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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomwith whom to the Father be glory together with the Holy Ghost, now and for ever, and world withoutend. Amen.461Homily XXI.Hebrews x. 32–34“But call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured a greatfight of afflictions; 3175 partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches andafflictions, 3176 and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye hadcompassion on those who were in bonds, 3177 and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,knowing that ye have for yourselves 3178 in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”[1.] The best Physicians after they have made a deep incision, and have increased the pains bythe wound, soothing the afflicted part, and giving rest and refreshment to the disturbed soul, proceednot to make a second incision, but rather soothe that which has been made with gentle remedies,and such as are suited to remove the violence of the pain. This Paul also did after he had shakentheir souls, and pierced them with the recollection of Hell, and convinced then, that he must certainlyperish, who does despite to the grace of God, and after he had shown from the laws of Moses, thatthey also shall perish, and the more [fearfully], and confirm it by other testimonies, and had said,“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” ( c. x. 31 ): then, lest the souldesponding through excessive fear, should be swallowed up with grief, he soothes them bycommendations and exhortation, and gives them zeal derived from their own conduct. For, he says,“call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye had been enlightened, ye endured a greatfight of afflictions.” Powerful is the exhortation from deeds [already done]: for he who begins awork ought to go forward and add to it. As if he had said, when ye were brought in 3179 [to theChurch], when ye were in the rank of learners, ye displayed so great readiness, so great nobleness;but now it is no longer so. And he who encourages, does thus especially encourage them from theirown example.And he did not simply say, “ye endured a fight” 3180 but a “great” [fight]. Moreover he did notsay “temptations” but “fight,” which is an expression of commendation and of very great praise.3175παθημάτων3176θλίψεσι3177τοῖς δεσμίοις . This is held to be the true reading of the sacred text: τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου was substituted here, but not inthe body of the Homily, in some mss. and in the editions of St. Chrys. before the Benedictine.3178ἑ αυτοῖς without ἐ ν is the approved reading of the sacred text, and is found in all the mss. and Edd. of St. Chrys. [It isthe reading in the margin of the A.V. and of the R.V. There is but slight authority for the ἐ ν . “ In heaven ” is also omittedby the more important authorities, the critical editors, and by the R.V.—F.G.]3179ἐ νήγεσθε3180ἄ θλησιν , a contest, as that of wrestlers.667