John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John

“John beareth witness of Him, and crieth, saying, This is He of whom I spake, saying, He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”

[1.] Do we then run and labor in vain? Are we sowing upon the rocks? Does the seed fall upon the rocks? Does the seed fall without our knowing it by the wayside, and among thorns? I am greatly troubled and fear, lest our husbandry be unprofitable; not311 al. “nothing.” as though I shall be a loser as well as you, touching the reward of this labor. For it is not with those who teach as it is with husbandmen. Oftentimes the husbandman after his year’s toil, his hard work and sweat, if the earth produce no suitable return for his pains, will be312 al. “is.” able to find comfort for his labors from none else, but returns ashamed and downcast from his barn to his dwelling, his wife and children, unable to require of any man a reward for his lengthened toil. But in our case there is313 al. “shall be.” nothing like this. For even though the soil which we cultivate bring forth no fruit, if we have shown all industry, the Lord of it and of us will not suffer us to depart with disappointed hopes, but will give us a recompense; for, says St. Paul, “Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor” ( 1 Cor. iii. 8 ), not according to the event of things. And that it is so, hearken: “And Thou,” he saith, “Son of man, testify unto this people, if they will hear, and if they will understand.” ( Ezek. ii. 5 , not from LXX.) And Ezekiel says,314 al. “this may be learnt from Ezekiel.” “If the watchman give warning what it behooves to flee from, and what to choose, he hath delivered his own soul, although there be none that will take heed.” ( Ezek. iii. 18, and xxxiii. 9 ; not quoted from LXX.) Yet although we have this strong consolation, and are confident of the recompense that shall be made us, still when we see that the work in you does not go forward, our state is not better than the state of those husbandmen who lament and mourn, who hide their faces and are ashamed. This is the sympathy of a teacher, this is the natural care of a father. For Moses too, when it was in his power to have been delivered from the ingratitude of the Jews, and to have laid the more glorious foundation of another and far greater315 al. “in a far greater way.” people, (“Let Me alone,” said God, “that I may consume them,316 Lit. “wipe out.” and make of thee a nation mightier than this”— Ex. xxxii. 10 ,) because he was a holy man, the servant of God, and a friend317 al. “very much a servant.” very true and generous, he did not endure even to hearken to this word, but chose rather to perish with those who had been once allotted to him, than without them to be saved and be in greater honor. Such ought he to be who has the charge of souls. For it is a strange thing that any one who has weak children, will not be called the father of any others than those who are sprung from him, but that he who has had disciples placed in his hands should be continually changing one flock for another, that we should be catching at the charge now of these, then of those, then again of others,318 al. “and others again with these.” having no real affection for any one. May we never have cause to suspect this of you. We trust that ye abound more in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in love to one another and towards all men. And this we say as desiring that your zeal may be increased, and the excellence of your conversation319 πολιτείας. farther advanced. For it is thus that you will be able to bring your understandings down to the very depth of the words set before us, if no film320 λήμη, al. λύμη, “defilement.” of wickedness darken the eyes of your intellect, and disturb its clearsightedness and acuteness.

What then is it which is set before321 al. “said to.” us to-day? “John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.” The Evangelist is very full in making frequent mention of John, and often bearing about his testimony. And this he does not without a reason, but very wisely; for all the Jews held the man in great admiration, (even Josephus imputes the war to his death;322 No such passage is extant in Josephus. Probably the place alluded to is Antiq. b. xviii. c. 5, § 2, where the destruction of the troops of Herod the tetrarch by Aretas is attributed to the death of John the Baptist. and shows, that, on his account, what once was the mother city, is now no city at all,323 Ben. “the war through which the city of the Jews, which was once the mother city, is no city.” and continues324 al. “raises.” the words of his encomium to great length,) and therefore desiring by his means to make the Jews ashamed, he continually reminds them of the testimony of the forerunner. The other Evangelists make mention of the older prophets, and at each successive thing that took place respecting Him refer the hearer to them. Thus when the Child is born, they say, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esias the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son” ( Matt. i. 22; Isa. vii. 14 ); and when He is plotted against and sought for everywhere so diligently, that even tender infancy is slaughtered by325 Morel. καὶ πάντα τὰ αὐτοῦ ὄντως ἀνεζήτη, ὡς καὶ περὶ τῆς ἀώρου ἡλικίας τῆς σφαττομένης. Herod, they bring in Jeremy, saying, “In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children” ( Matt. ii. 18; Jer. xxxi. 15 ); and again, when He comes up out of Egypt, they mention326 al. “produce.” Hosea, saying, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son” ( Matt. ii. 15; Hosea xi. 1 ); and this they do everywhere. But John providing testimony more clear and fresh, and uttering a voice more glorious than the other, brings continually forward not those only who had departed and were dead, but one also who was alive and present, who pointed Him out and baptized Him, him he continually introduces, not desiring to gain credit for the master 327 Morel. inserts “hence, away with the thought.” through the servant, but condescending to the infirmity of his hearers.328 al. “of babes.” For as unless He had taken the form of a servant, He would not have been easily received, so had He not by the voice of a servant prepared the ears of his fellow-servants, the many (at any rate) of the Jews would not329 al. “would not so.” have received the Word.

[2.] But besides this, there was another great and wonderful provision. For because to speak any great words concerning himself, makes a man’s witness to be suspected, and is often an obstacle to many hearers, another comes to testify of Him. And besides this the many330 al. “because the many.” are in a manner wont to run more readily to a voice which is more familiar and natural to them, as recognizing it more than other voices; and therefore the voice from heaven was uttered331 γέγονεν. once or twice, but that of John oftentimes and continually. For those332 al. “those therefore.” of the people who had surmounted the infirmity of their nature, and had been released from all the things of sense, could hear the Voice from heaven, and had no great need of that of man, but in all things obeyed333 Morel. “as obeying it in all things: but they who yet moved below, needed also many other (things), because of their groveling on the ground, and being wrapt.” that other, and were led by it; but they who yet moved below, and were wrapt in many veils, needed that meaner (voice). In the same way John, because he had snipped himself in every way of the334 al. “all the.” things of sense, needed no other instructors,335 al. “men for inst.” but was taught from heaven. “He that sent me,” saith he, “to baptize with water, the Same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit” of God “descending, the same is He.” ( c. i. 33 ) But the Jews who still were children, and could not as yet reach to that height, had a man for their teacher, a man who did not speak to them words of his own, but brought them a message from above.

What then saith he? He “beareth witness concerning Him, and crieth, saying” What means that word “crieth”? Boldly, he means, and freely, without any reserve,336 ὑ ποστολὴ. he proclaims. What does he proclaim? to what does he “bear witness,” and “cry”? “This is He of whom I said, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for He was before me.” The testimony is dark,337 Lit. “shaded over.” and contains besides much that is lowly. For he does not say, “This is the Son of God, the Only-begotten, the true Son”; but what? “He that cometh after me, is preferred before me; for He was before me.” As the mother birds do not teach their young all at once how to fly, nor finish their teaching in a single day, but at first lead them forth so as to be just outside the nest, then after first allowing them to rest, set them again to flying, 338 Morel. and ms. Savile reads προστιθέασι τῇ πτήσει πάλιν καὶ … πλείονα συνάπτουσιν. and on the next day continue a flight much farther, and so gently, by little and little, bring them to the proper height; just so the blessed John did not immediately bring the Jews to high things, but taught them for a while to fly up a little above the earth saying, that Christ was greater than he. And yet this, even this was for the time no small thing, to have been able to persuade339 al. “make believe.” the hearers that one who had not yet appeared nor worked any wonders was greater than a man, (John, I mean,) so marvelous, so famous, to whom all ran, and whom they thought to be an angel. For a while therefore he labored to establish this in the minds of his hearers, that He to whom testimony was borne was greater than he who bore it; He that came after, than he that came before, He who had not yet appeared, than he that was manifest and famous. And observe how prudently he introduces his testimony; for he does not only point Him out when He has appeared, but even before He appears, proclaims Him. For the expression, “This is He of whom I spake,” is the expression of one declaring this. As also Matthew says, that when all came to him, he said, “I indeed baptize you with water, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.”340 Matt. iii. 11, and Luke iii. 16. Wherefore then even before His appearance did he this? In order that when He appeared, the testimony might readily be received, the minds of the hearers being already prepossessed by what was said concerning Him, and the mean external appearance not vitiating it.341 Some mss. add, “but being able to possess the souls of the many with much fearlessness.” For if without having heard anything at all concerning Him they had seen the Lord,342 al. “Christ Himself.” and as they beheld Him had at the same time received the testimony of John’s words, so wonderful and great, the meanness of His appearance343 σχῆμα. would have straightway been an objection to the grandeur of the expressions. For Christ took on Him an appearance so mean and ordinary, that even Samaritan women, and harlots, and publicans, had confidence boldly to approach and converse with Him. As therefore, I said, if they had at once heard these words and seen Himself, they might perhaps have mocked at the testimony of John; but now because even before Christ appeared, they had often heard and had been accustomed to 344 Ben. “provoked (to curiosity) by.” what was said concerning Him, they were affected in the opposite way, not rejecting the instruction of the words by reason of the appearance of Him who was witnessed of, but from their belief of what had been already told them, esteeming Him even more glorious.

The phrase, “that cometh after,” means, “that” preacheth “after me,” not “that” was born “after me.” And this Matthew glances at when he says,345 Matt. iii. 11 not verbally quoted. “after me cometh a man,” not speaking of His birth from Mary, but of His coming to preach (the Gospel), for had he been speaking of the birth, he would not have said, “cometh,” but “is come”; since He was born when John spake this. What then means “is before me”? Is more glorious, more honorable. “Do not,” he saith, “because I came preaching first from this, suppose that I am greater than He; I am much inferior, so much inferior that I am not worthy to be counted in the rank of a servant.” This is the sense of “is before me,” which Matthew showing in a different manner, saith,346 Not found in Matt. “The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.” ( Luke iii. 16.) Again, that the phrase, “is before me,” does not refer to His coming into Being, is plain from the sequel; for had he meant to say this, what follows, “for He was before me,” would be superfluous. For who so dull and foolish as not to know that He who “was born before”347 γενόμενος ἔμπροσθεν. him “was before”348 πρῶτος ἢν. him? Or if the words refer to His subsistence349 ὑ πάρξεως. before the ages, what is said is nothing else than that “He who cometh after me came into being before me.” Besides, such a thing as this is unintelligible, and the cause is thrown in needlessly; for he ought to have said the contrary, if he had wished to declare this, “that He who cometh after me was before me, since also He was born before me.” For one might with reason assign this, (the “being born before”) as the cause of “being before,” but not the “being before,” as the cause of “being born.” While what we assert is very reasonable. Since you all at least know this, that they are always things uncertain not things evident, that require their causes to be assigned. Now if the argument related to the production of substance,350 οὐσιώσεως. it could not have been uncertain that he who “was born” first must needs “be” first; but because he is speaking concerning honor, he with reason explains what seems to be a difficulty. For many might well enquire, whence and on what pretext He who came after, became before, that is, appeared with great honor; in reply to this question therefore, he immediately assigns the reason; and the reason is, His Being first. He does not say, that “by some kind of advancement he cast me who has been first behind him, and so became before me,” but that “he was before me,” even though he arrives after me.

But how, says one, if the Evangelist refers351 al. “the reference is.” to His manifestation to men, and to the glory which was to attend Him from them, does he speak of what was not yet accomplished, as having already taken place? for he does not say, “shall be,” but “was.” Because this is a custom among the prophets of old, to speak of the future as of the past. Thus Isaiah speaking of His slaughter does not say, “He shall be led (which would have denoted futurity) as a sheep to the slaughter”; but “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter” ( Isa. liii. 7 ); yet He was not yet Incarnate, but the Prophet speaks of what should be as if it had come to pass. So David, pointing to the Crucifixion, said not, “They shall pierce My hands and My feet,” but “They pierced My hands and My feet, and parted My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture” ( Ps. xxii. 16, 18 ); and discoursing of the traitor as yet unborn, he says, “He which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up352 al. “has magnified.” his heel against Me” ( Ps. xli. 9 ); and of the circumstances of the Crucifixion, “They gave Me gall for meat, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.” ( Ps. lxix. 21.)

[4.] Do you desire that we adduce more examples, or do these suffice? For my part, I think they do; for if we have not dug over the ground in all its extent,353 al. “not much ground.” we have at least dug down to its bottom; and this last kind of work is not less laborious than the former; and we fear lest by straining your attention immoderately we cause you to fall back.

Let us then give to our discourse a becoming conclusion. And what conclusion is becoming? A suitable giving of glory to God; and that is suitable which is given, not by words only, but much more by actions. For He saith, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” ( Matt. v. 16.) Now nothing is more full of light than a most excellent conversation. As one of the wise men has said, “The paths of the just shine like the light” ( Prov. iv. 18 , LXX.); and they shine not for them alone who kindle the flame by their works, and are guides in the way of righteousness, but also for those who are their neighbors. Let us then pour oil into these lamps, that the flame become higher,354 al. “more soaring.” that rich light appear. For not only has this oil great strength now, but even when sacrifices were at their height,355 lit. “flourished.” it was far more acceptable than they could be. “I will have mercy,”356 ἔ λεον. St. Chrysostom plays on the word, which was pronounced nearly as ἔ λαιον, “oil.” Thus on 2 Tim. ii. 25, Hom. vi. He saith, “and not sacrifice.” ( Matt. xii. 7; Hos. vi. 6.) And with good reason; for that is a lifeless altar, this a living; and all that is laid on that altar becomes the food of fire, and ends in dust, and it is poured forth as ashes, and the smoke of it is dissolved into the substance of the air; but here there is nothing like this, the fruits which it bears are different. As the words of Paul declare; for in describing the treasures of kindness to the poor laid up by the Corinthians, he writes, “For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.” ( 2 Cor. ix. 12.) And again; “Whiles they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you.” Dost thou behold it 357 the “service,” λειτουργία. resolving itself into thanksgiving and praise of God, and continual prayers of those who have been benefited, and more fervent charity? Let us then sacrifice, beloved, let us sacrifice every day upon these altars. For this sacrifice is greater than prayer and fasting, and many things beside, if only it come from honest gain, and honest toils, and be pure from all covetousness, and rapine, and violence. For God accepts such 358 al. “only such.” offerings as these, but the others He turns away from and hates; He will not be honored out of other men’s calamities, such sacrifice is unclean and profane, and would rather anger God than appease Him. So that we must use all carefulness, that we do not, in the place of service, insult Him whom we would honor. For if Cain for making a second-rate offering,359 τὰ δευτερεῖα προσενεγκών. St. Chrysostom implies, that the offering of Cain was not of his best. having done no other wrong, suffered extreme punishment, how shall not we when we offer anything gained by rapine and covetousness, suffer yet more severely. It is for this that God has shown to us the pattern360 εἶδος. of this commandment, that we might have mercy, not be severe to our fellow-servants; but he who takes what belongs to one and gives it to another, hath not shown mercy, but inflicted hurt, and done an extreme injustice. As then a stone cannot yield oil, so neither can cruelty produce humanity; for alms when it has such a root as this is alms361 ἐ λεημοσύνη, (lit. “mercifulness,”) whence our alms. no longer. Therefore I exhort that we look not to this only, that we give to those that need, but also that we give not from other men’s plunder. “When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear?” ( Ecclus. xxxiv. 24.) If we guide ourselves thus strictly, we shall be able by the grace of God to obtain much lovingkindness and mercy and pardon for what we have done amiss during all this long time, and to escape the river of fire; from which may it come to pass that we be all delivered, and362 Morel. “sit down in the heavenly bride-chamber.” ascend to the Kingdom of Heaven, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΓʹ. Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κέκραγε λέγων: «Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν.» αʹ. Ἆρα μὴ εἰς κενὸν τρέχομεν καὶ κοπιῶμεν; μὴ κατὰ πετρῶν σπείρομεν; ἆρα μὴ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας ἡμῖν λανθάνει τὰ σπέρματα πίπτοντα; Ἀγωνιῶ γὰρ σφόδρα καὶ δέδοικα μὴ ἀνόνητος ἡμῖν ἡ γεωργία γένηται: καὶ ταῦτα οὐδὲ μέλλων αὐτὸς εἰς τὸν τοῦ κόπου τούτου παραβλάπτεσθαι μισθόν: οὐ γὰρ οἷα τῶν γηπόνων, τοιαῦτα καὶ τὰ τῶν διδασκόντων ἐστίν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ γεωργὸς μετὰ τοὺς ἐνιαυσίους πολλάκις μόχθους, καὶ τὴν ταλαιπωρίαν ἐκείνην, καὶ τοὺς ἱδρῶτας, ἂν μηδὲν ἐξενέγκῃ τῶν πόνων ἄξιον ἡ γῆ, παρ' οὐδενὸς ἑτέρου δυνήσεται τῶν πόνων τινὰ παραμυθίαν εὑρεῖν: ἀλλ' ὑποστρέφει μετ' αἰσχύνης καὶ κατηφείας ἀπὸ τῆς ἅλω πρὸς τὴν οἰκίαν, καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὰ παιδία, οὐδένα ἔχων ἀπαιτῆσαι τῆς φιλοπονίας τῆς μακρᾶς τὴν ἀντίδοσιν. Ἐπὶ δὲ ἡμῶν οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον ἔσται, ἀλλὰ κἂν ἡ γεωργουμένη γῆ μηδένα ἐξενέγκῃ καρπὸν, ἡμῶν ἅπαντα ἐπιδειξαμένων πόνον, ὁ καὶ ταύτης καὶ ἡμῶν Κύριος οὐ περιόψεται κεναῖς ἡμᾶς ἀπερχομένους ἐλπίσιν, ἀλλὰ δώσει τὰς ἀμοιβάς. Ἕκαστος γὰρ, φησὶ, τὸν ἴδιον μισθὸν λήψεται κατὰ τὸν ἴδιον κόπον, οὐ κατὰ τὸ τῶν πραγμάτων τέλος. Καὶ ὅτι οὕτως ἔχει, ἄκουε: Καὶ σὺ, φησὶν, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, διαμάρτυρε τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ, ἐὰν ἄρα ἀκούσωσιν, ἐὰν ἄρα συνῶσι. Καὶ διὰ τοῦ Ἰεζεκιὴλ δὲ τοῦτο μαθεῖν ἐστιν: ἐὰν ὁ σκοπὸς γὰρ προείπῃ, τί μὲν φυγεῖν τί δὲ ἑλέσθαι δέοι, τὴν ψυχὴν ἐξείλετο τὴν ἑαυτοῦ, κἂν ὁ προσέχων μηδεὶς ᾖ. Ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ ἰσχυρὰν παραμυθίαν ταύτην ἔχοντες, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς εἰς ἡμᾶς ἀμοιβῆς θαῤῥοῦντες, ὅταν ὑμῶν τὸ ἔργον ἴδωμεν μὴ προκόπτον, οὐδὲν ἄμεινον ἐκείνων διακείμεθα τῶν γεωργῶν τῶν στεναζόντων καὶ θρηνούντων, τῶν ἐγκαλυπτομένων καὶ αἰσχυνομένων. Τοῦτο γὰρ διδασκάλου συμπάθεια, τοῦτο κηδεμονία πατρός. Ἐπεὶ καὶ Μωϋσῆς, ἐξὸν αὐτῷ τῆς ἀγνωμοσύνης ἀπαλλαγῆναι τῆς Ἰουδαϊκῆς, καὶ λαμπροτέραν ἀρχὴν ἔθνους ἑτέρου λαβεῖν καὶ πολλῷ μείζονος: Ἔασον γάρ με, φησὶ, καὶ ἐξαλείψω αὐτοὺς, καὶ ποιήσω σε εἰς ἔθνος μέγα ἢ τοῦτο: ἐπειδὴ ἅγιος ἦν καὶ Θεοῦ δοῦλος, καὶ σφόδρα φίλος γνήσιος καὶ γενναῖος, οὐδὲ ἀκοῦσαι ταύτην ἠνέσχετο τὴν φωνὴν, ἀλλ' εἵλετο μᾶλλον ἀπολέσθαι μετὰ τῶν ἅπαξ κληρωθέντων αὐτῷ, ἢ χωρὶς ἐκείνων διασώζεσθαι, καὶ ἐν ἀξιώματι εἶναι μείζονι. Τοιοῦτον εἶναι χρὴ τὸν προεστῶτα ψυχῶν. Καὶ γὰρ ἄτοπον παῖδας μὲν ἔχοντά τινα φαύλους μὴ ἐθελῆσαι ἑτέρων κληθῆναι πατέρα, ἀλλὰ τῶν παρ' αὐτοῦ φύντων: μαθητὰς δὲ ἐγχειρισθέντας ἑτέρους ἐξ ἑτέρων ἀμείβειν ἀεὶ, καὶ νῦν μὲν τούτων, αὖθις δὲ ἐκείνων, καὶ μετὰ τούτων πάλιν ἄλλων προστασίαν ἡμᾶς ἁρπάζειν, πρὸς οὐδένα οἰκείως διακειμένους. Ἀλλὰ περὶ ὑμῶν μὴ γένοιτο ταῦτα ὑποπτεῦσαί ποτε. Πεποίθαμεν γὰρ, ὅτι μᾶλλον περισσεύετε ἐν τῇ πίστει τῇ εἰς τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν, καὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ εἰς ἀλλήλους καὶ εἰς πάντας. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγομεν βουλόμενοι τὴν σπουδὴν ἐπιταθῆναι τὴν ὑμετέραν, καὶ ἐπὶ μεῖζον ἐπιδοθῆναι τῆς πολιτείας ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρετήν. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ τῶν προκειμένων ἡμῖν λόγων εἰς αὐτὸ τὸ βάθος καταθεῖναι δυνήσεσθε τὰ νοήματα, ἂν μηδεμία πονηρίας λήμη τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἐπισκοτῇ τῆς διανοίας, καὶ τὸ διορατικὸν αὐτῆς καὶ ὀξὺ συνταράσσῃ. Τί ποτ' οὖν ἐστι τὸ προκείμενον ἡμῖν σήμερον; Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κέκραγε λέγων: Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. Πολύς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ εὐαγγελιστὴς ἄνω καὶ κάτω τὸν Ἰωάννην στρέφων, καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν αὐτοῦ πολλαχοῦ περιφέρων. Ποιεῖ δὲ οὐχ ἁπλῶς τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα συνετῶς. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ πολὺ τὸ θαῦμα εἶχον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τούτου πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι (καὶ γὰρ καὶ ὁ Ἰώσηπος τῇ τούτου τελευτῇ τὸν πόλεμον λογίζεται, δι' αὐτόν τε δείκνυσι μηδὲ πόλιν εἶναι τήν ποτε μητρόπολιν οὖσαν, καὶ μακροὺς συνείρει περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγους ἐγκωμίων): ἀπ' αὐτοῦ τοίνυν τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἐντρέψαι βουλόμενος, συνεχῶς αὐτοὺς ἀναμιμνήσκει τῆς τοῦ Προδρόμου μαρτυρίας. Καὶ οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι εὐαγγελισταὶ τῶν παλαιοτέρων μέμνηνται προφητῶν, καὶ καθ' ἕκαστον τῶν ἐπ' αὐτῷ γινομένων ἐκεῖ παραπέμπουσι τὸν ἀκροατὴν, καὶ ὅταν τίκτηται, λέγοντες: Τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἡσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος: Ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει, καὶ τέξεται υἱόν: καὶ ὅταν ἐπιβουλεύηται, καὶ πανταχόθεν οὕτως ἀκριβῶς ἀναζητῆται, ὡς καὶ τὴν ἄωρον ἡλικίαν σφάττεσθαι ὑπὸ Ἡρώδου, τὸν Ἱερεμίαν εἰς μέσον πόῤῥωθεν ἄγειν λέγοντα: Φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμᾶ ἠκούσθη, θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμὸς, καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολὺς, Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς: καὶ τοῦ Ὠσηὲ μεμνημένοι, ὅταν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου πάλιν ἀναβαίνῃ, Ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, λέγοντα καὶ αὐτὸν, ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου: καὶ πανταχοῦ τοῦτο ποιοῦσιν. Οὗτος δὲ τρανοτέραν τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἐργαζόμενος καὶ νεαρωτέραν, ἅτε καὶ μεγαλοφωνότερον τῶν ἄλλων φθεγξάμενος, οὐ τοὺς ἀπελθόντας, οὐδὲ τοὺς τετελευτηκότας μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ζῶντα καὶ παραγενόμενον ὑποδείξαντα καὶ βαπτίσαντα αὐτὸν, τοῦτον εἰς μέσον ἄγει συνεχῶς: οὐ τὸν Δεσπότην ἀπὸ τοῦ δούλου ποιῆσαι ἀξιόπιστον σπεύδων, ἀλλὰ τῇ τῶν ἀκροατῶν ἀσθενείᾳ συγκαταβαίνων. Ὥσπερ γὰρ εἰ μὴ τὴν τοῦ δούλου μορφὴν ἔλαβεν, οὐκ ἂν εὐπαράδεκτος γέγονεν: οὕτως εἰ μὴ τῇ τοῦ δούλου φωνῇ τὰς ἀκοὰς τῶν ὁμοδούλων προεγύμνασεν, οὐκ ἂν οἵ γε πολλοὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων τὸν λόγον ἐδέξαντο. βʹ. Πρὸς δὲ τούτῳ καὶ ἕτερον κατεσκευάζετο μέγα τι καὶ θαυμαστόν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ τὸ αὐτόν τινα περὶ ἑαυτοῦ μέγα τι λέγειν, ὕποπτον ποιεῖ τὴν μαρτυρίαν, καὶ προσίσταται πολλοῖς τῶν ἀκουόντων πολλάκις, ἕτερος περὶ αὐτοῦ παραγίνεται μαρτυρήσων. Χωρὶς δὲ τούτων, καὶ ὅτι εἰώθασί πως οἱ πολλοὶ πρὸς τὴν συνηθεστέραν καὶ σύντροφον αὐτοῖς ἐπιτρέχειν μᾶλλον φωνὴν, ἅτε αὐτὴν μᾶλλον τῶν ἄλλων ἐπιγινώσκοντες: διὰ δὴ τοῦτο ἡ μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γέγονεν ἅπαξ ἢ δὶς, ἡ δὲ τοῦ Ἰωάννου πολλάκις καὶ συνεχῶς. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀναβεβηκότες τοῦ λαοῦ τὴν ἀσθένειαν, καὶ τῶν αἰσθητῶν ἁπάντων ἀπαλλαγέντες, καὶ τῆς ἄνωθεν ἀκούειν ἠδύναντο φωνῆς, καὶ οὐ σφόδρα τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης ἐδέοντο, ἅτε ἐκείνῃ πάντα πειθόμενοι καὶ ὑπ' αὐτῆς ἤγοντο: οἱ δὲ ἔτι κάτω στρεφόμενοι καὶ πολλοῖς προκαλύμμασι συγκεκαλυμμένοι, τῆς ταπεινοτέρας ταύτης ἐδέοντο. Οὕτω γοῦν καὶ ὁ Ἰωάννης, ἐπειδὴ πάντοθεν ἑαυτὸν ἐγύμνωσε τῶν αἰσθητῶν, οὐκ ἐδεῖτο διδασκάλων ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐπαιδεύετο. Ὁ γὰρ πέμψας με βαπτίζειν, φησὶν, ἐν ὕδατι, ἐκεῖνός μοι εἶπεν: Ἐφ' ὃν ἂν ἴδῃς τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ καταβαῖνον, οὗτός ἐστιν. Οἱ δὲ ἔτι παῖδες Ἰουδαῖοι, καὶ πρὸς τὸ ὕψος ἐκεῖνο μηδέπω φθάσαι δυνάμενοι, ἄνθρωπον εἶχον διδάσκαλον, οὐ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ αὐτοῖς λέγοντα, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἄνωθεν ἀπαγγέλλοντα. Τί οὖν οὗτός φησιν; Αὐτὸς μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κέκραγε λέγων. Τί ἐστι τὸ, Κέκραγε; Μετὰ παῤῥησίας, φησὶ, μετὰ ἐλευθερίας, χωρὶς ὑποστολῆς ἁπάσης ἀνακηρύττει. Καὶ τί ἀνακηρύττει; τί δὲ μαρτυρεῖ καὶ κέκραγεν; Οὗτος ἦν, φησὶν, ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. Συνεσκιασμένη ἡ μαρτυρία, καὶ ἔτι πολὺ τὸ ταπεινὸν ἔχουσα. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ μονογενής: ἀλλὰ τί; Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. Καθάπερ γὰρ αἱ μητέρες τῶν ὀρνίθων τοὺς νεοττοὺς οὐκ εὐθέως οὐδὲ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τὴν πτῆσιν ἐκδιδάσκουσιν ἅπασαν, ἀλλὰ νῦν μὲν τοσοῦτον ἐξάγουσιν ὅσον ἔξω γενέσθαι τῆς καλιᾶς, νῦν δὲ αὐτοὺς ἀναπαύσασαι πρῶτον, προσβιβάζουσι τῇ πτήσει πάλιν, καὶ τῇ μετὰ ταύτην ἡμέρᾳ ἑτέραν πολλῷ πλείονα προστιθέασι, καὶ οὕτως ἠρέμα καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν ἐπὶ τὸ προσῆκον ἄγουσιν ὕψος: τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον καὶ ὁ μακάριος Ἰωάννης οὐκ εὐθέως ἐπὶ τὰ ὑψηλὰ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἤγαγεν, ἀλλὰ τέως μικρὸν τῆς γῆς ἀναπτῆναι ἐδίδαξεν, εἰπὼν, ὅτι αὐτοῦ κρείττων ἦν ὁ Χριστός. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδὲ τοῦτο μικρὸν ἦν τέως, τὸ τοὺς ἀκούοντας τοῦ οὕτω θαυμασίου, τοῦ Ἰωάννου λέγω, καὶ περιφανοῦς, καὶ πρὸς ὃν ἅπαντες ἔτρεχον, καὶ ὃν ἄγγελον ἐνόμιζον εἶναι, τὸν οὐδέπω φανέντα οὐδὲ θαυματουργήσαντα, δυνηθῆναι πιστεῦσαι κρείττονα εἶναι. Τέως οὖν τοῦτο κατορθῶσαι ἐσπούδαζεν ἐν ταῖς τῶν ἀκροατῶν διανοίαις, ὅτι τοῦ μαρτυροῦντος ὁ μαρτυρούμενος μείζων, τοῦ παραγενομένου πρώτου ὁ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐλθὼν, τοῦ δήλου καὶ περιφανοῦς ὁ μηδέπω φανείς. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς συνετῶς εἰσάγει τὴν μαρτυρίαν. Οὐ γὰρ φανέντα μόνον ἐπιδείκνυσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὶν ἢ φανῆναι ἀνακηρύττει. Τὸ γὰρ, Οὗτός ἐστιν ὃν εἶπον, τοῦτο δηλοῦντός ἐστιν: ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ Ματθαῖος λέγει, ὅτι πάντων ἐρχομένων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλεγεν: Ἐγὼ μὲν ὑμᾶς βαπτίζω ἐν ὕδατι: ὁ δὲ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἰσχυρότερός μου ἐστὶν, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τοῦ ὑποδήματος. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν καὶ πρὸ τοῦ φανῆναι τοῦτο ἐποίησεν; Ἵνα εὐπαράδεκτος ἡ μαρτυρία γένηται φανέντος, τῆς διανοίας ἤδη τῶν ἀκουσάντων προκατασχεθείσης τοῖς περὶ αὐτοῦ λεχθεῖσι, καὶ μηδὲν τῆς εὐτελοῦς περιβολῆς λυμαινομένης αὐτῇ. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ μηδὲν μηδ' ὅλως ἀκούσαντες εἶδον τὸν Χριστὸν αὐτὸν, καὶ ὁμοῦ μετὰ τῆς θέας καὶ τὴν τῶν λόγων μαρτυρίαν ἐδέξαντο τὴν οὕτω θαυμαστὴν καὶ μεγάλην, εὐθέως ἂν τὸ τοῦ σχήματος εὐτελὲς προσέστη τῷ μεγέθει τῶν λεγομένων. Οὕτω γὰρ εὐτελὲς περιέκειτο σχῆμα καὶ κοινὸν ἅπασιν ὁ Χριστὸς, ὡς καὶ Σαμαρείτιδας γυναῖκας, καὶ πόρνας, καὶ τελώνας μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἀδείας θαῤῥεῖν αὐτῷ προσιέναι καὶ διαλέγεσθαι. γʹ. Ὅπερ οὖν ἔφην, εἰ ὁμοῦ καὶ τῶν ῥημάτων τούτων ἤκουσαν, καὶ αὐτὸν ἐθεάσαντο, κἂν κατεγέλασαν τῆς μαρτυρίας τοῦ Ἰωάννου. Νῦν δὲ πρὶν ἢ φανῆναι τὸν Χριστὸν πολλάκις ἀκούοντες, καὶ ἐρεθιζόμενοι τοῖς λεγομένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ, τοὐναντίον ἔπασχον, οὐ τὴν τῶν ῥημάτων διδασκαλίαν ἀπὸ τῆς ὄψεως τοῦ μαρτυρηθέντος ἐκβάλλοντες, ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως τῶν ἤδη λεχθέντων καὶ αὐτὸν λαμπρότερον εἶναι νομίζοντες. Τὸ δὲ, Ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ὁ μετ' ἐμὲ κηρύσσων, οὐχ ὁ μετ' ἐμὲ γενόμενός ἐστι. Τοῦτο γοῦν καὶ ὁ Ματθαῖος αἰνίττεται λέγων, Ὀπίσω μου ἔρχεται ἀνήρ: οὐ περὶ τῆς ἐκ Μαρίας γεννήσεως αὐτοῦ λέγων, ἀλλὰ περὶ τῆς παρουσίας τῆς κατὰ τὸ κήρυγμα. Εἰ γὰρ περὶ τῆς γεννήσεως ἔλεγεν, οὐκ ἂν εἶπεν, Ἔρχεται, ἀλλ', Ἦλθε: γεγεννημένος γὰρ ἦν ὅτε ταῦτα ἐλέγετο. Τί οὖν ἐστι τὸ, Ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονε; Λαμπρότερος, ἐντιμότερος. Μὴ γὰρ, ἐπειδὴ πρῶτος ἦλθον κηρύττων ἐγὼ, ἀπὸ τούτου μείζονα ἐκείνου με εἶναι νομίσητε: πολὺ γὰρ ἐλάττων ἐγὼ, καὶ τοσοῦτον ἐλάττων, ὡς μηδὲ εἰς δούλου τάξιν ἄξιος εἶναι καταλέγεσθαι. Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ, Ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν: ὅπερ ἑτέρως παραδηλῶν ὁ Ματθαῖος, ἔλεγεν. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τοῦ ὑποδήματος αὐτοῦ. Ὅτι δὲ οὐδὲ τὸ, Ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονε, περὶ τῆς εἰς τὸ εἶναι παρόδου εἴρηται, διὰ τῆς ἐπαγωγῆς δῆλόν ἐστιν. Εἰ γὰρ τοῦτο ἐβούλετο εἰπεῖν, περιττὸν τὸ ἐπαγόμενον ἦν τὸ, Ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. Τίς γὰρ οὕτως ἠλίθιος καὶ ἀνόητος, ὡς ἀγνοῆσαι ὅτι ὁ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ γενόμενος, πρῶτος αὐτοῦ ἦν; Εἰ γὰρ περὶ ὑπάρξεως τῆς προαιωνίου, οὐδὲν ἕτερόν ἐστι τὸ λεγόμενον, ἀλλ' ἢ, ὅτι Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν. Ἄλλως δὲ καὶ ἀπερινόητον τὸ τοιοῦτον, καὶ ἡ αἰτία εἰκῆ προσέῤῥιπται. Τοὐναντίον γὰρ, εἰ τοῦτο ἐβούλετο δηλῶσαι, ἐχρῆν εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος, πρῶτός μου ἦν, ἐπειδὴ καὶ ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονε. Τοῦ μὲν γὰρ πρῶτον εἶναι εἰκότως ἄν τις ταύτην δοίη τὴν αἰτίαν τὴν τοῦ γενέσθαι: τοῦ δὲ πρῶτον γενέσθαι, οὐκ ἔτι τὸ πρῶτον εἶναι αἴτιον. Ὃ δὲ ἡμεῖς λέγομεν σφόδρα ἂν ἔχοι λόγον. Ἴστε γὰρ δήπου τοῦτο πάντες, ὅτι οὐ τὰ δῆλα, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἄδηλα ἀεὶ αἰτιολογίας δεῖται. Εἰ δὲ περὶ οὐσιώσεως ὁ λόγος ἦν, οὐκ ἦν ἄδηλον, ὅτι πρῶτον γενόμενον πρῶτον ἔδει εἶναι: ἐπειδὴ δὲ περὶ τιμῆς διαλέγεται, εἰκότως τὴν δοκοῦσαν ἀπορίαν εἶναι λύει. Καὶ γὰρ εἰκὸς ἦν πολλοὺς ἀπορεῖν, πόθεν καὶ ἐκ ποίας προφάσεως ὁ ὕστερον ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθεν γέγονε: τουτέστιν, ἐντιμότερος ἐφάνη. Ταύτης τοίνυν τῆς ζητήσεως τίθησιν εὐθέως τὴν αἰτίαν: ἡ δὲ αἰτία, τὸ πρῶτον εἶναι αὐτόν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔκ τινος, φησὶ, προκοπῆς πρῶτόν με ὄντα ὀπίσω ῥίψας ἔμπροσθεν γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ Πρῶτός μου ἦν, εἰ καὶ ὕστερος παραγίνεται. Καὶ πῶς, φησὶν, εἰ περὶ τῆς ἐκφάνσεως τῆς εἰς ἀνθρώπους ἦν, καὶ τῆς μελλούσης ἕψεσθαι παρ' αὐτῶν δόξης ὁ λόγος, τὸ μηδέπω τέλος εἰληφὸς ὡς ἤδη γεγενημένον λέγει; οὐ γὰρ εἶπε, Γενήσεται, ἀλλὰ, Γέγονεν. Ὅτι ἔθος τοῦτο τοῖς προφητεύουσιν ἄνωθέν ἐστιν, ὡς περὶ γεγενημένων πολλαχοῦ περὶ τῶν μελλόντων διαλέγεσθαι. Ὁ γοῦν Ἡσαΐας περὶ τῆς σφαγῆς αὐτοῦ λέγων, οὐκ εἶπεν, Ὡς πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἀχθήσεται, ὅπερ ἦν μέλλοντος: ἀλλ', Ὡς πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἤχθη: καίτοι οὐδέπω σαρκωθεὶς ἦν, ἀλλ' ὅμως τὸ ἐσόμενον ὁ Προφήτης ὡς γεγενημένον λέγει. Καὶ ὁ Δαυῒδ τὸν σταυρὸν δηλῶν, οὐκ εἶπεν, Ὀρύξουσι χεῖράς μου καὶ πόδας: ἀλλ', Ὤρυξαν χεῖράς μου καὶ πόδας: καὶ, Διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον. Καὶ περὶ τοῦ προδότου διαλεγόμενος τοῦ μηδέπω γεννηθέντος, οὕτω πώς φησιν: Ὁ ἐσθίων ἄρτους μου, ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπ' ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν. Ὁμοίως καὶ περὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ γενομένων λέγει: Ἔδωκαν εἰς τὸ βρῶμά μου χολὴν, καὶ εἰς τὴν δίψαν μου ἐπότισάν με ὄξος. δʹ. Βούλεσθε καὶ τὸ ἑξῆς ἐπαγάγωμεν, ἢ καὶ ταῦτα ἀπόχρη; Ἔγωγε οἶμαι. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ μὴ κατὰ πλάτος διωρύξαμεν τὸ χωρίον, ὅμως γ' οὖν κατὰ βάθος διεσκάψαμεν: οὐκ ἐλάττονα δὲ καὶ τοῦτο ἐκείνου πόνον ἔχει: καὶ δεδοίκαμεν μὴ κατατείναντες ὑμᾶς ἀμέτρως, ποιήσωμεν ἀναπεσεῖν. Διὸ τέλος ἐπιθῶμεν τῷ λόγῳ τὸ προσῆκον. Ποῖον δέ ἐστι τὸ προσῆκον; Δοξολογία ἡ πρέπουσα τῷ Θεῷ: πρέπει δὲ οὐχ ἡ διὰ τῶν ῥημάτων μόνον, ἀλλὰ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡ διὰ τῶν πραγμάτων. Λαμψάτω γὰρ ὑμῶν τὸ φῶς, φησὶν, ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἵνα ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα, καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν Πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲν φωτεινότερον τῆς ἀρίστης πολιτείας, ἀγαπητέ. Τοῦτο δηλῶν καί τίς φησι τῶν σοφῶν: Αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν δικαίων ὁμοίως φωτὶ λάμπουσι. Λάμπουσι δὲ οὐκ αὐτοῖς μόνον τοῖς τὸ φῶς ἀνάπτουσι διὰ τῶν ἔργων, καὶ ὁδηγοῦσι πρὸς τὴν ὀρθὴν ὁδὸν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς πλησίον οὖσιν ἐκείνων. Ἐκχέωμεν τοίνυν τὸ ἔλαιον ταῖς λαμπάσι ταύταις, ὥστε μετεωρότερον γενέσθαι τὸ πῦρ, ὥστε πλούσιον φανῆναι τὸ φῶς. Τὸ γὰρ ἔλαιον τοῦτο οὐ νῦν μόνον πολλὴν ἔχει τὴν ἰσχύν: ἀλλ' ὅτε καὶ αἱ θυσίαι ἤνθουν, παρευδοκίμησε πολλῷ τῷ τρόπῳ τὴν ἐκείνων δύναμιν: Ἔλεον γὰρ, φησὶ, θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν καὶ μάλα εἰκότως. Ἐκεῖνο μὲν γὰρ ἄψυχον τὸ θυσιαστήριον, τοῦτο δὲ ἔμψυχον: κἀκεῖ μὲν τὸ ἐπικείμενον ἅπαν τοῦ πυρὸς γίνεται δαπάνη, καὶ τελευτᾷ εἰς κόνιν, καὶ διαχεῖται εἰς τέφραν, καὶ εἰς τὴν τοῦ ἀέρος ὁ καπνὸς ἀναλύεται φύσιν: ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον: ἀλλ' ἑτέρους φέρει τοὺς καρπούς. Καὶ ταῦτα ὁ Παῦλος ἐδήλωσε λέγων (τῆς γὰρ φιλοπτωχίας τῶν Κορινθίων τοὺς θησαυροὺς διηγούμενος, οὕτως ἔγραφεν): Ὅτι ἡ διακονία τῆς λειτουργίας ταύτης οὐ μόνον ἐστὶ προσαναπληροῦσα τὰ ὑστερήματα τῶν ἁγίων, ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσεύουσα διὰ πολλῶν εὐχαριστιῶν τῷ Θεῷ: καὶ πάλιν, Δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ τῇ ὑποταγῇ τῆς ὁμολογίας ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον, καὶ ἁπλότητι τῆς κοινωνίας τῆς εἰς αὐτοὺς καὶ εἰς πάντας, καὶ τῇ αὐτῶν δεήσει ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐπιποθούντων ὑμᾶς. Ὁρᾷς εἰς εὐχαριστίαν ἀναλυομένην αὐτὴν, καὶ αἶνον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ συνεχεῖς εὐχὰς τῶν εὖ παθόντων, καὶ θερμοτέραν ἀγάπην; Θύωμεν τοίνυν, ἀγαπητοὶ, θύωμεν εἰς ταῦτα τὰ θυσιαστήρια καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν. Αὕτη γὰρ καὶ εὐχῆς καὶ νηστείας καὶ πολλῶν ἑτέρων ἐστὶ μείζων ἡ θυσία: μόνον ἂν ἐκ δικαίου κέρδους καὶ πόνων τοιούτων, καὶ πάσης ᾖ καθαρὰ πλεονεξίας καὶ ἁρπαγῆς καὶ βίας. Τοιαύτας γὰρ προσίεται προσφορὰς ὁ Θεὸς, τὰς ἑτέρας καὶ ἀποστρέφεται καὶ μισεῖ. Οὐδὲ γὰρ βούλεται ἐξ ἀλλοτρίων τιμᾶσθαι συμφορῶν. Ἀκάθαρτος γὰρ καὶ βέβηλος ἡ τοιαύτη θυσία, καὶ παροξύνειεν ἂν μᾶλλον, ἢ ἐξιλεώσειε τὸν Θεόν. Διὸ πάσῃ δεῖ κεχρῆσθαι σπουδῇ, ὥστε μὴ ἐν τάξει θεραπείας τὸν τιμώμενον ἐξυβρίζειν. Εἰ γὰρ τὰ δευτερεῖα προσενεγκὼν ὁ Κάϊν, καὶ ταῦτα οὐδὲ ἠδικηκὼς ἕτερον, ἔδωκε δίκην τὴν ἐσχάτην, ὅταν καὶ ἐξ ἁρπαγῆς καὶ πλεονεξίας προσφέρωμέν τι, πῶς οὐ πεισόμεθα χαλεπώτερα; Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ τὸ εἶδος τῆς ἐντολῆς ταύτης ὑπέδειξεν ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς, ἵνα ἐλεῶμεν, οὐχ ἵνα κολάζωμεν τοὺς ὁμοδούλους. Ὁ δὲ τὰ ἑτέρων λαμβάνων, καὶ ἑτέρῳ διδοὺς, οὐκ ἠλέησεν, ἀλλ' ἐτιμωρήσατο, καὶ ἠδίκησεν ἀδικίαν τὴν ἐσχάτην. Ὥσπερ οὖν ἔλαιον οὐκ ἂν τέκοι λίθος, οὕτως οὐδὲ ἀπήνεια φιλανθρωπίαν. Ὅταν γὰρ τοιαύτην ἔχῃ ῥίζαν, οὐκ ἔτι ἐλεημοσύνη τὸ τοιοῦτόν ἐστι. Διὸ παρακαλῶ μὴ πρὸς τοῦτο ὁρᾷν μόνον, ὅπως παρέχωμεν τοῖς δεομένοις, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅπως μὴ ἐκ τῆς τῶν ἑτέρων ἁρπαγῆς. Εἷς γὰρ εὐχόμενος, καὶ εἷς καταρώμενος, τίνος φωνῆς ἀκούσεται ὁ Δεσπότης; Ἂν οὕτως ἑαυτοὺς μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἄγωμεν, δυνησόμεθα τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριτι πολλῆς φιλανθρωπίας καὶ ἐλέους καὶ συγγνώμης τυχεῖν ἐφ' οἷς ἡμάρτομεν πάντα τὸν μακρὸν τοῦτον χρόνον, καὶ τὸν τοῦ πυρὸς ποταμὸν ἐκφυγεῖν: οὗ γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἀπαλλαγέντας, εἰς τὴν τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνελθεῖν βασιλείαν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ καὶ μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἡ δόξα, ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.