Six Books on the PriesthoodNone of the Fathers of the early church is better known or loved than St John Chrysostom, and none of his works is more popular than On the Priesthood. Its stylistic brilliance demonstrates the appropriateness of St John's enduring title, "the golden-mouthed." Yet the rhetorical eloquence of the work is not simply camouflage for lack of substance. As Graham Neville observes in his Introduction, Chrysostom "had a mind both practical and idealistic, that brought into close connection the evils and injustices of the world and the perfection of moral life demanded by the gospel." Chrysostom's unique gift for linking concrete observation and theological vision is nowhere more evident than in On the Priesthood. Its presence helps to account for the work's power to inspire and challenge Christians in all ages. Book jacket. |
Contents
PREFACE | 7 |
INTRODUCTION | 9 |
JOHNS DECEIT | 37 |
BASILS REPROACHES | 43 |
JOHNS REPLY | 47 |
THE DIFFICULTY OF PASTORAL CARE | 52 |
LOVE THE CHIEF THING | 60 |
JOHN CONTINUES HIS APOLOGIA | 65 |
IO PARTICULAR DUTIES AND PROBLEMS | 89 |
Widows and the Sick | 94 |
Virgins | 97 |
ArbitrationVisitingExcommunication | 100 |
THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE | 104 |
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD | 114 |
TEMPTATIONS of the Teacher | 127 |
THE NEED FOR PURITY | 136 |
THE GLORY OF THE PRIESTHOOD | 70 |
THE DIFFICULTY OF THE PRIESTHOOD | 75 |
THE CHARACTER AND TEMPTATIONS OF A BISHOP | 80 |
THE CONTRast between BisHOP AND MONK | 143 |
THE CONCLUSION OF JOHNS APOLOGIA | 150 |
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Common terms and phrases
able accept accuse admiration answer anxiety argument attack authority avoid Basil bear become better bishop blame body Book bring brought cares cause character charge Christ Chrysostom Church committed comparison concern continual criticism danger dignity enemies entrusted escape evil excuse exercise eyes fact faith fall father faults fear fire force gift give given greater Gregory hand happened hear honour human ignorance insult John keep kind lead less live look matters means mentioned mind ministry nature never once pass Paul penalty praise preacher preaching present priest priesthood prove punishment qualities reason received refuse remains responsibility rest rule severe shepherd short sins someone soul speak spirit stand stop teaching tell things thought tion treat trouble true truth unless whole