At the Feet of the Fathers: St. John Chrysostom—Do Not Neglect Scripture

At the Feet of the Fathers

Monday, February 13, 2023

St. John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom (c. AD  347 – 14 September AD 407) was an important early Church father who served as archbishop of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey). He is known for his preaching, public speaking, his stand against abuses both among secular authorities and in the church, and his Divine Liturgy used to this day in Eastern Orthodoxy. The name Chrysostom means "golden-mouthed" in Greek and was given to him for his celebrated eloquence. Chrysostom was one of the most prolific authors in the early Christian Church.

Do Not Neglect Scripture

We ought to live so purely that we do not even need written words but give up our hearts, as if they were books, to the Spirit. But now that we have lost that honor, and do have need of written words, think what a great evil it is for us to fail again in using even this remedy as much as we ought.

For if it is a shame to be in need of written words and not to have brought down on ourselves the grace of the Spirit, think what a weighty charge it is that we choose not to profit even after this help but treat what is written with neglect as if it were tossed out at random with no purpose. That would be to bring down even more punishment upon ourselves!

To avoid anything like that, let us pay close attention to what has been written.

St. John Chrysostom, Homily 1 on Matthew , 2