Exposition of the Christian Faith

The author praises Gratian’s zeal for instruction in the Faith, and speaks lowly of his own merits. Taught of God Himself, the Emperor stands in no need of human instruction; yet this his devoutness prepares the way to…

§1 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶1)

The various blasphemies uttered by the Arians against Christ are cited. Before these are replied to, the orthodox are admonished to beware of the captious arguments of philosophers, forasmuch as in these especially did…

§2 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶2)

It cannot be proved from Scripture that the Father existed before the Son, nor yet can arguments taken from human reproduction avail to this end, since they bring in absurdities without end.

§3 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶3)

An explanation of Acts ii. 36 and Proverbs viii. 22 , which are shown to refer properly to Christ’s manhood alone. 95. To no purpose, then, is the heretics’ customary citation of the Scripture, that “God made Him both…

§4 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶4)

Arius is charged with the first of the above-mentioned errors, and refuted by the testimony of St. John. The miserable death of the Heresiarch is described, and the rest of his blasphemous errors are one by one examined…

§5 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶5)

Twelve names of the Son of God are recounted, being distributed into three classes. These names are so many proofs of the eternity not only of the Son, but of the Father also.

§1 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶1)

Certain passages from Scripture, urged against the Omnipotence of Christ, are resolved; the writer is also at especial pains to show that Christ not seldom spoke in accordance with the affections of human nature. 39.

§2 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶2)

The objection that the Son, being sent by the Father, is, in that regard at least, inferior, is met by the answer that He was also sent by the Spirit, Who is yet not considered greater than the Son.

§3 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶3)

Do the Catholics or the Arians take the better course to assure themselves of the favour of Christ as their Judge? An objection grounded on Ps. cx.

§4 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶4)

St. Ambrose assures Gratian of victory, declaring that it has been foretold in the prophecies of Ezekiel. This hope is further stayed upon the emperor’s piety, the former disasters being the punishment of Eastern…

§5 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶5)

Statement of the reasons wherefore the matters, treated of shortly in the two former, are dealt with more at length in the three later books.

§1 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶1)

We are told that Christ was only “made” so far as regards the flesh. For the redemption of mankind He needed no means of aid, even as He needed none in order to His Resurrection, whereas others, in order to raise the…

§2 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶2)

The prophecy of Christ’s Godhead and Manhood, contained in the verse of Isaiah just now cited, is unfolded, and its force in refuting various heresies demonstrated. 54.

§3 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶3)

St. Ambrose returns to the main question, and shows that whenever Christ is said to have “been made” (or “become”), this must be understood with reference to His Incarnation, or to certain limitations.

§4 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶4)

The Son is of one substance with the Father. 108. And now, your Majesty, with regard to the question of the substance, why need I tell you that the Son is of one substance 258 with the Father, when we have read that the…

§5 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶5)

The marvel is, not that men have failed to know Christ, but that they have not listened to the words of the Scriptures. Christ, indeed, was not known, even of angels, save by revelation, nor again, by His forerunner.

§1 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶1)

The passage quoted adversely by heretics, namely, “The Son can do nothing of Himself,” is first explained from the words which follow; then, the text being examined, word by word, their acceptation in the Arian sense is…

§2 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶2)

The doctrine had in view for enforcement is corroborated by the truth that the Son is the Word of the Father—the Word, not in the sense in which we understand the term, but a living and active Word.

§3 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶3)

Various quibbling arguments, advanced by the Arians to show that the Son had a beginning of existence, are considered and refuted, on the ground that whilst the Arians plainly prove nothing, or if they prove anything,…

§4 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶4)

The objection that Christ, on the showing of St. John, lives because of the Father, and therefore is not to be regarded as equal with the Father, is met by the reply that for the Life of the Son, in respect of His…

§5 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶5)

The particular distinction which the Arians endeavoured to prove upon the Apostle’s teaching that all things are “of” the Father and “through” the Son, is overthrown, it being shown that in the passage cited the same…

§6 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶6)

Who is a faithful and wise servant? His reward is pointed out in the case of Peter, as also in the case of Paul. Ambrose, being anxious to follow Paul’s guidance, wished this book to be added to the others, for it could…

§1 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶1)

Since it has been proved that the Son is true God, and in that is not inferior to the Father, it is shown that by the word solus (alone) when used of the Father in the Scriptures, the Son is not excluded; nay, that this…

§2 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶2)

Ambrose answers those who press the words of the Lord to the mother of Zebedee’s children, by saying that they were spoken out of kindness, because Christ was unwilling to cause her grief.

§3 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶3)

Objection is taken to the following passage: “Thou hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” To remove it, he shows first the impiety of the Arian explanation; then compares these words with others; and lastly, takes the…

§4 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶4)

The Arians openly take sides with the heathen in attacking the words: “He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me,” etc. The true meaning of the passage is unfolded; and to prevent us from believing that the Lord…

§5 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶5)

With the desire to learn what subjection to Christ means after putting forward and rejecting various ideas of subjection, he runs through the Apostle’s words; and so puts an end to the blasphemous opinions of the…

§6 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶6)

He briefly takes up again the same points of dispute, and shrewdly concludes from the unity of the divine power in the Father and the Son, that whatever is said of the subjection of the Son is to be referred to His…

§7 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶7)

Christ acted for our advantage in being unwilling to reveal the day of judgment. This is made plain by other words of our Lord and by a not dissimilar passage from Paul’s writings.

§8 — Exposition of the Christian Faith (¶8)