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homilies of St. John
Chrysostom,
archbishop of
constantinople,
on the
first epistle of St. paul the
apostle
to
Timothy.
————————————
Argument.
1. Timothy too1080
| 1080 καί. The reference
is not clear. It may possibly be to Titus, whom he presently names
before Timothy; but the explanations that follow would be hardly needed
in that case. | was one of the
disciples of the Apostle Paul. To the extraordinary qualities of this
youth testimony is borne by Luke, who informs us, that he was
“well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and
Iconium.” (Acts xvi. 2.) He became at once a
disciple and a teacher, and gave this singular instance of his
prudence, that hearing Paul preach without insisting upon circumcision,
and understanding that he had formerly withstood Peter upon that point,
he chose not only not to preach against it, but to submit to that rite.
For Paul, it is said, “took and circumcised him”
(Acts
xvi. 3.), though he was of adult age, and so trusted him with his whole
economy.1081
| 1081 i.e. his plan of meeting Jewish prejudices. |
The affection of Paul for him is
a sufficient evidence of his character. For he elsewhere says of him,
“Ye know the proof of him, that as a son with a father, he hath
served with me in the Gospel.” (Philip. ii.
22.)
And to the Corinthians again he writes: “I have sent unto you
Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord.”
(1
Cor. iv. 17.) And again: “Let no man despise him, for he worketh
the work of the Lord, as I also do.” (1 Cor. xvi. 10,
11.)
And to the Hebrews he writes, “Know that our brother Timothy is
set at liberty.” (Heb. xiii. 23.) Indeed his love
for him is everywhere apparent, and the miracles1082
that are now wrought still attest his
claims.1083
2. If it should be asked why he
addresses Epistles to Titus and Timothy alone, though Silas was
approved, as also was Luke, for he writes, “Only Luke is with
me” (2 Tim. iv. 11.), and Clement was one
of his associates, of whom he says, “with Clement and other my
fellow-laborers” (Philip. iv. 3.), for what
reason then does he write only to Titus and Timothy? It is because he
had already committed the care of churches to these, and certain
marked1084
| 1084 Or
conspicuous φανεροῖς. | places had been assigned to them,
but the others were in attendance upon him. For so preëminent in
virtue was Timothy, that his youth was no impediment to his promotion;
therefore he writes, “Let no man despise thy youth”
(1
Tim. iv. 12; and v. 2.); and again,
“The younger women as sisters.”1085
| 1085 Some copies omit the latter quotation. |
For where there is virtue, all other things are superfluous, and there
can be no impediment. Therefore when the Apostle discourses of Bishops,
among the many things he requires of them, he makes no particular
mention of age. And if he speaks of a Bishop “being the husband
of one wife,” and “having his children in subjection”
(1
Tim. iii. 2; 4.), this is not said, as if it were necessary he should have
a wife and children; but that if any should happen from a secular life to
be advanced to that office, they might be such as knew how to preside
over their household and children, and all others committed to them.
For if a man were both secular and deficient in these points, how
should he be1086
| 1086 So
Sav. Ben. have been. | intrusted with the care of the
Church?
3. But why, you will say, does
he address an Epistle to a disciple already appointed to the office of
a Teacher? Ought he not to have been made perfect for his office,
before he was sent? Yes; but the instruction which he needed was not
that which was suited to a disciple, but that which was proper for a
Teacher. You will perceive him therefore through the whole Epistle
adapting his instructions to a Teacher. Thus at the very beginning he
does not say, “Do not attend to those who teach otherwise,”
but, “Charge them that they teach no other doctrine.”
(1
Tim. i. 3.) E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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