John Chrysostom’s Commentary on the Collection for Jerusalem in Rom 15:25–32

Agus Widodo

Sanata Dharma University , Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2532-0740

Antonius Galih Arga Wiwin Aryanto

Sanata Dharma University , Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5974-1725


Abstract

John Chrysostom (349–407) provides the most comprehensive commentary on the Pauline epistles from the patristic era. During his priestly mission in Antioch (386–397) and his episcopate in Constantinople (398–403), he wrote over 200 homiletic commentaries on the entire Pauline episto­lary body of work. This research attempts to analyze how Chrysostom interprets Paul’s verses concern­ing the collection and uses them to organize and transform the ecclesial groups into communities of love, particularly paying attention to the poor. The study focuses on the works of John Chrysostom on Rom 15:25–29. Based on his interpretation, the status of debtors in the spiritual blessings is the main reason why the Romans had to be more earnest in almsgiving, imitating the Macedonians and the Achae­ans who had helped the community in Jerusalem. He also encourages them to reform their lives, cutting off the superfluities, luxurious lifestyles, and bad attitudes in squandering money on other selfish needs. At the same time, he stirrers them up to meet their needs moderately, which meant using only the goods that are truly necessary for a healthy and dignified life so that they would always have something to share with the poor.

Keywords:

John Chrysostom, collection, Romans, almsgiving, Jerusalem Church

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Published
2022-06-10


Widodo, A., & Aryanto, A. G. A. W. (2022). John Chrysostom’s Commentary on the Collection for Jerusalem in Rom 15:25–32. Verbum Vitae, 40(2), 551–573. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.13642

Agus Widodo 
Sanata Dharma University

Agus Widodo is a diocesan Priest. He got his doctoral degree in Theology and Patristic Sciences at Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, Pontifical University of Lateran, Rome in 2021. His doctoral research focuses on the work of John Chrysostom.  

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2532-0740
Antonius Galih Arga Wiwin Aryanto  galiharga@usd.ac.id
Sanata Dharma University

Antonius Galih Arga W. Aryanto is teaching New Testament classes at Sanata Dharma University. He earned his Sacred Theology Doctoral in biblical Study at Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University, USA. His area of studies include Pauline letters and Sinoptic Gospel. 

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5974-1725



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