Discourses on the Epistle to the Ephesians

“Conversations on the Epistle to the Ephesians” (24 discourses) delivered by St. John Chrysostom in Constantinople around 402-404. St. John talks about unity and division in the Church. In conversation 10, he notes that the Church, like the human body, consists of different members, some of which are of greater dignity and others of lesser dignity, some are located above in heaven, others below on earth. As “a house built for our souls,” the Church contains within itself, like animated stones, many people who differ in ecclesiastical status and dignity. Discourse 11 says that the unity of the Church is reflected, first of all, in the unity of its faith. The main reason for church schisms is covetousness and love for strife - nothing more than “the slaughter of Christ Himself and cutting Him into pieces.” The 20th conversation contains teaching on Christian marriage. The marital union becomes a symbol of our unity with Christ: “a home is a small church.” St. John speaks of the Church as the Bride of Christ, whom He cleansed from all filth of vice and united with Himself in a mystical marriage. The saint refutes the Manichaeans (Conversation 4) and the heretical teaching about matter (Conversation 23), speaks against belief in fate and the transmigration of souls (Conversation 12), speaks about suffering for Christ (Conversation 8), about holiness (Conversation 1), about the meaning of preaching (Conversation 2), about the Eucharist (Conversation 3). He touches on such topics as the Kingdom of Heaven (Conversations 3,4), sin and virtue (Conversations 2,10,13,16,22), monasticism and virginity (Conversation 13), mercy (Conversation 4), love (Conversations 7,9), the correct disposal of wealth (Conversations 21,23), etc. *The title of the work in Greek is ῾Υπόμνημα εἰς τὴν πρὸς ᾿Εφεσίους ἐπιστολήν. *The title of the work in Latin is In epistulam ad Ephesios argumentum et homiliae 1-24. Conversation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Preface to Ephesians Ephesus is the main city of (Asia Minor). It was dedicated to Artemis, where she enjoyed special respect as the highest goddess. And the reverence of her admirers for her was so great that they did not want to discover the name of the one who burned her church; and he was burned. Blessed John the Evangelist lived here for a long time, was exiled here (in captivity), and died here. The Apostle Paul here left behind Timothy, as he says in his letter to him: “I asked you to remain in Ephesus” (1 Tim. 1:3). There were also many philosophers here, especially those famous in Asia. They say that Pythagoras was also here, because Samos, where he came from, was an Ionian island. The same can be said about Parmenides, Zeno and Democritus; and even now you can still find many philosophers there. We note this not without a purpose, but to show that Paul needed a lot of care when he wrote his letter to them (the Ephesians). They say that when he still (orally) announced to them, he had already entrusted them with the deepest truths (of faith). At least the message itself is full of sublime contemplations and dogmas. It was written from Rome, where (Paul) was in prison, as he himself says: “Pray... for me, that the word may be given to me—with my mouth openly and boldly proclaiming the mystery of the gospel, for which I am carrying out the mission in prison” (Eph. 6:18–20). It is filled with very sublime and immense contemplations; in it he explains what he almost never said anywhere, for example, when he says: “so that the manifold wisdom of God may now be made known through the church to the rulers and powers in the heavens” (Eph. 3:10); and in another place: “and raise us up with Him, and seat us in the heavens” (Eph. 2:5–6); and again: “Which was not made known to the former generations of the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit, so that the Gentiles also might be fellow heirs, forming one body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 3:5-6). You might be interested in: