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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom497For so thou wilt be respected by thy husband, when thou needest not many things. For everyman is wont to be shy towards those who make requests of him; but when he sees that they haveno need of him, then he lets down his pride, and converses with them as equals. When thy husbandsees that thou hast no need of him in anything, that thou thinkest lightly of the presents which comefrom him, then, even though he be very arrogant, 3362 he will respect thee more, than if thou wertclad in golden ornaments; and thou wilt no longer be his slave. For those of whom we stand inneed, we are compelled to stoop to. But if we restrain ourselves we shall no longer be regarded ascriminals, 3363 but he knows that we pay him obedience from the fear of God, not for what is givenby him. For now, when that he confers great favors on us, whatever honor he receives, he thinkshe has not received all [that is due to him]: but then, though he obtain but a little, he will accountit a favor he does not reproach, nor will he be himself compelled to overreach on thy account.[13.] For what is more unreasonable, than to provide golden ornaments, to be worn in baths,and in market places? However, in baths and in market places it is perhaps no wonder, but that awoman should come into Church so decked out is very ridiculous. For, for what possible reasondoes she come in here wearing golden ornaments, she who ought to come in that she may hear [theprecept] “that they adorn not themselves with gold, nor pearls, nor costly array”? ( 1 Tim. ii. 9 .)With what object then, O woman, dost thou come? Is it indeed to fight with Paul, and show thateven if he repeat these things ten thousand times thou regardest them not? Or is it as wishing to putus your teachers to shame as discoursing on these subjects in vain? For tell me; if any heathen andunbeliever, after he has heard the passage read where the blessed Paul says these things, having abelieving wife, sees that she makes much account of beautifying herself, and puts on ornaments ofgold, that she may come into Church and hear Paul charging [the women] that they adorn themselves,neither with “gold” ( 1 Tim. ii. 9 ), nor with “pearls,” nor with “costly array,” will he not indeedsay to himself, when he sees her in her little room, 3364 putting on these things, and arranging thembeautifully, “Why is my wife staying within in her little room? Why is she so slow? Why is sheputting on her golden ornaments? Where has she to go to? Into the Church? For what purpose? Tohear? ‘not with costly array’;” will he not smile, will he not burst out into laughter? will he notthink our religion 3365 a mockery and a deceit? Wherefore, I beseech [you], let us leave goldenornaments to processions, to theaters, to signs on the shops. 3366 But let not the image of God bedecked out with these things: let the gentlewoman be adorned with gentility, and gentility is theabsence of pride, and of boastful display.Nay even if thou wish to obtain glory from men, thou wilt obtain it thus. For we shall not wonderso much that the wife of a rich man wears gold and silk (for this is the common practice of themall), as when she is dressed in a plain and simple garment made merely of wool. This all will admire,this they will applaud. For in that adorning indeed of ornaments of gold and of costly apparel, shehas many to share with her. And if she surpass one, she is surpassed by another. Yea, even if shesurpass all, she must yield the palm to the Empress herself. But in the other case, she outdoes all,3362φρονηματιῶν3363ὑ πόδικοι3364κοιτωνίσκῳ3365τὰ ἡμέτερο3366ταῖς προθήκαις ταῖς ἐπὶ τῶν ἐργαστηρίων720