John Chrysostom on Authority of Scripture
Scripture with tradition and church teaching office
Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther.
THE POSITION
Preaching on 2 Thessalonians 2:15 he argues that the apostles delivered much unwritten as well as written, that the two are alike worthy of credit, and that a question is settled once it is shown to be a tradition of the Church. Alongside this he is the patristic father most insistent that ordinary laypeople own and read the Scriptures at home, and he attacks the excuses they give for not doing so.
15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
6 OTHERS HOLD THIS
ABOUT THIS FIGURE
Archbishop of Constantinople and the most prolific preacher of the patristic era — the largest surviving body of Greek expository preaching is his. This entry rests on the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers translations of his homilies on Romans, 1 Corinthians, John, Hebrews and 2 Thessalonians, together with the Instructions to Catechumens.
Cite this page
"John Chrysostom on Authority of Scripture", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/chrysostom/scripture-authority (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/chrysostom/scripture-authority).