Anger in Homiletic Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom. The Analysis of Homilies on Matthew

Abstract

The article is a case study of Saint John Chrysostom’s teaching on anger in his Homilies on Matthew. The author discusses only the wrath of a man, the question of God’s anger as a dif-ferent research problem was omitted. Saint John Chrysostom uses two Greek nouns while describing anger: ἡ ὀργή and ὁ θυμός, which are used as synonyms without distinguishing any semantic differences between them. The preacher does not give a definition of anger, but describes it as a passion (τὸ πάθος) and places it among other flaws – according to Plato’s classification – to passion of the spiritual part of soul (thymoeides). He also describes anger as an illness, and by personalizing it, he says that anger is the devil. The preacher specifies many reasons for anger (jealousy, power, situation of a threat, tardiness, and devil’s action). He also says about the fatal effects of anger, which above all destroys human relations, harms spirituality, and leads to more serious misdemeanors (i.e. perjury, enmity, insult, fist-icuff, and even murder). Because of that Chrysostom points out anger prohibition expressed by Christ and Saint Paul, as well as the necessity of combating anger, which is a crucial element of the Christian self-improvement. These efforts give spiritual fruits in the form of peace of heart and absolution of sins. The final part of the article represents an issue of justified anger which is not prohibited but also advisable against sinners to improve their actions.