extinguish our enmities
Chrysostom, Ephesians Homily 14, Homily 14 on Ephesians, exposition of 4:26-27
In his homily on Ephesians, St. John Chrysostom urges his hearers to attend to anger before it becomes settled enmity. He describes hostility feeding itself through suspicious interpretations of words and gestures. A grievance left to grow can begin to govern how we hear the other person. His counsel is to take the danger seriously while it can be addressed. Chrysostom, Ephesians Homily 14, Homily 14 on Ephesians, exposition of 4:26-27
Chrysostom directs the angry person to remember their own sins and accountability before God. That remembrance searches the desire for revenge and checks spiritual superiority. He is explaining Paul’s command about anger, rather than supplying a rule that every difficult relationship can be repaired before bedtime. Chrysostom, Ephesians Homily 14, Homily 14 on Ephesians, exposition of 4:26-27
Paul joins truthfulness to restraint in anger and warns against giving the devil an opportunity. Later in the same passage he calls for bitterness, wrath and malice to be put away, and for kindness and forgiveness to take their place. The response is more substantial than disguising a grievance beneath polite words. Ephesians 4:25-32
The application can begin with what is ours to change: stop rehearsing an insulting reply, examine whether a suspicion is justified and prepare to speak truthfully without malice. Protection may still be necessary where harm continues. The command to put away enmity does not remove that responsibility. Ephesians 4:25-32
Before anger settles into your account of a person, bring it before God and remember His mercy toward you. Consider the truthful, appropriate action that remains possible. Chrysostom asks for attention before hostility hardens; Paul gives the virtues to practice in its place. Those responsibilities can begin even when the other person’s response is unknown. Chrysostom, Ephesians Homily 14, Homily 14 on Ephesians, exposition of 4:26-27
For prayer, use the Lord’s Prayer given by Christ in Matthew 6:9–13.
Sources and edition notes
- Chrysostom, Ephesians Homily 14. Source. Translated by Gross Alexander. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/230114.htm.
Scripture references link to these comparison editions: NKJV. Biblical passages are paraphrased. Biblical language within a patristic quotation follows the identified historical English translation.