Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 10
Ambrose — Selected Works and Letters
SECTION 81
Chapter VI.
Chapter VI. Although we are baptized with water and the Spirit, the latter is much superior to the former, and is not therefore to be separated from the Father and the Son. 76. There are, however, many who, because we are baptized with water and the Spirit, think that there is no difference in the offices of water and the Spir…
1,843 wordsSECTION 82Chapter VIII.
Chapter VIII. The Holy Spirit is given by God alone, yet not wholly to each person, since there is no one besides Christ capable of receiving Him wholly. Charity is shed abroad by the Holy Spirit, Who, prefigured by the mystical ointment, is shown to have nothing common with creatures; and He, inasmuch as He is said to proceed …
1,415 wordsSECTION 83Chapter IX.
Chapter IX. The Holy Spirit is rightly called the ointment of Christ, and the oil of gladness; and why Christ Himself is not the ointment, since He was anointed with the Holy Spirit. It is not strange that the Spirit should be called Ointment, since the Father and the Son are also called Spirit. And there is no confusion betwee…
1,336 wordsSECTION 84Chapter X.
Chapter X. That the Spirit forgives sin is common to Him with the Father and the Son, but not with the Angels. 112. Tell me, then, whoever you are who deny the Godhead of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit could not be liable to sin, Who rather forgives sin. Does an Angel forgive? Does an Archangel? Certainly not, but the Father alon…
1,482 wordsSECTION 85Chapter XII.
Chapter XII. The peace and grace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, so also is Their charity one, which showed itself chiefly in the redemption of man. Their communion with man is also one. 126. Therefore since the calling is one, the grace is also one. Lastly, it is written: "Grace unto you and peace from Go…
839 wordsSECTION 86Chapter XIII.
Chapter XIII. St. Ambrose shows from the Scriptures that the Name of the Three Divine Persons is one, and first the unity of the Name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, inasmuch as each is called Paraclete and Truth. 132. Who, then, would dare to deny the oneness of Name, when he sees the oneness of the working. But why should…
961 wordsSECTION 87Chapter XIV.
Chapter XIV. Each Person of the Trinity is said in the sacred writings to be Light. The Spirit is designated Fire by Isaiah, a figure of which Fire was seen in the bush by Moses, in the tongues of fire, and in Gideon's pitchers. And the Godhead of the same Spirit cannot be denied, since His operation is the same as that of the …
1,089 wordsSECTION 88Chapter XV.
Chapter XV. The Holy Spirit is Life equally with the Father and the Son, in truth whether the Father be mentioned, with Whom is the Fount of Life, or the Son, that Fount can be none other than the Holy Spirit. 171. We have said that the Father is Light, the Son is Light, and the Holy Spirit is Light; let us also learn that the…
2,061 wordsSECTION 89Book II.
Book II. Introduction. The Three Persons of the Godhead were not unknown to the judges of old nor to Moses, for the equality of the Son with the Father, as well as of the Three Persons amongst Themselves, is laid down both elsewhere and by him. Samson also enjoyed the assistance of the Holy Spirit, his history is touched upon …
1,827 wordsSECTION 90Chapter I.
Chapter I. The Spirit is the Lord and Power; and in this is not inferior to the Father and the Son. 17. Above, you read that "the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to go with him." [1027] Farther on it is said: "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him." [1028] Again he says: "If I be shaven, my strength will …
760 wordsSECTION 91Chapter III.
Chapter III. As to know the Father and the Son is life, so is it life to know the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Godhead He is not to be separated from the Father. 26. Let them say, then, wherein they think that there is an unlikeness in the divine operation. Since as to know the Father and the Son is life, as the Lord Hims…
2,200 wordsSECTION 92Chapter VI.
[1052] S. Luke i. 35. [1053] S. Luke i. 42. [1054] Isa. xi. 1. [1055] Cant. ii. 1. [1056] S. Matt. i. 18. [1057] Ecclus. xxiv. 3. [1058] S. John xv. 20. [1059] S. John xvi. 14. [1060] 1 Cor. viii. 6. The argument from the exact force of prepositions is often urged by the Fathers, as by St. Athanasius and St. Basil among …
2,074 wordsSECTION 93Chapter VII.
Chapter VII. The Holy Spirit is no less the author of spiritual creation or regeneration than the Father and the Son. The excellence of that creation, and wherein it consists. How we are to understand holy Scripture, when it attributes a body or members to God. 62. So, then, the Father creates in good works, and the Son also, …
1,248 wordsSECTION 94Chapter VIII.
Chapter VIII. St. Ambrose examines and refutes the heretical argument that because God is said to be glorified in the Spirit, and not with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is therefore inferior to the Father. He shows that the particle in can be also used of the Son and even of the Father, and that on the other hand with may be said…
1,924 wordsSECTION 95Chapter IX.
Chapter IX. A passage of St. Paul abused by heretics, to prove a distinction between the Divine Persons, is explained, and it is proved that the whole passage can be rightly said of each Person, though it refers specially to the Son. It is then proved that each member of the passage is applicable to each Person, and as to say, …
1,810 wordsSECTION 96Chapter X.
Chapter X. Being about to prove that the will, the calling, and the commandment of the Trinity is one, St. Ambrose shows that the Spirit called the Church exactly as the Father and the Son did, and proves this by the selection of SS. Paul and Barnabas, and especially by the mission of St. Peter to Cornelius. And by the way he p…
1,744 wordsSECTION 97Chapter XI.
Chapter XI. We shall follow the example of Abdemelech, if we believe that the Son and Holy Spirit know all things. This knowledge is attributed in Scripture to the Spirit, and also to the Son. The Son is glorified by the Spirit, as also the Spirit by the Son. Also, inasmuch as we read that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit sa…
1,812 wordsSECTION 98Chapter XII.
Chapter XII. After proof that the Spirit is the Giver of revelation equally with the Father and the Son, it is explained how the same Spirit does not speak of Himself; and it is shown that no bodily organs are to be thought of in Him, and that no inferiority is to be supposed from the fact of our reading that He hears, since th…
1,933 wordsSECTION 99Chapter XIII.
Chapter XIII. Prophecy was not only from the Father and the Son but also from the Spirit; the authority and operation of the latter on the apostles is signified to be the same as Theirs; and so we are to understand that there is unity in the three points of authority, rule, and bounty; yet need no disadvantage be feared from th…
1,951 wordsSECTION 100Book III.
Book III. Chapter I. Not only were the prophets and apostles sent by the Spirit, but also the Son of God. This is proved from Isaiah and the evangelists, and it is explained why St. Luke wrote that the same Spirit descended like a dove upon Christ and abode upon Him. Next, after establishing this mission of Christ, the writer …
1,118 wordsSECTION 101Chapter II.
Chapter II. The Son and the Spirit are alike given; whence not subjection but one Godhead is shown by Its working. 9. And not only did the Father send the Son, but also gave Him, as the Son Himself gave Himself. For we read: "Grace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins." [1242] If …
1,423 wordsSECTION 102Chapter IV.
Chapter IV. To those who contend that the Spirit because He is called the Finger is less than the Father, St. Ambrose replies that this would also tend to the lessening of the Son, Who is called the Right Hand. That these names are to be referred only to the Unity, for which reason Moses proclaimed that the whole Trinity worked…
1,068 wordsSECTION 103Chapter V.
Chapter V. The writer sums up the argument he had commenced, and confirms the statement that unity is signified by the terms finger and right hand, from the fact that the works of God are the same as are the works of hands; and that those of hands are the same as those of fingers; and lastly, that the term hand applies equally …
1,669 wordsSECTION 104Chapter VII.
Chapter VII. The Son Himself does not judge or punish without the Spirit, so that the same Spirit is called the Sword of the Word. But inasmuch as the Word is in turn called the Sword of the Spirit, the highest unity of power is thereby recognized in each. 44. But what should we say of the other points? We have heard that the …
1,203 wordsSECTION 105Chapter IX.
Chapter IX. That the Holy Spirit is provoked is proved by the words of St. Peter, in which it is shown that the Spirit of God is one and the same as the Spirit of the Lord, both by other passages and by reference to the sentence of the same Apostle on Ananias and Sapphira, whence it is argued that the union of the Holy Spirit w…
2,231 wordsSECTION 106Chapter XI.
[1309] Isa. xliii. 25. [1310] Ex. xxxii. 32. [1311] S. John iii. 5. [1312] S. John iii. 6. This is the full reading of the passage according to St. Ambrose, referred to above in § 59. [1313] S. John iii. 7, 8. [1314] Eph. iv. 23. [1315] Tit. iii. 5. [1316] Acts xi. 16. [1317] S. John iii. 12. [1318] 1 John v. 6, 7, 8. …
2,201 wordsSECTION 107Chapter XII.
[1325] Ps. xii. [xi.] 1. [1326] S. John xiv. 6. [1327] S. John xx. 17, 18. [1328] Rom. v. 20. [1329] Heb. i. 6. [1330] Ps. xcix. [xcviii.] 5. [1331] S. Matt. xxviii. 17. [1332] St. Ambrose here argues against Apollinarianism, who separated the two natures in Christ and taught that He should not be adored except in His God…
1,275 wordsSECTION 108Chapter XIII.
Chapter XIII. To those who object that Catholics, when they ascribe Godhead to the Holy Spirit, introduce three Gods, it is answered, that by the same argument they themselves bring in two Gods, unless they deny Godhead to the Son; after which the orthodox doctrine is set forth. 92. But what do you fear? Is it that which you h…
1,406 wordsSECTION 109Chapter XV.
Chapter XV. Though the Spirit be called Lord, three Lords are not thereby implied; inasmuch as two Lords are not implied by the fact that the Son in the same manner as the Father is called Lord in many passages of Scripture; for Lordship exists in the Godhead, and the Godhead in Lordship, and these coincide without division in …
772 wordsSECTION 110Chapter XVI.
Chapter XVI. The Father is holy, and likewise the Son and the Spirit, and so They are honoured in the same Trisagion: nor can we speak more worthily of God than by calling Him Holy; whence it is clear that we must not derogate from the dignity of the Holy Spirit. In Him is all which pertains to God, since in baptism He is named…
1,224 wordsSECTION 111Chapter XVII.
Chapter XVII. St. Ambrose shows by instances that the places in which those words were spoken help to the understanding of the words of the Lord; he shows that Christ uttered the passage quoted from St. John in Solomon's porch, by which is signified the mind of a wise man, for he says that Christ would not have uttered this say…
1,904 wordsSECTION 112Chapter XVIII.
Chapter XVIII. As he purposes to establish the Godhead of the Holy Spirit by the points already discussed, St. Ambrose touches again on some of them; for instance, that He does not commit but forgives sin; that He is not a creature but the Creator; and lastly, that He does not offer but receives worship. 132. But to sum up, in…
1,403 wordsSECTION 113Chapter XIX.
Chapter XIX. Having proved above that the Spirit abides and speaks in the prophets, St. Ambrose infers that He knows all things which are of God, and therefore is One with the Father and the Son. This same point he establishes again from the fact that He possesses all that God possesses, namely, Godhead, knowledge of the heart,…
1,082 wordsSECTION 114Chapter XX.
Chapter XX. The river flowing from the Throne of God is a figure of the Holy Spirit, but by the waters spoken of by David the powers of heaven are intended. The kingdom of God is the work of the Spirit; and it is no matter for wonder if He reigns in this together with the Son, since St. Paul promises that we too shall reign wit…
1,239 wordsSECTION 115Chapter XXII.
Chapter XXII. In proof of the Unity in Trinity the passage of Isaiah which has been cited is considered, and it is shown that there is no difference as to its sense amongst those who expound it of the Father, or of the Son, or of the Spirit. If He Who was crucified was Lord of glory, so, too, is the Holy Spirit equal in all thi…
753 wordsSECTION 116Introduction.
Introduction. Besides his elder sister Marcellina, who received the veil at the hands of Pope Liberius, at Christmas [perh. 353 a.d.], St. Ambrose had also a brother named Satyrus, to which name, in the epitaph on him ascribed to the bishop, is added Uranius. This is probably, however, merely in reference to his translation fro…
2,256 wordsSECTION 11714. The treatment of this topic demands more arguments, by which to demonstrate the authority of the Father, the special property of the Son
14. The treatment of this topic demands more arguments, by which to demonstrate the authority of the Father, the special property of the Son, and the Unity of the whole Trinity; but to-day I have undertaken the office of consolation, not of discussion, although it is customary in consoling to draw away the mind from its grief by…
2,225 wordsSECTION 11829. And, indeed, so great kindness seems to me to merit no ordinary gratitude. For not without a purpose are the widows in the Acts of the A
29. And, indeed, so great kindness seems to me to merit no ordinary gratitude. For not without a purpose are the widows in the Acts of the Apostles described as weeping when Tabitha was dead, [1465] or the crowd in the Gospel, moved by the widow's tears and accompanying the funeral of the young man who was to be raised again. [1…
2,226 wordsSECTION 11944. One may consider his courage at the same time, for he, when the vessel was breaking up, did not as a shipwrecked man seize a plank, but
44. One may consider his courage at the same time, for he, when the vessel was breaking up, did not as a shipwrecked man seize a plank, but as a brave man found in himself the support of his courage, nor did his hope fail nor his expectation deceive him. And then, when preserved from the waves and brought safe to land in the por…
2,247 wordsSECTION 12062. Why should I relate that in his piety he went beyond mere justice, when he, having thought that in consideration of my office something
62. Why should I relate that in his piety he went beyond mere justice, when he, having thought that in consideration of my office something ought to be given to the unlawful possessor of our property, declared that I was the author of the bounty, but made over the receipts of his own share to the common fund. 63. These and othe…
2,254 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.