John Chrysostom
People. Also called Chrysostom, Saint John Chrysostom, St. John Chrysostom, John the Golden-Mouthed, John Chrysostomos.
| Denomination | Early Church (before denominational divisions) |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Roman Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) |
| Alias | Chrysostom; John the Golden-Mouthed |
| Death | September 14, 407, Comana (in exile) |
| Born | c. 347, Antioch |
| Major Positions | Archbishop of Constantinople (398–404) |
John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) was a Church Father from Antioch who served as Archbishop of Constantinople. His outstanding preaching earned him the epithet "Golden Mouth."
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
John Chrysostom was one of the Church Fathers, the leaders of the early church who laid the foundations of Christian doctrine and faith, and served as Archbishop of Constantinople. "Chrysostom" means "golden mouth" in Greek. The epithet arose from the excellence of his preaching and came into wide use after his death.
Life
He was born in Antioch, a city in what is now southern Turkey. According to tradition, he studied under the rhetorician Libanius. After a period of monastic life, he was ordained a deacon in 381 and a priest in 386, and over the following twelve years or so he gained renown as a preacher in Antioch. In 398 he became Archbishop of Constantinople, the imperial capital. He criticized the luxury of the clergy and the corruption of the court, which brought him into conflict with Empress Eudoxia and with Theophilus, Bishop of Alexandria. Deposed at the Synod of the Oak in 403, he was briefly restored but was exiled again in 404. He died in 407 while being transferred to a more remote place of exile.
Ministry and Achievements
- Preaching: He left many series of expository sermons that work through books of the Bible in order, including Matthew, John, and Romans. He belongs to the interpretive tradition of the Antiochene school, which emphasized the literal and historical sense of Scripture, rather than to the Alexandrian approach, which read texts symbolically and allegorically.
- Commentary on the Pauline Epistles: His interpretation of Paul's letters greatly influenced later churches in both East and West. A frequently cited passage comes from his preaching on Romans 16:7, in which he understood Junia to be a woman and praised her as one "worthy of the title of apostle."
- Writings and liturgy: His On the Priesthood is read as a classic on the responsibilities of pastoral ministry. The liturgy most frequently celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church bears his name, though many scholars hold that its present form was not composed entirely by him.
- Concern for the poor: He is also known for sermons that stressed almsgiving and urged the sharing of wealth.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korea, patristics and homiletics courses at Protestant seminaries present him as an early model of expository preaching. Because John Calvin is known to have held his commentaries in high regard, he is also frequently cited in the Reformed tradition. In recent years his interpretation of Junia has been invoked in debates over the ordination of women. Supporters of women's ordination regard it as evidence that the early church recognized female apostles, while opponents interpret the verse differently or take a different view of the nature of the office. A prayer bearing his name has long appeared in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer tradition.
Assessment
The Catholic Church honors him as a Doctor of the Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates him as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs. Protestants also generally esteem him as a Bible-centered preacher. On the other hand, his sermons Against the Jews (Adversus Judaeos), delivered in Antioch around 386–387, contain harsh denunciations of Jews. These sermons have been criticized because they were later used to support antisemitism. Some historians explain that the sermons were aimed at Christians who frequented Jewish synagogues at the time, but many scholars agree that his language was excessive.
See also 8
Is there a problem with this article? Report it
Log in to report. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours.
Discussion 0
Share corrections, other viewpoints or questions about this article.