John Chrysostom
c. 347–407
Archbishop of Constantinople called golden-mouthed for his preaching; his homilies expound Scripture verse by verse.
In his own words
But how is this effected? Then when we have cleansed the soul from all the passions. For sin is darkness, and a deep darkness; as is clear, because men do it unconsciously and secretly. For, "every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light. " ( c. iii. 20. ) And, "It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. " ( Eph. v. 12. ) For, as in darkness a man knows neither friend nor foe, but cannot perceive any of the properties of objects; so too is it in sin. For he who desires to get more gain, makes no difference between friend and enemy; and the envious regards with hostile eyes the man with whom he is very intimate; and the plotter is at mortal quarrel with all alike. In short, as to distinguishing the nature of objects, he who commits sin is no better than men who are drunk or mad. And as in the night, wood, lead, iron, silver, gold, precious stones, seem to us all alike on account of the absence of the light which shows their distinctions; so he who leads an impure life knows neither the excellence of temperance nor the beauty of philosophy. For in darkness, as I said before, even precious stones if they be displayed do not show their luster, not by reason of their own nature, but because of the want of discernment in the beholders.
Quoted verbatim from the library, as an answer would quote it.
What we hold of him
Homilies on Corinthians
Church father
Homilies on the Gospel of John
Church father
Homilies on Matthew
Church father
Homilies on Galatians–Philemon
Church father
Homilies on Romans
Church father
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews
Church father
Ask what John Chrysostom says
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