Hennie Stander: Power and violence in Chrysostom’s Commentary on the Psalms

In “Violence in Late Antiquity reconsidered” Martin Zimmerman says that “representations of violence are not intended to depict a cruel reality, but to advance political, ethical or moral, and religious aims by arousing disgust and horror”. There are many descriptions of violence in the Book of Psalms. Exegetes often argue that violence in the Old Testament is in the service of the establishment of God’s purposes (J. Clinton McCann,  “Judges” in “Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching”).  In this short communication I will critically discuss Chrysostom’s treatment of power and violence in his Commentary on Psalms. When the Jews suffer from violence, Chrysostom believes that it is justified because they have tortured Christ. However, when God is described as a Warrior in the Psalms, Chrysostom is faced with a problem. On the one hand, he has no patience with the Anthropomorphites who would infringe on divine transcendence (R.C. Hill, “St. John Chrysostom. Commentary on the Psalms”, 1998, p. 151), but on the other hand, he has to stay true to his Antiochene position regarding figurative language.