The counsel against despair : a study in John Chrysostom's ethics
Christian ethics are ecclesial. The aim of this study is to sustain this conviction in the case of St John Chrysostom. The pastoral concern ~The Counsel against Despair~ provides the interpretative key to his ethics. The full spectrum of his works, most of which are homilies, are examined in this study. The thesis begins with an account of the wider theological issues involved. This is particularly necessary because pastoral ministry has generally been regarded as peripheral to theology proper, and homiletical material has usually been dismissed as an improper source for understanding patristic ethics. In the main body of the thesis, the problem of despair is situated in Chrysostom's overall theological vision. The intrinsic connection of ethics to ecclesiology is explored through an analysis of the pivotal role which a community in mutual consolation and exhortation plays in the overcoming of moral impotence and moral confusion. The implications for the moral commitments of an individual are also examined. Attention is given throughout the analysis to the crucial points of departure between Chrysostom and those among his predecessors and contemporaries who maintain a more rational and volitional interpretation
Poon, Michael Nai-Chiu
Ethics ; Christian ethics ; History ; Early church, ca. 30-600
The counsel against despair : a study in John Chrysostom's ethics. Christian ethics are ecclesial. The aim of this study is to sustain this conviction in the case of St John Chrysostom. The pastoral concern ~The Counsel against Despair~ provides the interpretative key to his ethics. The full spectrum of his works, most of which are homilies, are examined in this study. The thesis begins with an account of the wider theological issues involved. This is particularly necessary because pastoral ministry has generally been regarded as peripheral to theology proper, and homiletical material has usually been dismissed as an improper source for understanding patristic ethics. In the main body of the thesis, the problem of despair is situated in Chrysostom's overall theological vision. The intrinsic connection of ethics to ecclesiology is explored through an analysis of the pivotal role which a community in mutual consolation and exhortation plays in the overcoming of moral impotence and moral confusion. The implications for the moral commitments of an individual are also examined. Attention is given throughout the analysis to the crucial points of departure between Chrysostom and those among his predecessors and contemporaries who maintain a more rational and volitional interpretation
counsel despair study john ethic christian_ethic ecclesial aim_study sustain conviction case john pastoral concern the counsel despair provide interpretative key ethic full_spectrum work homily examine study begin account wide theological_issue involve particularly necessary pastoral ministry generally_regard peripheral theology proper material usually dismiss improper source patristic ethic main_body problem despair situate overall theological vision intrinsic connection ethic ecclesiology explore analysis pivotal_role community mutual exhortation play overcome moral moral confusion implication moral_commitment individual also_examine attention_give throughout analysis crucial point_departure among predecessor contemporary maintain rational interpretation