Ambrosiaster ("Star of Ambrose") is the name given to the anonymous author of the earliest complete Latin commentary on the thirteen epistles of Paul. The commentaries were thought to have been written by Ambrose throughout the Middle Ages, but their authorship was challenged by Erasmus, whose arguments have proved decisive. The commentaries, which serve as important witnesses to pre-Vulgate Latin versions of Paul's epistles, are noteworthy in several respects. Ambrosiaster was a careful and thoughtful interpreter, who made little use of allegory, though he employed typology judiciously. Writing during the pontificate of Damasus (366-384), he is a witness to Nicene orthodoxy and frequently comments on themes related to the Trinity, the consubstantiality of the Son, the problem of the unbelief of the Jews and the nature of human sinfulness. He had a keen eye for moral issues and often offers comments that reflect his knowledge of how the church had changed from the time of the apostles to his own day. Here for the first time his commentaries on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon are made available in English, ably translated and edited by Gerald L. Bray.

Paul's letters to the Corinthian church have left a mark on Christian Scripture in a way that could never have been predicted. Here the pastoral issues of a first-century Christian community in what Chrysostom identified as "still the first city in Greece" stand out in bold relief. How was a community shaped by the cross to find its expression in a city that Chrysostom knew to be "full of orators and philosophers" and that "prided itself . . . above all on its great wealth"? How was church unity to be maintained in a setting where prominent believers, bending truth and morality to their own advantage, divided the body of Christ? Here lay the challenge for the apostle Paul. And as the apostle writes, the fathers lean over his shoulder, marveling and commenting on his pastoral wisdom. Best known among these patristic commentators is Chrysostom, whose seventy-seven homilies on the two Corinthian epistles are a treasury of exposition and application. The fragmentary works of Didymus the Blind and Severian of Gabala give us samples of Greek exegesis from the Alexandrian and Antiochene schools. The partial work of Theodore of Mopsuestia, a commentator of great skill and insight, was long valued in the church. And the comments of Theodoret of Cyrus are notable for their sensitivity to the intertextuality of Scripture. Then there are Origen and Pelagius, whose names resonate with notable error, to the needless obscuring of their brilliant insights into Scripture. But pride of place goes to the unknown fourth-century commentator long mistaken for Ambrose and now dubbed "Ambrosiaster." His excellent commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians has been unavailable in English translation, and for that reason it is excerpted more generously in this volume. This Ancient Christian Commentary on 1-2 Corinthians opens a whole new way of reading these New Testament texts. The pastoral and theological interpretation of the fathers offers spiritual and intellectual sustenance to those who would read Paul again with open minds and hearts. Here we find the Pauline wisdom of the cross generating an effective heritage of Christian interpretation.

Bringing the wisdom of the ages to the palm of your hand The Great Quotes Catholic Bible features an array of beautiful quotes from saints, artists, and popes, allowing you to study God's Word with the leaders of our faith each time you open the Bible. The text of this beautiful edition is presented in two-columns on each page for easy reading, with a beautiful stained-glass motif throughout. It comes complete with full-color maps and two elegant ribbon markers to keep your place during study or prayer. Includes quotes from: St. Augustine, St. Ignatius, St. John Chrysostom, St. Joan of Arc, Blessed Pope Pius IX, Mother Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II, Pope St. Gregory the Great, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and so many more. Features Include: Complete Catholic Bible with the official imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church 120 beautiful, artistically rendered quotation pages from popular figures in the Church's history for deeper study Anglicized text utilizing British English spelling and grammar within the text Durable Smyth-sewn binding lies flat in your hand or on your desk Full-color maps are a visual representation of the locations where key events take place in the Bible Two double-sided satin ribbon markers so you can easily navigate and keep track of where you were reading Classic raised detail on the spine Presentation page allows you to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or note Words of Christ in black for a reading experience that is easy on your eyes throughout Scripture Gilded page edging Exclusive 10-point Catholic Comfort Print (R) typeface created specifically for Catholic Bible Press by 2K/DENMARK type foundry