Nicene/Post-Nicene, Series I, Volume 24

Chrysostom, A.D. 347 - 407

[2.] For the son of thunder [John], the beloved of Christ, the pillar of the Churches throughout the world, who holds the keys of heaven, who drank the cup of Christ, and was baptized with His baptism, who lay upon his Master's bosom with much confidence ... .
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily I, Preface, § [2.]

Not so this fisherman [John]; for all he saith is infallible; and standing as it were upon a rock, he never shifts his ground. For since he has been thought worthy to be in the most secret places, and has the Lord of all speaking within him, he is subject to nothing that is human....
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily II, John i.1, § [3.]

Ver. 42. "And when Jesus beheld him," saith the Evangelist, "He said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a stone."
¶ ... And observe, that not even the prediction is fully set forth; for Jesus did not say, "I will change thy name to Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church," but, "Thou shalt be called Cephas." The former speech would have expressed too great authority and power; for Christ does not immediately nor at first declare all His power, but speaks for a while in a humbler tone; and so, when He had given the proof of His Divinity, He puts it more authoritatively, saying, "Blessed art thou, Simon, because My Father hath revealed it to thee"; and again, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church." (Matt. xvi. 17, 18.) Him therefore He so named, and James and his brother He called "sons of thunder." (Mark iii. 17.) Why then doth He this? To show that it was He who gave the old covenant, that it was He who altered names, who called Abram "Abraham," and Sarai "Sarah," and Jacob "Israel."...
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily XIX, John i.42, §§ [1.], [2.]

Now what is the question arising from this passage? It is this. Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father; while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still. What can be the reason of this? It is, that Peter and Nathanael both spoke the same words, but not both with the same intention. Peter confessed Him to be "The Son of God' but as being Very God; Nathanael, as being mere man. And whence does this appear? Fron what he said after these words; for after, "Thou art the Son of God," he adds, "Thou art the King of Israel." But the Son of God is not "King of Israel" only, but of all the world.
¶ ... For Christ added nothing more to Peter, but as though his faith were perfect, said, that upon this confession of his He would build the Church ... .
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily XXI, John i.49-50, § [1.]

[3.] And the "by whom" is also applied to the Father, as when the Apostle saith," By whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son" (1 Cor. i. 9): and, "By the will of the Father." And again; "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee." (Matt. xvi. 17.) What He here intimateth is something of this kind, that "faith in Me is no ordinary thing, but needeth an impulse from above"; and this He establisheth throughout His discourse, showing that this faith requires a noble sort of soul, and one drawn on by God.
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily XLV, John vi.37, § [3.]

... In the other place Peter made no mention of the disciples; but when Christ said, "Whom say ye that I am?" he replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. xvi. 15); but here, since he said, "We believe," Christ with reason admitteth not Judas into that band.
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily XLVII, John vi.70, § [3.]

... But observe, I pray you, the power of Christ. Of those who said these things, one became first Bishop of Jerusalem, the blessed James, of whom Paul saith, "Other of the Apostles saw I none, save James, the Lord's brother" (Gal. i. 19) ... .
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily XLVIII, John vii.3-5, § [2.]

That thou mayest learn that there also it was Christ who healed him. As Paul saith, "They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. x. 4.) As then Christ was the spiritual Rock ... .
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily LVII, John ix.6-7, § [1.]

... A nature of flesh did not prevent Paul from becoming what he was, nor Peter from receiving the keys of heaven ... .
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily LXXV, John xiv.31, § [5.]

Verse 15. "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee."
¶ [1.] There are indeed many other things which are able to give us boldness towards God, and to show us bright and approved, but that which most of all brings good will from on high, is tender care for our neighbor. Which therefore Christ requireth of Peter. For when their eating was ended, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." "He saith unto him, Feed My sheep."
¶ And why, having passed by the others, doth He speak with Peter on these matters? He was the chosen one of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, the leader of the band; on this account also Paul went up upon a time to enquire of him rather than the others. And at the same time to show him that he must now be of good cheer, since the denial was done away, Jesus putteth into his hands the chief authority among the brethren; and He bringeth not forward the denial, nor reproacheth him with what had taken place, but saith, "If thou lovest Me, preside over thy brethren, and the warm love which thou didst ever manifest, and in which thou didst rejoice, show thou now; and the life which thou saidst thou wouldest lay down for Me, now give for My sheep."
Verse 19. ... Here again He alludeth to his tender carefulness, and to his being very closely attached to Himself. And if any should say, "How then did James receive the chair at Jerusalem?" I would make this reply, that He appointed Peter teacher, not of the chair, but of the world.
Verses 20, 21. ... [2.] ... For he who then did not dare to question Jesus, but committed the office to another, was even entrusted with the chief authority over the brethren ... .
Homilies on the Gospel According to Saint John, Homily LXXXVIII, John xxi.15,19,20, 21, §§ [1.], [2]

This again belongs to Sovereignty, to Equal Dignity, to Honor and not weakness, that the Father should be angry for the things done to the Son.... And again, "He that falleth upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder." (Matt. xxi. 44.)...
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily III, Hebrews i.13, § [4.]

... For in regard to those who are very firm, and philosophic, Christ with good reason made that statement, saying, "Whosoever hath built his house on a rock." (Matt. vii. 24.)...
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily XI, Hebrews vi.19,20, § [3.]

... For when He says, "Whose soever sins ye retain they are retained, whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted" (John xx. 23) when they have the keys of heaven, how can all be other than heavenly?
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily XIV, Hebrews viii, § [3.]

... He said that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church" (Matt. xvi. 18), even though persecuted, and that no one shall quench the preaching ... .
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily XXI, Hebrews x., § [5.]

... "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." What is, "the reproach of Christ"? It is being reproached in such ways as ye are, the reproach which Christ endured; Or that he endured for Christ's sake: for "that rock was Christ" (1 Cor. x. 4) ... .
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily XXVI, Hebrews xi., § [4.]

Why build we upon the sand? Let us build upon the rock: for whatsoever may happen, that building remains impregnable, nothing will be able to destroy it....
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily XXXII, Hebrews xii., § [5.]

Home | Early Church Writings | Email