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About this quote

What does it mean?
The only enemy you should acknowledge is the devil; never reconcile with that. However, you should never hold enmity toward a brother in your heart.
In plain terms
Only fight spiritual evil, not other people.
What can you take from it?
Reserve hostility for spiritual forces, not humans.

Where it applies

  • spiritual conflict
  • community relations
  • personal faith

Putting it to work

  • prayer
  • community building
  • spiritual discipline

Questions to consider

  • Who do you consider your true enemy?
  • How do you balance safety and love?

Another view

Practical safety sometimes requires distance from harmful people.

More from John Chrysostom

  1. As it is not to be imagined that the fornicator and the blasphemer can partake of the sacred Table, so it is impossible that he who has an enemy, and bears mal…

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  2. Praying against one's personal enemies is a transgression of law.

    Permalink to quote #22
  3. In the past the emperors were faithless persecutors; presently their piety reaches up to heaven. When passing the threshold of the church they lay off their cr…

    Permalink to quote #19

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