Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom364And besides this, there was something else. 2675 What now might this be? That they who wereabout Peter were also with Christ, and saw signs and wonders; but he [Paul] having had the benefitof none of these, but being with Jews, suddenly deserted and became one of them. This especiallypromoted our cause. For while they indeed, seemed to testify even from gratitude, and one mighthave said that they bore witness to those things in love for their Master; he, on the other hand, whotestifies to the resurrection, this man was rather one who heard a voice only. For this cause thouseest them waging war passionately with him, and doing all things for this purpose, that they mightslay him, and raising seditions. 2676The unbelievers, then, were hostile to him for this reason; but why were the believers? Becausein preaching to the Gentiles he was constrained to preach Christianity purely; and if haply even inJudæa he were found [doing so], he cared not. For Peter and they that were with him, because theypreached in Jerusalem, when there was great fierceness, of necessity enjoined the observance ofthe law; but this man was quite at liberty. The [converts] too from the Gentiles were more than theJews because they were without. 2677 And this 2678 enfeebled the law, and they had no such greatreverence for it, although 2679 he preached all things purely. Doubtless in this matter they think toshame him by numbers, saying, “Thou seest, brother, how many ten thousands of Jews there arewhich 2680 are come together.” 2681 On this account they hated him and turned away from him, because“They are informed of thee, he says, that thou teachest men to forsake the law.” 2682[2.] Why, then, not being a teacher of the Jews, does he send an Epistle to them? And wherewere those to whom he sent it? It seems to me in Jerusalem and Palestine. How then does he sendthem an Epistle? Just as he baptized, though he was not commanded to baptize. For, he says, “Iwas not sent to baptize”: 2683 not, however, that he was forbidden, but he does it as a subordinatematter. And how could he fail to write to those, for whom he was willing even to become accursed?2684Accordingly he said, 2685 “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if hecome shortly, I will see you.” 2686For as yet he was not arrested. Two years then he passed bound, in Rome; then he was set free;then, having gone into Spain, he saw Jews 2687 also in like manner; and then he returned to Rome,where also he was slain by Nero. The Epistle to Timothy then was later 2688 than this Epistle. For2675Add: “ Which should make them incredulous, ” Bened. K. Sav.2676“ For this purpose, and raising seditions that they might slay him, ” Bened. A. K.2677“ The chosen people being fewer than all people , encircled on all sides by the heathen ” ; see Mic. v. 7, 82678“ By this he enfeebled, ” Ben.2679“ Because, ” Ben. Sav. K. Q. R.2680 Acts xxi. 202681“ which believe, ” Ben. Sav. K. Q.2682 Acts xxi. 212683 1 Cor. i. 172684 Rom. ix. 32685St. Chrys. introduces this as an instance of St. Paul’s interest in the Hebrews: that he not only wrote to them, but alsointended to visit them; and on that digresses to the events of his history and the relative date of his Epistles.2686 Heb. xiii. 232687[The text might perhaps leave it uncertain whether St. Chrys. meant to state that St. Paul saw Jews in Spain, or that,after visiting Spain, he went into Judæa. Ben. Sav. K. Q. are express, “ Spain; then he went into Judæa, where also he saw theJews. ” εἰς τὰς Σπανίας ἦλθεν· εἶτα εἰς Ἰουδαίαν ἔβη ὅτε καὶ Ἰουδαίους εἶδε .—F.G.]2688πρεσβυτέρα . The word is elsewhere used in this sense by St. Chrys. See Mr. Field’s notes. St. Chrys. often points outthat the Ep. ii. to Timothy is the last of all St. Paul’s Epistles.525