John Chrysostom, On Timothy

but he serves countless masters who desire and say opposite things. For what one praises, another blames; what this one censures, another admires. Whom then must he listen to, whom must he obey? It is not possible. And the slave bought with silver, even if his master commands him opposite things, he is vexed; but you, if you are pained when so many masters command opposite things, you even pay the penalty for this, opening everyone's mouths against you. Is this then, tell me, an honor? Is this authority? Is this power? 62.669 4. The one who holds the episcopacy said, Contribute money; if one does not wish to, not only does he not contribute, but also so that he might not seem to do this on account of indifference, he accuses the one who commanded it; he steals, he says, he seizes, he swallows up the things of the poor, he devours the things of the destitute. Cease reviling; how long will you say these things? You do not wish to contribute? No one is compelling you, no one is forcing you; why do you even revile the one who exhorts and advises you? But someone has fallen into need, and he did not extend a hand, being unable, or being occupied elsewhere. There is no forgiveness, but again accusations worse than the former ones. Is this, then, authority? And he cannot defend himself; for they are his own bowels. And just as the bowel, even if it swells, even if it causes pain both to the head and to the rest of the body, we do not dare to defend ourselves; for we do not take a sword and cut it open; so also if one of the governed is such a person, causing us pains and despondencies from these accusations, we do not dare to defend ourselves; for these things are far from a fatherly disposition, but it is necessary to bear the pain, until that man becomes well. The slave bought with silver has some appointed work, and if he completes this, for the rest he becomes his own master; but this one is dragged about everywhere, and many things even beyond his power are demanded of him; if he does not know how to speak, there is much murmuring; but if he does know how to speak, again accusations, He is vainglorious; if he does not raise the dead, He is worthy of no account, they say; so-and-so is devout, but this one is not. If he partakes of moderate food, again accusations; He ought to be hanged, they say; if someone sees him bathing, many accusations; He ought not to see the sun at all, they say. But if he does the same things that I do, and bathes and eats and drinks and wears clothes, and cares for a house and for servants, for what reason does he preside over me? But he even has servants, they say, who minister to him, and he rides on a donkey; for what reason then does he preside over me? But what, tell me, ought he not to have one who ministers to him, but must he himself light the fire, and carry water, and chop wood, and go to the market? And what a great disgrace this becomes! And those holy men, the apostles, do not wish the one who is devoted to the word to also be occupied with the ministry to widows, but they consider the matter unworthy of him; but do you drag him down even to the service of your servants? Why do you who command these things not come forward yourself, and fulfill them? tell me, is not a greater service ministered to you, than you the bodily things? why do you not send your own child to his service? Christ washed the feet of the disciples; if you should provide service to the teacher, are you doing some great thing? But neither do you wish to provide it, and you hinder him. What then? Ought he to live from heaven? But God does not wish it so. What then? did the apostles, he says, have free men 62.670 serving them? Do you also wish to hear this, how the apostles lived? They made journeys, and free men and noble women for the sake of their rest pledged both their own souls and their own heads. But hear also this blessed man exhorting and saying; Therefore hold such men in honor; and again, Because for the work of God he came near to death, risking his life, that he might supply what was lacking in your service toward me. Do you see what he says? But you do not even utter a word on behalf of your father, let alone undertake so great a danger. But one ought not to bathe, he says. Why, tell me? where is this

ἀλλὰ δουλεύει μυρίοις δεσπόταις ἐναντία καὶ ἐπιθυμοῦσι καὶ λέγουσιν. Ὅπερ γὰρ ἐγκωμιάζει εἷς, μέμφεται ἕτερος· ὅπερ ψέγει οὗτος, θαυμάζει ἄλλος. Τίνος οὖν ἀκοῦσαι χρὴ, τίνι πεισθῆναι; Οὐκ ἔστι. Καὶ ὁ μὲν ἀργυρώνητος, κἂν ἐναντία ὁ δεσπότης αὐτῷ προστάξῃ, καὶ δυσχεραίνει· σὺ δὲ, ἂν τοσούτων δεσποτῶν ἐναντία ἐπιταττόντων ἀλγήσῃς, καὶ τούτου δίδως δίκην, τὰ πάντων ἐπὶ σὲ στόματα ἀνοίγων. Τοῦτο οὖν, εἰπέ μοι, τιμή; τοῦτο ἀρχή; τοῦτο ἐξουσία; 62.669 δʹ. Εἶπεν ὁ τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν ἔχων, εἰσενεγκεῖν χρήματα· ἂν μὴ θέλῃ, οὐ μόνον οὐκ εἰσήνεγκεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ μὴ δόξαι ῥᾳθυμίας ἕνεκεν τοῦτο ποιεῖν, κατηγορεῖ τοῦ κελεύσαντος· κλέπτει, φησὶν, ἁρπάζει, καταπίνει τὰ τῶν πενήτων, κατεσθίει τὰ τῶν πτωχῶν. Παῦσαι λοιδορῶν· μέχρι τίνος ταῦτα φής; Οὐ βούλει εἰσενεγκεῖν; οὐδεὶς ὁ καταναγκάζων, οὐδεὶς ὁ βιαζόμενος· τί καὶ λοιδορῇ τῷ παραινοῦντι καὶ συμβουλεύοντι; Ἀλλ' εἰς χρείαν τις κατέστη, καὶ οὐκ ὤρεξε χεῖρα μὴ δυνηθεὶς, ἢ καὶ ἑτέρωθι ἀσχοληθείς. Οὐδεμία συγγνώμη, ἀλλὰ πάλιν κατηγορίαι χείρους τῶν προτέρων. Τοῦτο γοῦν ἀρχή; Καὶ ἀμύνασθαι οὐκ ἔχει· σπλάγχνα γάρ ἐστιν ἴδια. Καὶ ὥσπερ τὸ σπλάγχνον, κἂν οἰδαίνῃ, κἂν πόνον παρέχῃ καὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ καὶ τῷ λοιπῷ σώματι, οὐ τολμῶμεν ἀμύνασθαι· οὐ γὰρ λαβόντες ξίφος διαῤῥηγνύομεν· οὕτω κἂν τῶν ἀρχομένων τις τοιοῦτος ᾖ, πόνους ἡμῖν παρέχων καὶ ἀθυμίας ἐκ τῶν κατηγοριῶν τούτων, οὐ τολμῶμεν ἀμύνασθαι· πόῤῥω γὰρ ταῦτα πατρικῆς διανοίας, ἀλλ' ἀνάγκη φέρειν τὸν πόνον, ἕως ἂν ἐκεῖνος ὑγιάνῃ καλῶς. Ὁ ἀργυρώνητος οἰκέτης ἔχει τι ἔργον ἐπιτεταγμένον, κἂν τοῦτο ἀνύσῃ, λοιπὸν ἑαυτοῦ κύριος γίνεται· οὗτος δὲ πανταχοῦ περιέλκεται, πολλὰ καὶ τῶν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἀπαιτεῖται· ἂν μὴ εἰδῇ λέγειν, πολὺς ὁ γογγυσμός· ἂν δὲ εἰδῇ λέγειν, πάλιν κατηγορίαι, Κενόδοξός ἐστιν· ἂν μὴ νεκροὺς ἀνιστᾷ, Οὐδενὸς λόγου ἄξιος, φησίν· ὁ δεῖνα εὐλαβής ἐστιν, οὗτος δὲ οὔ. Ἂν ἀπολαύῃ συμμέτρου τροφῆς, πάλιν κατηγορίαι· Ἔδει αὐτὸν ἀπηγχονίσθαι, φησίν· ἂν λουόμενον ἴδῃ τις, πολλαὶ κατηγορίαι· Ὅλως οὐδὲ τὸν ἥλιον ὁρᾷν ὀφείλει, φησίν. Εἰ δὲ τὰ αὐτὰ πράττει, ἅπερ ἐγὼ, καὶ λούεται καὶ ἐσθίει καὶ πίνει καὶ ἱμάτια περιβέβληται, καὶ οἰκίας φροντίζει καὶ οἰκετῶν, τίνος ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ προέστηκεν; Ἀλλὰ καὶ οἰκέτας ἔχει, φησὶ, τοὺς διακονουμένους αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ ὄνου ὀχεῖται· τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ προέστηκεν; Ἀλλὰ τί, εἰπέ μοι, οὐκ ὀφείλει τὸν διακονούμενον ἔχειν, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς τὸ πῦρ ἀνακαίειν, καὶ ὑδροφορεῖν, καὶ ξύλα διακλᾷν, καὶ εἰς ἀγορὰν ἐμβάλλειν; καὶ πόση τοῦτο αἰσχύνη γίνεται; Καὶ οἱ μὲν ἅγιοι ἐκεῖνοι ἄνδρες, οἱ ἀπόστολοι, τὸν τῷ λόγῳ προσκαρτεροῦντα οὐδὲ διακονίᾳ χηρῶν βούλονται προσανέχειν, ἀλλ' ἀνάξιον αὐτοῦ τὸ πρᾶγμα εἶναι νομίζουσι· σὺ δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκετῶν ὑπηρεσίαν καθέλκεις τῶν σῶν; ∆ιὰ τί ὁ ταῦτα ἐπιτάττων οὐ παρέρχῃ σὺ, καὶ ταῦτα πληροῖς; εἰπέ μοι, οὐχὶ μείζονά σοι διακονεῖται ὑπηρεσίαν, ἢ σὺ τὰ σωματικά; διὰ τί μὴ τὸν παῖδα πέμπεις τὸν σὸν πρὸς τὴν τούτου ὑπηρεσίαν; Ὁ Χριστὸς ἔνιψε τοὺς πόδας τῶν μαθητῶν· σὺ θεραπείαν ἂν παράσχῃς τῷ διδασκάλῳ, μέγα τι ποιεῖς; Ἀλλ' οὔτε σὺ βούλει παρασχεῖν, καὶ αὐτὸν κωλύεις. Τί οὖν; ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ζῇν ὀφείλει; Ἀλλ' οὐ βούλεται οὕτως ὁ Θεός. Τί οὖν; οἱ ἀπόστολοι, φησὶν, ἐλευθέρους 62.670 εἶχον δουλεύοντας; Βούλει καὶ τοῦτο ἀκοῦσαι πῶς οἱ ἀπόστολοι διῆγον; ἀποδημίας ἐποιοῦντο, καὶ ἄνδρες ἐλεύθεροι καὶ εὐγενεῖς γυναῖκες ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐκείνων ἀναπαύσεως καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς καὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς ὑπετίθεσαν τὰς ἑαυτῶν. Ἄκουε δὲ καὶ τοῦ μακαρίου τούτου παραινοῦντος καὶ λέγοντος· Τοὺς οὖν τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε· καὶ πάλιν, ∆ιὰ τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ μέχρι θανάτου ἤγγισε, παραβουλευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ, ἵνα ἀναπληρώσῃ τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας. Ὁρᾷς τί φησι; Σὺ δὲ οὐδὲ λόγον προΐεσαι ὑπὲρ τοῦ πατρὸς τοῦ σοῦ, μήτι γε κίνδυνον τοσοῦτον ἀναδέχῃ. Ἀλλὰ λούεσθαι, φησὶν, οὐ χρή. ∆ιὰ τί, εἰπέ μοι; ποῦ τοῦτο