Concerning Lowliness of Mind | Philippians 1:18 | St. John Chrysostom

0:00 Introduction to humility
1:13 Virtue and pride analyzed
4:46 Humility as a foundation
6:10 Clarifying apostolic teaching
8:32 Paul's imprisonment in Rome
14:37 The bond of spiritual love
17:35 Bonds as gospel progress
22:43 Motives and true doctrine
27:19 The power of perseverance
30:09 Lessons from the Canaanite

AGAINST THOSE WHO IMPROPERLY USE THE APOSTOLIC DECLARATION WHICH SAYS, "WHETHER IN PRETENCE, OR IN SINCERITY, CHRIST IS PREACHED:" (Phil. i. l8), AND ABOUT HUMBLENESS OF MIND.

THERE is an allusion at the beginning of this Homily to some remarks recently made on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. These occur in Chrysostom's fifth Homily against the Anomoeans, one of a set of Homilies which, from internal evidence, may be assigned to the close of the year 386, or beginning of 387. The following homily therefore was delivered at Antioch, probably just before Christmas 386. There were some persons who explained the words of St. Paul cited in the title as signifying that provided Christ was preached it mattered not whether the actual doctrines taught were true or heretical. The main object of the homily is to vindicate the language of the Apostle from this erroneous and mischievous interpretation.

Early life
John was born in Antioch, Roman Syria (modern-day Antakya, Hatay, Turkey) in 347. Different scholars describe his mother Anthusa as a pagan or as a Christian. Christian tradition generally describes his mother as a devout Christian. His father was a high-ranking military officer. John's father died soon after his birth and he was raised by his mother. He was baptised in 368 or 373,[b] and tonsured as a reader (one of the minor orders of the Church). It is sometimes said that he was bitten by a snake when he was ten years old,