Introduction to Historical Theology: John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom (347-407) was the bishop of Constantinople and claimed by some to be one of the greatest (if not the greatest) preacher in the early church. Many of his writings are sermons, homilies, and treatises on Christian life written with rhetorical and literary traditions based on Greek culture. John Chrysostom was born in Antioch to a fairly well-educated family and became bishop in 398. He was influenced by monks and even after his pastoral career (beginning in 381), believed that solitary life was the highest degree of Christian life and devotion. John Chrysostom preached against a sect of Arians in the city of Antioch where he ministered as a presbyter and participating in Jewish rites which were very prevalent in the city. As bishop, John Chrysostom dealt more with politics than pastoral ministry and overstepped his boundaries by removing bishops from office in Ephesus which was outside his jurisdiction. As a result of this, he was eventually exiled in a rouse to a village in the Black Sea (but received much support from the Christian community) and lived out his final years in exile there[1].