Zitate von Johannes Chrysostomos
Johannes Chrysostomos
Geburtstag: 349
Todesdatum: 14. September 407
Andere Namen: Ióannés Chrýsostomos, Johannes Chrysostomus
Johannes von Antiochia war Presbyter in Antiochia und Erzbischof von Konstantinopel und gilt als einer der größten christlichen Prediger. Im 6. Jahrhundert wurde ihm der Beiname Chrysostomos gegeben, unter dem er heute bekannt ist. In den östlich-orthodoxen Kirchen wird er seit dem 10. Jahrhundert als einer der drei heiligen Hierarchen verehrt, zusammen mit Basilius dem Großen und Gregor von Nazianz. Für das westliche Christentum ist er einer der vier Kirchenlehrer des Ostens .
Er wurde als Asket verehrt und war für seine Begabung in der öffentlichen Rede wie auch wegen seines Auftretens gegen den Missbrauch der kirchlichen und staatlichen Autorität bekannt. Umstritten sind seine massiv negativen Äußerungen über Juden in seinen frühesten erhaltenen Predigten.
Zitate Johannes Chrysostomos
„Wer Almosen gibt, gewöhnt sich daran, Geld und Gut nicht mehr zu bewundern.“
— Johannes Chrysostomos
Homilie über den Brief an die Philipper
„Die Geduld ist imstande, auch den verwildertsten und frechsten Menschen so umzustimmen, dass er lenksam und für edlere Regungen wieder empfänglich wird.“
— Johannes Chrysostomos
Homilie über den 1. Brief an die Tessalonicher
„I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish“
— John Chrysostom
Context: I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish: and the reason is, that it is an affair that requires a great mind.
St. John Chrysostom, Homily III on Acts 1:12
„For Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force…it is necessary to make a man better not by force but by persuasion. We neither have authority granted us by law to restrain sinners, nor, if it were, should we know how to use it, since God gives the crown to those who are kept from evil, not by force, but by choice.“
— John Chrysostom
On the Priesthood http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109/Page_41.html, Book II
„For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.“
— John Chrysostom
Paschal Homily
Both English Wikipedia and English Wikisource contain the whole text of this homily. In Byzantine Rite churches, the whole homily is read out annually as part of Paschal Matins service.
„You received your fortune by inheritance; so be it! Therefore, you have not sinned personally, but how know you that you may not be enjoying the fruits of theft and crime committed before you?“
— John Chrysostom
Epist. i. ad Tim., 12, as cited in Francesco Saverio Nitti, Catholic Socialism (1895), p. 67
„Is it not excessively ridiculous to seek the good opinion of those whom you would never wish to be like?“
— John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Gospel of Saint John http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/240103.htm, Homily III
„Where dance is, there is the devil.“
— John Chrysostom
Homily on Matt.48.3
„O most grateful burden, which comforts them that carry it! The burdens of earthly masters gradually wear out the strength of those who carry them; but the burden of Christ assists the bearers of it, because we carry not grace, but grace us.“
— John Chrysostom
Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 98
„Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb! For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.“
— John Chrysostom
Paschal Homily
„For what advantage is it, that the world enjoys profound peace, if thou art at war with thyself? This then is the peace we should keep. If we have it, nothing from without will be able to harm us. And to this end the public peace contributes no little: whence it is said, ‘That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.’ But if any one is disturbed when there is quiet, he is a miserable creature. Seest thou that He speaks of this peace which I call the third (inner, ed.) kind? Therefore when he has said, ‘that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life,’ he does not stop there, but adds ‘in all godliness and honesty.’ But we cannot live in godliness and honesty, unless that peace be established. For when curious reasonings disturb our faith, what peace is there? or when spirits of uncleanness, what peace is there?“
— John Chrysostom
Homilies on Timothy http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf113/Page_429.html, Homily VII
„He that practiceth showing mercy to him that needeth, will soon cease from covetousness, he who continues in giving to the poor, will soon cease from anger, and will never even be high-minded. For as the physician continually tending wounded persons is easily sobered, beholding human nature in the calamities of others; so we, if we enter upon the work of aiding the poor, shall easily become truly wise, and shall not admire riches, nor deem present things any great matter, but despise them all, and soaring aloft to heaven, shall easily obtain the eternal blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.“
— John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Gospel of Saint John http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf114.iv.lxxxiii.html, Homily LXXXI
„If you are a Christian, no earthly city is yours. Of our City ‘the Builder and Maker is God.’ Though we may gain possession of the whole world, we are withal but strangers and sojourners in it all. We are enrolled in heaven: our citizenship is there! Let us not, after the manner of little children, despise things that are great, and admire those which are little! Not our city’s greatness, but virtue of soul is our ornament and defence. If you suppose dignity to belong to a city, think how many persons must partake in this dignity, who are whoremongers, effeminate, depraved and full of ten thousand evil things, and at last despise such honour! But that City above is not of this kind; for it is impossible that he can be a partaker of it, who has not exhibited every virtue.“
— John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Statues http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109/Page_456.html, Homily XVII
„Nothing is more miserable than those people who never failed to attack their own salvation. When there was need to observe the Law, they trampled it under foot. … On this account Stephen said: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart, you always resist the Holy Spirit", not only by transgressing the Law but also by wishing to observe it at the wrong time.“
— John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom (349–ca. 407), Eight Homilies Against the Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html, Homily 1
„But lo! now they that have run into this fury have done more grievously by themselves. For it is not the same thing to change into the nature of women, as to continue a man and yet to have become a woman; or rather neither this nor that. But if you would know the enormity of the evil from other grounds, ask on what account the lawgivers punish them that make men eunuchs, and you will see that it is absolutely for no other reason than because they mutilate nature. And yet the injustice they do is nothing to this. For there have been those that were mutilated and were in many cases useful after their mutilation. But nothing can there be more worthless than a man who has pandered himself. For not the soul only, but the body also of one who has been so treated, is disgraced, and deserves to be driven out everywhere. How many hells shall be enough for such? But if you scoff at hearing of hell and believest not that fire, remember Sodom“
— John Chrysostom
Homily on Romans IV http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210204.htm
„[T]he Jewish people were driven by their drunkenness and plumpness to the ultimate evil; they kicked about, they failed to accept the yoke of Christ, nor did they pull the plow of his teaching. Another prophet hinted at this when he said: "Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer." … Although such beasts are unfit for work, they are fit for killing. And this is what happened to the Jews: while they were making themselves unfit for work, they grew fit for slaughter. This is why Christ said: "But as for these my enemies, who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and slay them."“
— John Chrysostom
Luke 19:27
Eight Homilies Against the Jews http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html, Homily 1
„Do you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, “This is my body,” and made it so by his word, is the same that said, “You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.” Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.“
— John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/Page_303.html, Homily L
