PREFACE [TO THE OXFORD ED.].
THE present Volume completes the commentaries of St. Chrysostom on the shorter Epis
tles of St. Paul. It consists entirely of Homilies delivered at Constantinople, and one may
perhaps remark some indications of a more matured and severe character than in earlier
works. He refers several times to his responsibility as presiding in the Church, and some
times threatens discipline as in that capacity, and from this it is that the date of the Homi
lies is chiefly to be gathered. The end of Horn. ix. on the Philippians, is sufficient for
those Homilies. The close of Horn. iii. on Colossians, is still more express for them. Horn.
viii. on i Thessalonians, and Horn. iv. on 2 Thessalonians, are to the like purpose.
Horn. viii. on i Thessalonians, seems also to be that which is referred to in Horn. iii.
on Ep. to Philemon, as it contains a promise to discuss at some future time the subject
there taken up.
Phil. ii. 6, and Col. i. 15, &c. give rise to doctrinal discussions. The readiness in argu
ment, which they suppose in hearers, is greater than one would expect. Horn. v. on Colos
sians goes farther into the system of typical interpretation than is usual with St. Chrysostom ;
though the system is in fact acknowledged by him frequently, as in the passage on marriage,
which closes the Homilies on the Colossians, and which, though scarcely admissible in mod
ern taste, is one of great value, and of a saintly purity. The close of Horn. iv. on Colos
sians is most instructive with regard to the use of the Historical Books of the Old Testa
ment, and Horn. ix. points out one great use of the Psalms, for moral impression, and at
the same time draws the necessary distinction between that and the higher aim of Hymns.
In these Homilies he is particularly severe on luxury and display, by his attacks on which
he is known to have incurred the displeasure of the Empress Eudoxia, and much persecu
tion from her.
A passage on the Holy Sacraments at the end of Horn. vi. on Colossians, one on Prayers
for the departed in Horn. iii. on Philippians, and one in which he urges persons at enmity
to immediate reconciliation, Horn. vi. on i Thessalonians, as well as that in Horn. iii. in
Colossians, on unworthiness of Ministers, and several hints that occur about the order of
Divine service, are well worthy of remark.
Savile s text, with some comparison of others, was used for the Homilies on the Philip
pians, and that of the new Paris Edition, with Savile always at hand, for the rest. Collations
of one MS. in British Museum (Burney 48 here marked B [called C by Field]) were also
in hand, but those of MSS. at Venice and Florence came too late for part of the work.
The want of them is not however very material. The Bodleian MS. referred to, as well as
the Catena published by Dr. Cramer, contain only extracts. It is hoped that the Homilies
on 2 Cor. will have the benefit of a well-adjusted text before the Translation is published,
as they are preparing for publication by Mr. Field, whom the Editor has to thank for infor-