THE WORKS OF OUR HOLY FATHER JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Volume IX

Book 2

Discourses on the Epistle to the Romans

PREFACE. Disasters that arise from ignorance of the Scriptures. - Paul's Epistles in order of time. - Motivation to write.

FIRST DISCOURSE to Rom. 1:1-2. Sanctification from love. - Dignity acquired for money is not dignity in the proper sense.

SECOND DISCOURSE to Rom. 1:8. When to give thanks to God. - Grace does not exclude the reward of acting of one's own free will. - Paul's modesty. - There is no need to investigate the reasons for the divine commands.

THIRD DISCOURSE to Rom. 1:18. Errors are manifold, the truth is one. - Nature itself preaches the Creator. - Against pagan philosophers. - Offenses are useful to him who bears them patiently.

FOURTH DISCOURSE to Rom. 1:26-27. Unnatural desires are the most serious sin. - The misuse of wealth is disastrous.

FIFTH DISCOURSE to Rom. 1:28. On the punishments for sins. - On the resurrection of bodies. - One must fear the future judgment. - To offend God is harder than to be punished.

SIXTH DISCOURSE to Rom. 2:17-18. Which circumcision, moral or carnal, is more effective? - Predation and covetousness are tantamount to idolatry.

SEVENTH DISCOURSE to Rom. 3:9-19. On justification apart from the law. - God's Providence extends to everyone. - Love is the mother of all good things. - Envy is more disastrous than any war. - It is not the abundance of the gift that is important, but the mood that accompanies it. - What inheritance should be left to children. - Good use of wealth.

DISCOURSE EIGHT to Rom. 4:1-2. The importance and necessity of faith. - Abraham believed beyond the hope of man with the hope of God. - The Great Power of Faith. "We must prefer love to all signs.

NINTH DISCOURSE to Rom. 4:23-24. Proof of Christ's resurrection. - Podvig for Christ gives pleasure. - The gift of the Holy Spirit is the greatest good. - There is no evil for a sinner to be punished. - One must endure sorrows, giving praise to the Lord.

TENTH DISCOURSE to Rom. 5:12. Righteousness is the root of life. - Sin has increased as a result of the law. - Sin weakens the soul. - What kind of love Christ demands of us. - Suffering for Christ is of the greatest benefit.

DISCOURSE ELEVEN to Rom. 6: 5. Different kinds of death. - The harm of greed.

DISCOURSE TWELFTH to Rom. 6:19. The perfection of the Christian life. - What is natural is not subject to cancellation. - Vice ends in death, virtue ends in life. - The evil of covetousness. - How to eradicate vices. "It depends on us not to suffer evil.

DISCOURSE THIRTEEN to Rom. 7:14. On the renewal by the grace of the Spirit. - Where the Spirit is, there is Christ. - It is necessary to mortify the body in the sense of inclinations to evil deeds. - He who is subject to sins does not live. - Against drunkenness and addiction to money.

DISCOURSE FOURTEEN to Rom. 8:12-13. Urges to spiritual life. - The spirit of adoption. - Reliability of retribution. - Grace accompanies and helps in labors and dangers. - You need to be merciful. - The greatness of the future life in comparison with the royal splendor.

DISCOURSE FIFTEENTH to Rom. 8:28. An abundance of grace-filled gifts. - Election is a sign of virtue. - There is no need to be afraid of temptations. - Paul's love for Christ. - Commitment to earthly things is incompatible with love for Christ. - Alms are required by love for Christ.