Jim Parker
Member
St. John Chrysostom (c. 349 – 14 September 407)
Excerpt from Homily 4 on Hebrews
The destruction of death by the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ
And again he indicates the superiority and the great interval [between us], by what follows (Heb 2:14): “Since then the children,” he says, “are partakers of flesh and blood” (do you see where he says the likeness is? in reference to the flesh), “in like manner He also Himself took part of the same.” Let all the Heretics be ashamed, let those hide their faces who say that He came in appearance and not in reality. For he did not say, “He took part of these” only, and then say no more; even if he had said this, it would have been sufficient, but he asserted something more, adding “in like manner,” not in appearance, he means, or by an image (since in that case “in like manner” is not preserved) but in reality; showing the brotherhood. (with mankind)
Next he sets down also the cause of the economy. “That through death,” he says, “He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Here he points out the wonder, that by what the devil prevailed, by that was he overcome, and the very thing which was his strong weapon against the world, [namely], Death, by this Christ smote him. In this he exhibits the greatness of the conqueror’s power. Dost you see how great good death has wrought?
(Heb 2: 15.) “And should deliver them,” he says, “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Why (he means) do you shudder? Why do you fear him that has been brought to naught? He is no longer terrible, but has been trodden under foot, has been utterly despised; he is vile and of no account. (2 Tim 1:10.)
But what is (meant by) “through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage”? He either means this; that he who fears death is a slave, and submits to all things rather than die or this; that all men were slaves of death and were held under his power, because he had not yet been done away; or that men lived in continual fear, ever expecting that they should die, and being afraid of death, could have no sense of pleasure, while this fear was present with them. For this he hinted at in saying, “All their life-time.” He here shows that the afflicted, the harassed, the persecuted, those that are deprived of country and of substance and of all other things, spend their lives more sweetly and more freely than they of old time who were in luxury, who suffered no such afflictions, who were in continual prosperity, if indeed these “all their life-time” were under this fear and were slaves; while the others have been made free and laugh at that which they shudder at. For this is now as if, when one was being led away to a captivity leading to death, and in continual expectation of it, one should feed him up with abundant dainties (something such as this was Death of old); but now, as if some one taking away that fear together with the dainties, were to promise a contest, and propose a combat that should lead no longer to death, but to a kingdom. Of which number would you have wished to be—those who are fed up in the prison-house, while every day looking for their sentence, or those who contend much and labor willingly, that they may crown themselves with the diadem of the kingdom? Do you see how he has raised up their soul, and made them elated?
He shows too, that not death alone has been put an end to, but that thereby he also who is ever showing that war without trace against us, I mean the devil, has been brought to naught; since he that fears not death is out of reach of the devil’s tyranny. For if “skin for skin, yea all things a man would give for his life” (Job 2:4) when any one has determined to disregard even this, of what henceforward will he be the slave? He fears no one, he is in terror of no one, he is higher than all, and more free than all. For he that disregards his own life, much more [does he disregard] all other things. And when the devil finds a soul such as this, he can accomplish in it none of his works. For what tell me, shall he threaten the loss of property, and degradation, and banishment from one’s country? But these are small matters to him who “counts not even his life dear” (Acts 20:24) unto him, according to the blessed Paul. You see that in casting out the tyranny of death, he also overthrew the strength of the devil. For he who has learned to study innumerable [truths] concerning the resurrection, how should he fear death? How should he shudder any more?
Therefore do not be grieved, saying, why do we suffer such and such things? For so the victory becomes more glorious. And it would not have been glorious, unless by death He had destroyed death. But the most wonderful thing is that He conquered him (the devil) by the very means by which he was strong, showing in every point the abundance of His means, and the excellence of His contrivances. Let us not then prove false to the gift bestowed on us. “For we,” he says, “have received not a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (Rom. 8:15; 2Tim 1:7.) Let us stand then nobly, laughing death to scorn.
Excerpt from Homily 4 on Hebrews
The destruction of death by the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ
And again he indicates the superiority and the great interval [between us], by what follows (Heb 2:14): “Since then the children,” he says, “are partakers of flesh and blood” (do you see where he says the likeness is? in reference to the flesh), “in like manner He also Himself took part of the same.” Let all the Heretics be ashamed, let those hide their faces who say that He came in appearance and not in reality. For he did not say, “He took part of these” only, and then say no more; even if he had said this, it would have been sufficient, but he asserted something more, adding “in like manner,” not in appearance, he means, or by an image (since in that case “in like manner” is not preserved) but in reality; showing the brotherhood. (with mankind)
Next he sets down also the cause of the economy. “That through death,” he says, “He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Here he points out the wonder, that by what the devil prevailed, by that was he overcome, and the very thing which was his strong weapon against the world, [namely], Death, by this Christ smote him. In this he exhibits the greatness of the conqueror’s power. Dost you see how great good death has wrought?
(Heb 2: 15.) “And should deliver them,” he says, “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Why (he means) do you shudder? Why do you fear him that has been brought to naught? He is no longer terrible, but has been trodden under foot, has been utterly despised; he is vile and of no account. (2 Tim 1:10.)
But what is (meant by) “through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage”? He either means this; that he who fears death is a slave, and submits to all things rather than die or this; that all men were slaves of death and were held under his power, because he had not yet been done away; or that men lived in continual fear, ever expecting that they should die, and being afraid of death, could have no sense of pleasure, while this fear was present with them. For this he hinted at in saying, “All their life-time.” He here shows that the afflicted, the harassed, the persecuted, those that are deprived of country and of substance and of all other things, spend their lives more sweetly and more freely than they of old time who were in luxury, who suffered no such afflictions, who were in continual prosperity, if indeed these “all their life-time” were under this fear and were slaves; while the others have been made free and laugh at that which they shudder at. For this is now as if, when one was being led away to a captivity leading to death, and in continual expectation of it, one should feed him up with abundant dainties (something such as this was Death of old); but now, as if some one taking away that fear together with the dainties, were to promise a contest, and propose a combat that should lead no longer to death, but to a kingdom. Of which number would you have wished to be—those who are fed up in the prison-house, while every day looking for their sentence, or those who contend much and labor willingly, that they may crown themselves with the diadem of the kingdom? Do you see how he has raised up their soul, and made them elated?
He shows too, that not death alone has been put an end to, but that thereby he also who is ever showing that war without trace against us, I mean the devil, has been brought to naught; since he that fears not death is out of reach of the devil’s tyranny. For if “skin for skin, yea all things a man would give for his life” (Job 2:4) when any one has determined to disregard even this, of what henceforward will he be the slave? He fears no one, he is in terror of no one, he is higher than all, and more free than all. For he that disregards his own life, much more [does he disregard] all other things. And when the devil finds a soul such as this, he can accomplish in it none of his works. For what tell me, shall he threaten the loss of property, and degradation, and banishment from one’s country? But these are small matters to him who “counts not even his life dear” (Acts 20:24) unto him, according to the blessed Paul. You see that in casting out the tyranny of death, he also overthrew the strength of the devil. For he who has learned to study innumerable [truths] concerning the resurrection, how should he fear death? How should he shudder any more?
Therefore do not be grieved, saying, why do we suffer such and such things? For so the victory becomes more glorious. And it would not have been glorious, unless by death He had destroyed death. But the most wonderful thing is that He conquered him (the devil) by the very means by which he was strong, showing in every point the abundance of His means, and the excellence of His contrivances. Let us not then prove false to the gift bestowed on us. “For we,” he says, “have received not a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (Rom. 8:15; 2Tim 1:7.) Let us stand then nobly, laughing death to scorn.