St John Chrysostom on learning the scriptures

[Nicolaj]

Dear Brethren,

Admiring this great saint and loving the many books he wrote us, I have a question which follows me for years now.

Saint John is a great Father for his flock now as he was at that times as he was walking on earth. And he is well known therefor that he knew all the Bible inside out.

As I read in a book about the Saint he used a very special technique of learning to achieve this. Is there anything known about this technique and can someone tell me anything about it how to use this technique?

Nicolaj, the first among sinners!

[Father David Moser]

It is said that St John Chrysostom was such a great man of prayer and therefore so sensitive to the Spirit of God that the Holy Apostle Paul would come and whisper in his ear as he read the Epistles. It is for his great understanding of the writings of St Paul that St John is revered as not only a homilist but as an interpreter of the Epistles. Perhaps the only "technique" that he used is that of unceasing prayer such that he became attuned to the voices of the saints in heaven.

Fr David Moser

[M.C. Steenberg]

St John also said that every Christian should spend some portion of each day in contemplation of the scriptures -- hearing them, praying them.

This, on its own, would cause people to hold them far more in their memory!

INXC, Dcn matthew

[Kris]

It brings to mind the various Islamic schools around the world wherein children are taught to memorize the entire Qur'an (a book roughly the size of the New Testament) in the space of 2-4 years.

Perhaps the techniques used by these institutions are similar to those previously used by Christians (assuming there was such a thing)?

[Nina]

It brings to mind the various Islamic schools around the world wherein children are taught to memorize the entire Qur'an (a book roughly the size of the New Testament) in the space of 2-4 years.

Perhaps the techniques used by these institutions are similar to those previously used by Christians (assuming there was such a thing)?

It would be interesting to know if there was such a thing.

St John Chrysostom was a brilliant erudite and an exceptionally intelligent person. In addition to these gifts he received a great training under the greatest scholars of his time. And when he left everything for being a Christian monk, his pagan teacher the famous philosopher Libanius lamented it. His spiritual gifts and the grace of God as it is mentioned above also played a significant role. St. John would not sleep but read Scriptures and pray all night (as Fr. Dcn. Matthew said repetition is the mother of knowledge), standing and suspended from the arms so in case he snoozed he would wake up. I am not sure where I read this. He was determined and passionate for God up to the point of physical self-sacrifice.

[Nicolaj]

Dear Brethren!

Thanks so far for the comments!

It is known that St. John knew all the Bible and many other books inside out. I have read in the preface to his Homilies edited in Herder-Verlag that he used a special technique learning this, but it wasn't explained what he did exactly do to achieve this. It was only one comment made that it was probably one of the reasons therefor that he ruined his health.

So if anybody knows more please let me know!

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[M.C. Steenberg]

As some 'food for thought' on this topic:


I desire to ask one favor of you all, before I touch on the words of the Gospel; do not you refuse my request, for I ask nothing heavy or burdensome, nor, if granted, will it be useful only to me who receive, but also to you who grant it, and perhaps far more so to you. What then is it that I require of you? That each of you take in hand that section of the Gospels which is to be read among you on the first day of the week, or even on the Sabbath, and before the day arrive, that he sit down at home and read it through, and often carefully consider its contents, and examine all its parts well, what is clear, what obscure, what seems to make for the adversaries, but does not really so; and when you have tried, in a word every point, so go to hear it read. For from zeal like this will be no small gain both to you and to us. We shall not need much labor to render clear the meaning of what is said, because your minds will be already made familiar with the sense of the words, and you will become keener and more clear-sighted not for hearing only, nor for learning, but also for the teaching of others. Since, in the way that now most of those who come hither hear, compelled to take in the meaning of all at once, both the words, and the remarks we make upon them, they will not, though we should go on doing this for a whole year, reap any great gain. How can they, when they have leisure for what is said as a bywork, and only in this place, and for this short time? If any lay the fault on business, and cares, and constant occupation in public and private matters, in the first place, this is no slight charge in itself, that they are surrounded with such a multitude of business, are so continually nailed to the things of this life, that they cannot find even a little leisure for what is more needful than all. Besides, that this is a mere pretext and excuse, their meetings with friends would prove against them, their loitering in the theaters, and the parties they make to see horse races, at which they often spend whole days, yet never in that case does one of them complain of the pressure of business. For trifles then you can without making any excuses, always find abundant leisure; but when you ought to attend to the things of God, do these seem to you so utterly superfluous and mean, that you think you need not assign even a little leisure to them? How do men of such disposition deserve to breathe or to look upon this sun?
There is another most foolish excuse of these sluggards; that they have not the books in their possession. Now as to the rich, it is ludicrous that we should take our aim at this excuse; but because I imagine that many of the poorer sort continually use it, I would gladly ask, if every one of them does not have all the instruments of the trade which he works at, full and complete, though infinite poverty stand in his way? Is it not then a strange thing, in that case to throw no blame on poverty, but to use every means that there be no obstacle from any quarter, but, when we might gain such great advantage, to lament our want of leisure and our poverty?
Besides, even if any should be so poor, it is in their power, by means of the continual reading of the holy Scriptures which takes place here, to be ignorant of nothing contained in them. Or if this seems to you impossible, it seems so with reason; for many do not come with fervent zeal to hearken to what is said, but having done this one thing for form's sake on our account, immediately return home. Or if any should stay, they are no better disposed than those who have retired, since they are only present here with us in body. But that we may not overload you with accusations, and spend all the time in finding fault, let us proceed to the words of the Gospel, for it is time to direct the remainder of our discourse to what is set before us. Rouse yourselves therefore, that nothing of what is said escape you.From St John Chrystosom's eleventh homily on the Gospel of St John.

INXC, Dcn Matthew

[Nina]

It was only one comment made that it was probably one of the reasons therefor that he ruined his health.
Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

Yes Nicolaj, I have heard that also. I think it also is often mentioned by some with a subtle disapproval of asceticism in general and of this case in particular.

However Saint Chrysostom was in love with God. When a person is in love he forgets about himself and concentrates on the object of his love, and does everything possible with passion to please the one he is in love with. Saint Chrysostom and the rest of our Fathers were blessed to have such a Target (God) as their love.

[Nicolaj]

Thank you Matthew! This was very good and straight to the heart! And that brought me to an idea, I will buy as a present for myself some books of this great Saint again. I had already some of them but gave them away by the time I left RC for being budhist and so on.

And Nina thank you also, maybe you are right and this was something just brought up by some rejecters of asceticism. That is always the point against, that fasting and so aren't doing the body well. But recent studies showed that fasting is about the healthiest thing one can do for the body, and this study doesn't mentioned the spiritual and psychological aspects, which are sure more important!

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Nina]

That is always the point against, that fasting and so aren't doing the body well. But recent studies showed that fasting is about the healthiest thing one can do for the body, and this study doesn't mentioned the spiritual and psychological aspects, which are sure more important!

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

To those people you can say (although I know that you know these and some more):

Physically, fasting gives body and liver a rest. Liver needs some time with simple bland foods for regenerating itself. I read this yesterday in a health article, but it is a widely known truth.

While I am interested in fasting's physical aspects (as a sinner), St. Chrysostom was not. He was a saint. He did so much with burning passion for God. Look what he gave up! A brilliant secular career. His personal safety, his throne when he spoke boldly in public criticizing the Empress, while she was present. He did not spare anything for the love of God. Why should he have spared his body? He was a true imitator of our Christ. These people do not know about the saints' eros for God?