HOMILIES OF S. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, ON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF S. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 2 Cor. i. 1—4. Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. It is meet to enquire, first, why to the former Epistle he adds a second; and what can be his reason for thus beginning with the mercies and consolation of God. Why then does he add a second Epistle? Whereas in the first he had said, / will come to you, and will know not the \£0T-*, 2 The reasons for writing this second Epistle. South.speech of them which are puffed up, but the power; and —'.—again towards the end had promised the same in milder 1 Cor. terms, thus, I will come unto you when I shall pass through '' 'Macedonia; for I do pass through Macedonia; and it may be that I will abide, yea,and winter with you; yet now after a long interval, he came not; but was still lingering and delaying even though the time appointed had passed away; the Spirit detaining him in other matters, of far greater necessity than these. For this reason, he had need to write a second Epistle, which he had not needed, had he but »' •.««« a little out-tarried his time. i','T\' But not for this reason only, but also because they were '"• amended by the former; for him that had committed fornication, whom before they applauded; and were puffed up about, they had cut off, and separated altogether. And this 2 Cor. 2, he shows where he says, But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part you all; that I may not be too severe. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment which was inflicted of many. And as he proceeds, he alludes again 2 Cor. 7, to the same thing when he says, For behold your sorrowing "' after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Moreover, the collection * also, which he enjoined, they gathered with much forwardness. Wherefore 2 Cor. 9, also he says, For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia that Achaia was ready a year ago. And Titus too, whom he sent, they received with all kindness, as he shews when he says again, 2 Cor. 7, His inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. For all these reasons, he writes the second Epistle. For it was right, that, as when they were in fault he rebuked them, so upon their amendment he should approve and commend them. On which account the *"r"' Epistle is not throughout so rebukeful, but only in a few »i{«. parts towards the end. For there were even amongst them Jews who thought highly of themselves, and accused Paul, The Judaizers. Timothy's name why joined in the salutation. 3 * Xvyiat, Hen. tixvyiut, bounty, as 2 Cor. 9, 5. Engl. Vers. as being a boaster, and worthy of no regard; whence also 2 Cor. that speech of theirs; His letters are weighty, but his bodily . '"' presence is weak, and his speech contemptible; meaning 10,16. thereby, when he is present he appears of no account, (for this is the meaning of, his bodily presence is weak,) but when he is away he boasts greatly in what he writes, (for such is the signification of, his letters are weighty.) Moreover, to enhance their own credit, these persons made a pretence of receiving nothing, to which he also alludes where he says, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 2 Cor. And besides, possessing also the power of language, they were u'12, forthwith greatly elated. Wherefore also he calls himself rude in speech, shewing that he is not ashamed thereof; nor deems 2 Cor. the contrary any great acquisition. Seeing then it was likely' that by these persons some would be seduced, after commending what was right in their conduct, and beating down their senseless1 pride in the things of Judaism, in that out ofUrf>««» season they were contentious to observe them, he gives them a gentle' rebuke on this subject also. * r»w<i [2.] Such then, to speak summarily and by the way, appears Ti*" to me the argument of this Epistle. It remains to consider the introduction of the Epistle, and to say why, after his accustomed salutation, he begins, as he does, with the mercies of God. But first it is necessary to speak of the very beginning, and inquire why, in this part, he associates Timothy with himself. For, he saith, Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. In the first Epistle he promised he would send him; and charged them, saying, Now ifi Cor. Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear.' How then is it that he associates him, here, in the outset with himself? After he had been amongst them, agreeably to that promise of his master, I have sent unto you Timotheus, who 1 Cor.4, shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, and had set every thing in order, he had returned back to Paul; who on sending him, had said, Conduct him 1 Cor. forth in peace that he may come to me, for I look for him '' with the brethren. Since then Timothy was restored to his master, and with (2.) him having set in order the things in Asia, (for, says he, I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;) had crossed again 1 Cor. B2 16'8' 4PauVshumility.AllAchaiaaddressed,asallneedingadmonition. Howl, into Macedonia; as abiding with him Paul not unreasonably —:— associates him hereafter with himself. For then he wrote from Asia, but now from Macedonia. Moreover, by thus rtpti. associating him, he at once gains increased respect for him, r,{" and displays his own exceeding humility: for Timothy was very inferior to himself, yet doth love bring all things together. Whence also he every where makes him equal Phil. 2, with himself; at one time saying, as a son with the father Pco ^e hQth served with me; at another,ybr he worketh the work 16,10. of the Lord, as I also do; and here, he even calleth him, brother; by all making him an object of respect to the Corinthians, amongst whom he had been, as I have said, and given proof of his worth. To the Church of God which is at Corinth. Again he calleth them " the Church," to bring and bind them all together in one. For it could not be one Church, while those within her were sundered, and opposed. With all the saints which are in all Achaia. In thus saluting all, through the Epistle addressed to the Corinthians, he would at once honour these, and bring together the whole nation. But he calls them saints, thereby implying that, if any be an impure person, he hath no share in this salutation. But why, writing to the mother city, does he address all through her, since he doth not so every where? For instance, in his Epistle to the Thessalonians, he addressed not the Macedonians also; and in like manner in that to the Ephesians, he doth not include all Asia; neither was that to the Romans written to those also who dwell in Italy. But in this Epistle he doth so; and in that to the Galatians. For there also he writeth not to one city, or two, or three, but to all who are scattered every Gal. i, where, saying, Paul an Apostle, (not of men neither by man, ~ but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead,) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the Churches of Galatia. Grace be to you and peace. To the Hebrews also he writes one Epistle to all collectively; not distinguishing them into their several cities. What then can be the reason of this? Because, as I think, in this case all were involved in one common disorder, wherefore also he addresses his Epistle to them in common, as needing one common remedy. For the Galatians were all of them in |