. TIMOTHY tooa was one of the disciples of the Apostle Paul. To the extraordinary qualities of this youth testimony is borne by Luke, who informs us, that he was well reported of A c t s 1 6 , by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
He became at 2once a disciple and a teacher, and gave this singular instance of his prudence, that hearing Paul preach without insisting upon circumcision, and understanding that he had formerly withstood Peter upon that point, he chose not only not to preach against it, but to submit to that rite.
For Paul, it is said, took and circumcised him, though he was of adult age, and Acts 16, so trusted him with his whole economyb.
The affection of Paul for hiui is a sufficient evidence of his character.
For he elsewhere says of liim» Ye know the proof of Philip. him, that as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the 2' 22"
Gospel. And to the Corinthians again he writes : I have sent 1 Cor. unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the 4} 1 ^ Lord.
And again: Let no man despise him, for he worketh the i Cor. work of the Lord, as I also do.
And to the Hebrews he writes, 16> 10-
u .
* ml, The reference is not clear. Tt hardly needed in that case.
®ay possibly be to Titus, whom he b i. e. his plan of meeting Jewish Presently names before Timothy; but prejudices. loe explanations that follow would be B
Timothy instructed suitably to his office.
Heb. 13, Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty.
Indeed his love 2 3 , for him is every where apparent, and the miracles0 that are now wrought still attest his claimsd2. If it should be asked why he addresses Epistles to Titus and Timothy alone, though Silas was approved, as also was
2 Tim. Luke, for he writes, Only Luke is with me, and Clement was one 4' 1 1 of his associates, of whom he says, with Clement and other my
Phil. 4j fellow labourers, for what reason then does he write only to Titus and Timothy?
It is because he had already committed •orcon-the care of Churches to these, and certain marked1 places had
S<pavcpo:s been assigned to them, but the others were in attendance upon him.
For so preeminent in virtue was Timothy, that his youth 1 Tim. was no impediment to his promotion : therefore he writes, Let and 5* 2 no man despise thy youth; and again, Thy younger worn,en as sisterse.
For where there is virtue, all other things are superfluous, and there can be no impediment.
Therefore when the Apostle discourses of Bishops, among the many things he requires in them, he makes no particular mention of age.
And 1 Tim. if he speaks of a Bishop being the husband of one wife, and 3' 2" ' having his children in subjection, this is not said, as if it were necessary he should have a wife and children; but that if any should happen from a secular life to be advanced to that office, they might be such as knew how to preside over their household and children, and all others committed to them.
For if a 2 So Sav. man were both secular and deficient in these points, how haTe' s h o i l l d he be2 intrusted with the care of the Church1? been 3 But why, you will say, does he address an Epistle to a disciple already appointed to the office of a Teacher? Ought he not to have been made perfect for his office, before he was sent?
Yes; but the instruction which he needed was not that which was suited to a disciple, but that which was proper for a Teacher.
You will perceive him therefore through the whole Epistle adapting his instructions to a Teacher.
Thus at the very beginning he does not say, " Do not attend to those who 1 Tim. teach otherwise," but, Charge them that they teach no other doctrine. c Of miracles said to be wrought by Horn. 6. on Stat.'Tr. p. 135 Horn J. the bones of Timothy, see Born. on on Stat, enlarges on the character of Stat. 1. §. 2. Ben.
Timothy, from 1 Tim. 5, 23. d iraf>p-ri<riai>, His freedom of speech in e Some copies omit the latter nuothe court of Heaven.
See Horn. 1. on tation.
Stat.
2. and note (i*) at the end of