St. John Chrysostom: An Excerpt from "Concerning Lowliness of Mind"
There is an allusion at the beginning of this Homily to some remarks recently made on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. These occur in Chrysostom's fifth Homily against the Anomæans, one of a set of Homilies which, from internal evidence, may be assigned to the close of the year 386, or beginning of 387. The following homily therefore was delivered at Antioch, probably just before Christmas 386. There were some persons who explained the words of St. Paul cited in the title as signifying that provided Christ was preached it mattered not whether the actual doctrines taught were true or heretical. The main object of the homily is to vindicate the language of the Apostle from this erroneous and mischievous interpretation.
When lately we made mention of
the Pharisee and the publican, and hypothetically yoked two chariots out of
virtue and vice; we pointed out each truth, how great is the gain of humbleness
of mind, and how great the damage of pride. For this, even when conjoined with
righteousness and fastings and tithes, fell behind; while that, even when yoked
with sin, out-stripped the Pharisee's pair, even although the charioteer it had
was a poor one. For what was worse than the publican? But all the same since he
made his soul contrite, and called himself a sinner; which indeed he was; he
surpassed the Pharisee, who had both fasting to tell of and tithes; and was
removed from any vice. On account of what, and through what? Because even if he
was removed from greed of gain and robbery, he had rooted over his soul the
mother of all evils— vain-glory and pride. On this account Paul also exhorts
and says Let each one prove his own work; and then he will have his ground of
boasting for himself, and not for the other. Whereas he publicly came forward
as an accuser of the whole world; and said that he himself was better than all
living men. And yet even if he had set himself before ten only, or if five, or
if two, or if one, not even was this endurable; but as it was, he not only set
himself before the whole world, but also accused all men. On this account he
fell behind in the running. And just as a ship, after having run through
innumerable surges, and having escaped many storms, then in the very mouth of
the harbor having been dashed against some rock, loses the whole treasure which
is stowed away in her— so truly did this Pharisee, after having undergone the labors
of the fasting, and of all the rest of his virtue, since he did not master his
tongue, in the very harbour underwent shipwreck of his cargo. For the going
home from prayer, whence he ought to have derived gain, having rather been so
greatly damaged, is nothing else than undergoing shipwreck in harbor.
Now if the confidence which they who confess their own sins effect for themselves is so great, they who are conscious to themselves of many good qualities, yet humble their own souls, how great crowns will they not win. For when sinfulness be put together with humbleness of mind it runs with such ease as to pass and out-strip righteousness combined with pride. If therefore thou have put it to with righteousness, whither will it not reach? Through how many heavens will it not pass? By the throne of God itself surely it will stay its course; in the midst of the angels, with much confidence. On the other hand if pride, having been yoked with righteousness, by the excess and weight of its own wickedness had strength enough to drag down its confidence; if it be put together with sinfulness, into how deep a hell will it not be able to precipitate him who has it? These things I say, not in order that we should be careless of righteousness, but that we should avoid pride; not that we should sin, but that we should be sober-minded. For humbleness of mind is the foundation of the love of wisdom which pertains to us. Even if you should have built a superstructure of things innumerable; even if almsgiving, even if prayers, even if fasting, even if all virtue; unless this have first been laid as a foundation, all will be built upon it to no purpose and in vain; and it will fall down easily, like that building which had been placed on the sand. For there is no one, no one of our good deeds, which does not need this; there is no one which separate from this will be able to stand. But even if you should mention temperance, even if virginity, even if despising of money, even if anything whatever, all are unclean and accursed and loathsome, humbleness of mind being absent. Everywhere therefore let us take her with us, in words, in deeds, in thoughts, and with this let us build these (graces).
But the things belonging to
humbleness of mind have been sufficiently spoken of; not for the value of the
virtue; for no one will be able to celebrate it in accordance with its value;
but for the intelligence of your love. For well do I know that even from the
few things that have been said you will embrace it with much zeal. But since it
is also necessary to make clear and manifest the apostolic saying which has been
today read; seeming as it does to many to afford a pretext for indolence; so
that some may not, providing for themselves hence a certain frigid defense,
neglect their own salvation— to this let us direct our discourse. What then is
this saying? Whether in presence, it says, or in sincerity, Christ is preached.
Philippians 1:18This many wrest absolutely and just as happens, without reading what precedes and what comes after it; but having cut it off from the sequence of the remaining members, to the destruction of their own soul they put it forward to the more indolent. For attempting to seduce them from the sound faith; then seeing them afraid and trembling; on the ground of its not being without danger to do this, and desiring to relieve their fears, they bring forward this apostolic declaration, saying, Paul conceded this, by saying, Whether in presence or in sincerity, let Christ be proclaimed. But these things are not (true), they are not. For in the first place he did not say let him be proclaimed, but he is proclaimed, and the difference between this and that is wide. For the saying let him be proclaimed belongs to a lawgiver; but the saying he is proclaimed to one announcing the event. For that Paul does not ordain a law that there should be heresies, but draws away all who attended to him, hear what he says, If any one preaches to you a gospel besides what you have received, let him be anathema, were it even I, were it even an angel from the heavens. Galatians 1:8-9
Now he would not have anathematized both himself and an angel, if he had known the act to be without danger. And again— I am jealous of you with a jealousy of God, he says; for I have betrothed you to one husband a chaste virgin: and fear lest at some time, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his wiliness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the singleness that is towards Christ. See, he both set down singleness, and granted no allowance. For if there were allowance, there was no danger: and if there was no danger Paul would not have feared: and Christ would not also have commanded that the tares should be burned up, if it were a thing indifferent to attend to this one or that or another: or to all indiscriminately.
Whatever then is what is
meant? I wish to narrate to you the whole history from a point a little
earlier; for it is needful to know in what circumstances Paul was when he was
writing these things by letter. In what circumstances therefore was he? In
prison and chains and intolerable perils. Whence is this manifest? From the
epistle itself. For earlier than this he says, Now I wish you to know,
brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have come rather to the
furtherance of the Gospel; so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in
the whole Court, and to all the others; and a good many of the brethren,
trusting to my bonds, the more exceedingly dare fearlessly to speak the word.
Philippians 1:12-14 Now Nero had then cast him into prison. For just as some robber having set foot in the house, while all are sleeping, when stealing every thing, if he see any one having lit a lamp, both extinguishes the light and slays him who holds the lamp, in order that he may be allowed in security to steal and rob the property of others; so truly also the Cæsar Nero then, just as any robber and burglar while all were sleeping a deep and unconscious slumber; robbing the property of all, breaking into marriage chambers, subverting houses, displaying every form of wickedness; when he saw Paul having lighted a lamp throughout the world; (the word of his teaching;) and reproving his wickedness, exerted himself both to extinguish what was preached, and to put the teachers out of the way; in order that he might be allowed with authority to do anything he pleased; and after binding that holy man, cast him into prison. It was at that time then that the blessed Paul wrote these things. Who would not have been astounded? Who would not have marveled? Or rather who could adequately have been astounded at and admired that noble and heaven-reaching soul; in that, while bound in Rome and imprisoned, at so great a distance as that, he wrote a letter to the Philippians? For you know how great is the distance between Macedonia and Rome. But neither did the length of the way, nor the amount of time (required), nor the press of business, nor the peril and the dangers coming one upon another, nor anything else, drive out his love for and remembrance of the disciples; but he retained them all in his mind; and not so strongly were his hands bound with the chains as his soul was bound together and riveted by his longing for the disciples: which very thing itself indeed also declaring, in the preface of the Epistle he said, On account of my having you in my heart, both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. Philippians 1:7
And just as a King, having ascended upon his throne at morning-tide and taken his seat in the royal courts, immediately receives from all quarters innumerable letters; so truly he also, just as in royal courts, seated in the dungeon, both received and sent his letters in far greater number; the nations from all quarters referring to his wisdom everything about what had taken place among themselves; and he administered more business than the reigning monarch in proportion to his having had a larger dominion entrusted to him. For in truth God had brought and put into his hands not those who inhabited the country of the Romans only, but also all the barbarians, both land and sea. And by way of showing this he said to the Romans, Now I would not that you should be ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I have purposed to come to you, and have been hindered until the present; in order that I might have some fruit also among you, as among the rest of the Gentiles too. Both to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and those without understanding I am a debtor. Romans 1:13-14
Every day therefore he was in anxious thought at one moment for Corinthians, at another for Macedonians; how Philippians, how Cappadocians, how Galatians, how Athenians, how they who inhabited Pontus, how all together were. But all the same, having had the whole world put into his hands, he continually cared not for entire nations only, but also for each single man; and now indeed he dispatched a letter on behalf of Onesimus, and now on behalf of him who among the Corinthians had committed fornication. For neither used he to regard this— that it was the individual who had sinned and needed advocacy; but that it was a human being; a human being, the living thing most precious to God; and for whose sake the Father had not spared even the Only-begotten.
