John Chrysostom

Considered the greatest preacher of the patristic era, John was born and raised in Syrian Antioch. He studied rhetoric and classical Greek literature under the renowned Roman sophist Libanius. John trained for a career in law and imperial service before abandoning his ‘vain verbosity’ to study scripture and to enter the clergy. Following his baptism by Bishop Meletius, he became a lector, and studied scripture under the leading teacher of Antioch, Diodore.

Dallas B. N. Friesen, “Chrysostom, John,” in Dictionary of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation, ed. Stanley E. Porter (London: Routledge, 2007), 56.