244 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY XIIL hand of the Father, to Him who is worshiped by the Angels, before whom do stand the incor poreal Powers, to Him who is above all rule, and power, and might ? If then the whole world were to take up weeping and lament for those who have fallen from this hope, could it wor thily lament? because, when a promise is given us of our body being made like to Him, it still departs with the demons. I care not for hell henceforth ; whatever can be said, having fallen from so great glory, now and henceforth con sider hell to be nothing to this falling away. What sayest thou, O Paul? To be made like unto Him ? Yes, he answereth ; then, lest you should disbelieve, he addeth a reason ; " Accord ing to the working whereby He is able even to subject all things unto Himself." He hath power, saith he, to subject all things unto Him self, wherefore also destruction and death. Or rather, He doth this also with the same power. For tell me, which requireth the greater power, tq subject demons, and Angels, and Archangels, and Cherubim, and Seraphim, or to make the body incorruptible and immortal? The latter certainly much more than the former ; he showed forth the greater works of His power, that you might believe these too. Wherefore, though ye see these men rejoicing, and honored, yet stand firm, be not offended at them, be not moved. These our hopes are sufficient to raise up even the most sluggish and indolent. Chap. iv. ver. i. "Wherefore," saith he, " my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my be loved." "So." How? Unmoved. See how he add eth praise after exhprtation, " my joy and my crown," not simply joy but glory too, not simply glory but my crown too. Which glory nought can equal, since it is the crown of Paul. " So stand fast in the Lord, my beloved," i.e. in the hope of God. 1 Ver. 2, 3. "I exhort Euodia, and exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women." Some say Paul here exhorts his own wife ; but it is not so, but some other woman, or the hus band of one of them. " Help these women, for they labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the book of life." Seest thou how great a testimony he beareth to their virtue? For as Christ saith to his Apostles, " Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in the book of life " (Luke x. 20) ; so Paul testifieth to them, saying, " whose names are in the book of life." These women seem to me to be the chief of the Church which was there, and he commendeth them to some notable man whom he calls his " yokefellow," to whom perchance he was wont to commend them, as to a fellow- worker, and fellow-soldier, and brother, and companion, as he doth in the Epistle to the Romans, when he saith, " I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the Church that is at Cenchrea." (Rom. xvi. i.) "Yokefel low ; " eithersome brother of theirs, or a husband of hers ; as if he had said, Now thou art a true brother, now a true husband, because thou hast become a Member. " For they labored with me in the Gospel." This protection 2 came from home, not from friendship, but for good deeds. " Labored with me." What sayest thou? Did women labor with thee? Yes, he answereth, they too contributed no small por tion. Although many were they who wrought together with him, yet these women also acted with him amongst the many. The Churches then were no little edified, for many good ends are gained where they who are approved, be they men, or be they women, enjoy from the rest such honor. For in the first place the rest were led on to a like zeal ; in the second place, they also gained 3 by the respect shown ; and thirdly, they made those very persons more zealous and earnest. Wherefore thou seest that Paul hath everywhere a care for this, and commendeth such men for con sideration. As he saith in the Epistle to the Corinthians : " Who are the first-fruits of Achaia." (i Cor. xvi. 15.) Some say that the word " yokefellow," (Syzygus,) is a proper name. Well, what ? . Whether it be so, or no, we need not accurately enquire, 4 but observe that he gives his orders, that these women should enjoy much protection. All we have, saith he, is in the heavens, our Saviour, our" city, whatever a man can name : " whence," saith he, " we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." And this is an act of His kindness and love toward man. He Himself again cometh to us, he doth not drag us thither, but takes us, and so departs with us. And this is a mark of great honor ; for if He came to us when we were enemies, much rather doth He now when we are become friends. He doth not commit this to the Angels, nor to servants, but Himself cometh to call us to His royal man- 2 irpoaTcuna, he means the recommendation to protection. 3 i.e. a reward, see on i Tim. v. 6, Horn. xv. 4 [Upon this whole passage, ver. 2, 3, nothing is really known to this day beyond what Chrys. here says. The view that Syzygus is a proper name is preferred by Meyer and Grimm (Thayer), and West- cott and Hort so print in the margin. A complete discussion may be found in Lightfoot. J. A. B.]