While Paul waited. . . at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. . . . And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
--Acts of the Apostles
Last update: 8 August 2006
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On Homilies*
The New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia says, 'The word homily is derived from the Greek word homilia (from homilein), which means to have communion or hold intercourse with a person. In this sense homilia is used in I Cor., xv, 33. In Luke, xxiv, 14, we find the word homiloun, and in Acts, xxiv, 26, homilei, both used in the sense of "speaking with". In Acts, xx, 11, we meet the term homilesas; here it is used, for the first time, to signify a sermon to the Christians in connexion with the breaking of bread: it was evidently an informal discourse, or exposition of doctrine, for we are told that St. Paul "talked a long time . . . until daylight". Thereafter the word was used as a sign of Christian worship (Justin, "Apol. I", c. lxvii; Ignatius, "Ep. ad Polyc.", v). Origen was the first to distinguish between logos (sermo) and homilia (tractatus). Since Origen's time homily has meant, and still means, a commentary, without formal introduction, division, or conclusion, on some part of Sacred Scripture, the aim being to explain the literal, and evolve the spiritual, meaning of the Sacred Text. The latter, as a rule, is the more important; but if, as in the case of Origen, more attention be paid to the former, the homily will be called expository rather than moral or hortatory. It is the oldest form of preaching. Christ himself may be said, but with a difference to be noted later, to have preached in this style (cf. Luke 4:16-20). It was the kind of preaching that was used by the Apostles and Fathers in addressing the faithful.'
*From the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. Read the complete article >
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Richard Hooker
John Henry Cardinal Newman
