John Chrysostom was a late 4th century/early 5 century (died AD 407) church father who held office as a deacon and presbyter in Antioch before his appointment to Archbishop of Constantinople in AD 397.  He was born to seemingly affluent parents in AD 347  as his father was a military officer. His father died shortly after John was born, thus John was primarily raised by his mother.  John began his education under the pagan Libanius focusing on language, literature and the use of rhetoric.  As he grew, so did his interest in Christianity.  John eventually left Libanius to focus solely on Christianity.  He was known as an eloquent speaker who defended the literal interpretation over the allegorical (Chrysostomos means golden mouthed in Greek). Thankfully a significant amount of his works have survived antiquity.  The selection chosen for today is from a work entitled “Homilies on Hebrews.”

“The name of Jesus [Joshua] was a type. For this reason then, and because of the very name, the creation reverenced him. What then! Was no other person called Jesus [Joshua]? But this man was on this account so called as a type; for he used to be called Hoshea. Therefore the name was changed: for it was a prediction and a prophecy. He brought in the people into the promised land, as Jesus into heaven; not the law; since neither did Moses (enter the promised land) but remained outside. The law has not the power to bring in, but grace.”

Homilies on Hebrews 27.6