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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.
			
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