Homilies on Ephesians

St. John Chrysostom (c. 349 - c. 407)
Translated by Gross Alexander

From The Argument:
“Ephesus is the metropolis of Asia. It was dedicated to Diana, whom especially they worshipped there as their great goddess. Indeed so great was the superstition of her worshippers, that when her temple was burnt, they would not so much as divulge the name of the man who burnt it. The blessed John the Evangelist spent the chief part of his time there: he was there when he was banished and there he died. It was there too that Paul left Timothy, as he says in writing to him, “As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus.”

“Most of the philosophers also, those more particularly who flourished in Asia, were there; and even Pythagoras himself is said to have come from thence; perhaps because Samos, whence he really came, is an island of Ionia. It was the resort also of the disciples of Parmenides, and Zeno, and Democritus, and you may see a number of philosophers there even to the present day.

“These facts I mention, not merely as such, but with a view of showing that Paul would needs take great pains and trouble in writing to these Ephesians. He is said indeed to have entrusted them, as being persons already well-instructed, with his profoundest conceptions; and the Epistle itself is full of sublime thoughts and doctrines.

“He wrote the Epistle from Rome, and, as he himself informs us, in bonds. “Pray for me, that utterance may be given unto me, in opening my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.” It abounds with sentiments of overwhelming loftiness and grandeur. Thoughts which he scarcely so much as utters any where else, he here plainly declares; as when he says, “To the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God.” And again; “He raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in heavenly places.” And again; “Which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ.”” (St John Chrysostom)

Genre(s): Christianity - Commentary

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 The Argument A LibriVox Volunteer
00:03:28
Play 01 Homily 1: Eph 1:1-10 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:31:55
Play 02 Homily 2: Eph 1:11-14 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:29:57
Play 03 Homily 3: Eph 1:15-22 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:39:23
Play 04 Homily 4: Eph 2:1-10 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:33:13
Play 05 Homily 5: Eph 2:11-16 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:27:51
Play 06 Homily 6: Eph 2:17-3:7 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:31:27
Play 07 Homily 7: Eph 3:8-21 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:30:56
Play 08 Homily 8, part 1: Eph 4:1-2 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:47:41
Play 09 Homily 8, part 2 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:22:08
Play 10 Homily 9: Eph 4:1-3 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:28:01
Play 11 Homily 10: Eph 4:4-5 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:22:36
Play 12 Homily 11, part 1: Eph 4:4-16 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:25:20
Play 13 Homily 11, part 2 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:15:34
Play 14 Homily 12: Eph 4:17 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:22:04
Play 15 Homily 13: Eph 4:17-24 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:31:47
Play 16 Homily 14: Eph 4:25-30 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:27:20
Play 17 Homily 15: Eph 4:31 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:26:56
Play 18 Homily 16: Eph 4:31-32 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:20:14
Play 19 Homily 17: Eph 4:32-5:4 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:23:30
Play 20 Homily 18: Eph 5:5-14 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:29:22
Play 21 Homily 19, part 1: Eph 5:15-21 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:29:03
Play 22 Homily 19, part 2 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:09:00
Play 23 Homily 20, part 1: Eph 5:22-33 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:18:45
Play 24 Homily 20, part 2 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:19:54
Play 25 Homily 20, part 3 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:27:46
Play 26 Homily 21: Eph 6:1-4 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:28:31
Play 27 Homily 22, part 1: Eph 6:5-13 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:23:56
Play 28 Homily 22, part 2 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:16:00
Play 29 Homily 23: Eph 6:14 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:21:55
Play 30 Homily 24: Eph 6:14-24 A LibriVox Volunteer
00:36:19