Homilies on Second Corinthians — Homily 26

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory, [for] I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

What is this? Does he who has spoken such great things say, [It is not expedient] doubtless to glory? as if he had said nothing? No; not as if he had said nothing: but because he is going to pass to another species of boasting, which is not intended indeed by so great a reward, but which to the many (though not to careful examiners) seems to set him off in brighter colors, he says, It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. For truly the great grounds of boasting were those which he had recounted, those of his trials; he has however other things also to tell of, such as concern the revelations, the unspeakable mysteries. And wherefore, says he, It is not expedient for me? he means, 'lest it lift me up to pride.' What do you say? For if you speak not of them, yet do you not know of them? But our knowing of them ourselves does not lift us up so much as our publishing them to others. For it is not the nature of good deeds that uses to lift a man up, but their being witnessed to, and known of, by the many. For this cause therefore he says, It is not expedient for me; and, 'that I may not implant too great an idea of me in those who hear.' For those men indeed, the false apostles, said even what was not true about themselves; but this man hides even what is true, and that too although so great necessity lies upon him, and says, It is not expedient for me; teaching one and all even to superfluity to avoid anything of the sort. For this thing is attended with no advantage, but even with harm, except there be some necessary and useful reason which induces us thereto. Having then spoken of his perils, trials, snares, dejections, shipwrecks, he passes to another species of boasting, saying,

I knew a man, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or out of the body, I know not: God knows;) such an one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know how that he was caught up into Paradise, (whether in the body, I know not; or out of the body, I know not;) and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. On behalf of such an one will I glory: but on my own behalf I will not glory.

Great indeed was this revelation. But this was not the only one: there were many others besides, but he mentions one out of many. For that there were many, hear what he says: Lest I should be exalted overmuch through the exceeding greatness of the revelations. 'And yet,' a man may say, 'if he wished to conceal them, he ought not to have given any intimation whatever or said anything of the sort; but if he wished to speak of them, to speak plainly.' Wherefore then is it that he neither spoke plainly nor kept silence? To show by this also that he resorts to the thing unwillingly. And therefore also he has stated the time, fourteen years. For he does not mention it without an object, but to show that he who had refrained for so long a time wou