Homily IX.
Colossians iii. 16, 17
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts
to God.860 And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Having exhorted them to be thankful, he shows also the way, that, of which I have lately
discoursed to you. And what saith he? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”; or rather
not this way alone, but another also. For I indeed said that we ought to reckon up those who
have suffered things more terrible, and those who have undergone sufferings more grievous
than ours, and to give thanks that such have not fallen to our lot; but what saith he? “Let
the word of Christ dwell in you”; that is, the teaching, the doctrines, the exhortation, wherein
He says, that the present life is nothing, nor yet its good things. If we know this, we shall
yield to no hardships whatever. (Matt. vi. 25, &c) “Let it dwell in you,” he saith, “richly,”
not simply dwell, but with great abundance. Hearken ye, as many as are worldly,861 and
have the charge of wife and children; how to you too he commits especially the reading of
the Scriptures and that not to be done lightly, nor in any sort of way, but with much earn-
estness. For as the rich in money can bear fine and damages, so he that is rich in the doctrines
of philosophy will bear not poverty only, but all calamities also easily, yea, more easily than
that one. For as for him, by discharging the fine, the man who is rich must needs be impov-
erished, and found wanting,862 and if he should often suffer in that way, will no longer be
able to bear it, but in this case it is not so; for we do not even expend our wholesome thoughts
when it is necessary for us to bear aught we would not choose, but they abide with us con-
tinually. And mark the wisdom of this blessed man. He said not, “Let the word of Christ”
be in you, simply, but what? “dwell in you,” and “richly.”
“In all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another.” “In all,” says he. Virtue he
calls wisdom, and lowliness of mind is wisdom, and almsgiving, and other such like things,
are wisdom; just as the contraries are folly, for cruelty too cometh of folly. Whence in many
places it calleth the whole of sin folly. “The fool,” saith one, “hath said in his heart, There is
no God” (Ps. xiv. 1.); and again, “My wounds stink and are corrupt from the face of my
foolishness.” (Ps. xxxviii. 5, Sept.) For what is more foolish, tell me, than one who indeed
wrappeth himself about in his own garments, but regardeth not his brethren that are naked;
who feedeth dogs, and careth not that the image of God is famishing; who is merely persuaded
860 [“God” is the correct N.T. text (as in Rev. Ver.), and is here given by several mss. of Chrys.—J.A.B.]
861 Not in a bad sense.
862 ἐλέγχεσθαι, not in money to pay, but in power to prevent loss. Or it may be, “must be in process of being
found wanting.”
Colossians 3:16,17
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Colossians 3:16,17