Chromatius of Aquileia lived and ministered in fascinating and perilous times. From participation in the monastic “tanquam chorus beatorum” as identified by Jerome (c. 370), to the invasion of the Visigoths in 407, Chromatius ministered to a church of great influence in a rapidly changing world. His friends are an amazing confluence of important characters, including Jerome, Rufinus of Aquileia, John Chrysostom, Valerian, Athanasius, and Ambrose. His life also represents an amazing convergence of East and West, and his sermons and homilies on the Gospel of Matthew give evidence of the influence of both.
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Chromatius’ understanding of the place and purpose of the church in the context of a rapidly changing world. As the “barbarian” invasion neared the walls of this major Roman outpost, how did this influence the preaching and pastoring of Chromatius?
Such a consideration also requires an evaluation of how Chromatius uses Scripture. He is a good example of one who saw his primary task as listening to the Word in order to properly teach it. His teaching methodology begins in Scripture and ends in Scripture. His language is assessable, relevant, and incisive. He calls his congregants to trust the God who will not abandon his children, and does so from the confidence of his own intimate relationship with God.
As a teacher of graduate and undergraduate courses in early church history and Christian spirituality, I am constantly looking for examples that provide relevant information for the church of our day. Chromatius serves as a great example of one who faithfully ministered by drawing from the teachings of Scripture and the traditions of the church to foster hope and provide direction in “tempestuous waters.”
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