Ambrosiaster

In his own words on Colossians

• Colossians 1:13

  For we have been freed from the condition of darkness, that is, rescued from hell, in which we were held by the devil as well as by our own sin, through faith we have been transferred into the heavenly kingdom of the Son of God; so that God might show us the depth of His love for us, when He lifted us up from the depths of hell and brought us into heaven with His true Son. Now all believers, who are devoted with fixed minds, leaving the world, are led into heaven by the guidance of the Father's right hand angel, which was not granted before defeated death.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 1:16

  The firstborn of all creatures. Before every creature, he testifies that the Son, begotten and not created, was born; so that his birth be distinguished from the creation of creatures: and to make this completely clear, he added: For in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Therefore, those things which were done by Him, are said to be done through Him, because He was born for this purpose, that He might create the creature: that is, to have made it in Him and through Him. For His birth does not profit Himself, but us; because He who was in these things had no need to be born. And in order to clearly explain what and how great the power of the Son is, he shows what exists through him, namely Thrones, Dominions, and Principalities, and Powers; so that, therefore, it is believed that there is absolutely nothing less in him than in the Father.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 1:18

  And he is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. Christ is the head of the Church, if indeed all celestial and terrestrial beings have one mind, so that they may be the Church, which is of one faith. But if, lacking the head, they are cut off from the whole body, that is, from their Creator, they will be carried away by a certain insanity and vanity. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. Since all things were created through him, through him they were also made subject to a certain negligence, to be reformed; lest his work be restored by another to the detriment of him; that just as he was born before all, so he would be the first again from the resurrection of the dead, having his former life restored; for he was born before all things from God, in order to create all things that did not exist. But again, he was born in the flesh from a virgin, in order to abolish the sin that had entered the world through the virgin Eve. Born, therefore, and dead, he rose again, so that he might recreate what he had first made, because they had been like dead through error, so that he might always be first and foremost in every life.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 1:19

  Because it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell. The fullness is in Him and remains; because He is always able to accomplish everything, so that nothing is excluded, that cannot be achieved through Him; so that He might create, and reform, and raise up what has fallen, and give life to what is dead. Hence He says: As the Father has life in Himself, so He has given the Son to have life in Himself (John 5:26); and: As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wills. For the Father does not judge anyone, but has given all judgment to the Son (Ibid., 21, 22). What could be more just than that, unless that he who has done all these things through him should give judgment, so that all the fullness of divinity might dwell in him by virtue of what we have said, that he has all power in himself; that is, he is perfect God; for whoever does not have all these things is not God.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 1:21

  And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind because of your evil behavior, but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death, to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in his sight. This is the message of the gift of God's grace to the Gentiles, that he may show them how indebted they are, and indeed greatly, through their actions of gratitude toward God; for they were once enemies of his plans, which he had determined to carry out through his servant Moses, whose teachings and authority they did not accept, devoted instead to their idols and their wicked deeds; for they worshipped the works of their own hands. But the mercy and providence of God sought them out, so that they might obtain the free grace of God and return to him with a clean conscience; that on the day of judgment, when no trace of their old errors would be found in them, they may join themselves to their Creator, who, in order to benefit the human race, became incarnate as a man to conquer death with his own body.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 1:24

  He confesses that he rejoices in the tribulations he suffered, because he sees his progress in the faith of the believers. For tribulation is not empty when it is endured for the one for whom it is endured; it acquires for life. The sufferings that Christ speaks of are inflicted, of which they certainly pursue the teaching; so that he may burden the treacherous with the credulity of their impiety, and may proclaim the charity of God to the faithful, whose Son now suffers injuries for us. Therefore, he now wants to be understood for what reason he writes to them, when he says: If indeed you persevere in the founded faith, so that they may know then that the passion of Christ would benefit them if they were to remain in the received faith.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 1:27

  This is the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations, but is now revealed to His saints. For God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. For before the preaching of faith, the Gentiles were obligated to be circumcised if they desired to adhere to the Law. But now, by the mercy of God, they have been accepted as they are into the faith. This was viewed as unworthy by the Jews, that Christ, in whom the hope of the Jews resided, would also make the Gentiles partakers of his glory.

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• Colossians 2:8

  See to it that no one deceives you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Philosophy here refers to earthly wisdom, by which those who desire to be esteemed wise in the world are often deceived. It is composed of arguments and subtleties of certain trivial matters, as if it has investigated physical reasons, with some things mixed in that are exhortations to a good life or indications, at times about measurements, as well as about numbers, and at times about the qualities and quantities of elements arranged in order. In whose discussions, whoever falls into them will hardly and rarely escape; for he is held by plausible and fabricated reasons, esteeming nothing as true except what is seen and understood in the basic elements. And because those things that exist in the present and are seen with the eyes appear pleasing and enjoyable; they deceive some, who think that the spiritual reason should be despised and ridiculed due to the despair of the future, assigning all power to the stars, subject to carnal reason. Therefore, he calls this tradition or philosophy deceitful and empty because it is not ordered by the power of God but by the weakness of human reasoning, which restricts the power of God within its own knowledge so as not to believe that He could do otherwise than what carnal reason comprehends. They assign diversity to each element of divinity for the sake of worship, to bind the minds of the ignorant so that they do not extend themselves toward the true God. Therefore, it warns against following this tradition; because it is a worshipper of the world, not of God, who is one: nor does it lead to Christ, but away from Christ, in whom the perfection of divinity resides.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 2:9

  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. For everything that the Father has, He has given to the Son, since He begot Him in the fullness of divinity in bodily form; so that, since He is the head and His creation is the body, everything that is thought to be possible for a heavenly creature is believed to be fully present in Christ; so that no one should believe that anyone else should be worshiped. For whatever one thinks is great in something, they will find even more in it; because all things have it from him, just as the limbs have it from the head: but he himself is always full.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 2:11

  He says that the Gentiles were dead: first, because they did not want to accept the law that was given as a testimony by the Creator and to condemn vices; then, because they were unworthy of life due to the impiety of their sins; therefore, he separated them from the Jews as if they were enemies of the one true God. But the Jews, living in the confession of one God, when Christ came, learned the mystery of God, which they had been expecting for their justification: that in Him, what had been taken away from them, because it is impossible to be without sin, they might receive forgiveness.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 2:14

  This is the protection of God, which the Apostle explains through the significance of various causes. For he mentions many things that were done, so that the human race might attain forgiveness; not only did he forgive us our own sins, but he also took away that sin which came from Adam's transgression (which he called the handwriting in decrees), which prevented us from rising from the dead; for if he had not also removed this, those who had received forgiveness, upon departing from here, would have been held captive there in the underworld. Moreover, all sins were allowed so that they would rise from the dead. For indeed, death comes from sin, and the resurrection of the dead is achieved by the removal of sin: which could not have happened unless sin had affixed itself to the cross. For while the Savior conquers sin by not sinning, which held humanity captive, He also is killed by Him who is innocent: thus, sin is crucified. For sin, once defeated, is said to be mortified, for the cross is not the death of the Savior but of sin. For the innocent who is killed, makes those who kill him guilty.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 2:18

  What was previously warned under the name of philosophy, now he teaches more openly to be observed by those who, studying earthly wisdom, assert that these things which are adjacent or apparent to the eyes should be worshiped, so that their souls, bound under the firmament, may not strive beyond the firmament towards the higher heavens to worship the God of all. The work of the enemy is such that he always seeks to keep humiliated souls on Earth, where he knows that he, who has been cast down from heaven, will always face the just judgment of God. He simulates religion, although it is the greatest sacrilege. For he inflates the movement of the stars, which he calls angels, not by divine authority, but by human superstition, which is useless and only leads to harm. They refuse to hold onto the faith of Christ, who is the creator and Lord of all.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 2:20

  Therefore, if you have died with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you still, as if living in this world, subject yourselves to regulations? Everyone who is baptized in Christ dies to the world; for he renounces all superstitions and worships solely the faith of Christ. For having removed what is added to natural righteousness, the discipline given by God remains, through which one lives for God through the hope that is in Christ; but he dies to those to whom he was subjected by error, denying them to be gods. For by saying 'the world', he signifies the error of the flesh; for everything that is visible is attributed to the flesh. Hence it is where even the Apostle John says: 'Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world' (1 John 2:15); that is, neither the elements by which the world is composed, nor the errors that human tradition has invented, let us love: but only Christ, who died for us; that he might unite us with his body from the perished ones. Therefore, those who are buried with Christ are dead to the elements, so that they may not care about them; for they have learned to hold onto heavenly things, which can give eternal life. For these things do not give present things and hinder them from being apprehended in the future. But whoever doubts about some things after baptism, thinking that certain things from the past should be revered, shows himself to be living according to the elements, which he determines should be worshipped, or he hesitates to despise them; he will remain within the cycles of the world, separated from God; because, being clothed with the old man, he will not be able to pass through carnal things.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 3:14

  Over all these things, however, have charity, which is the bond of unity. But because charity is greater than all, it encourages us to strive for it more. For then all that he commanded to be observed above can be brought to the fruition of rewards, if, guided by charity, they walk the path of the law; for whoever does something out of love, operates with their whole mind. Hypocrisy and pretense are not in charity; therefore, John the Apostle says: Fear, he says, is not in love. For whoever fears is not perfect: Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18); hence the Lord prefers to be loved rather than feared. This is indeed the love that encompasses unity, this is the love that makes all one body, this is the love that has true peace, which is guarded by a pure heart. For peace can be called peace, even without charity; for charity always brings peace with it.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 3:22

  Let not earthly masters be arrogant, presuming authority, but rather temper and restrain their spirits, so that, with due consideration for the human race, they may recognize that God is the creator of all, not only of servants and free men, but of all freemen. But this has been made possible by the injustice of the world, so that while one invades the boundaries of another, then free men are led captive; hence they were called "captives" by the ancients, as they were seized by the hand. Here the condition and position even now appear, some are redeemed, others remain as slaves. But in the sight of God, this servant is held who has sinned (John VIII, 34). Finally, the servant of Cham heard the cause of sin: Cursed be the child of Canaan, he shall be the servant of servants to his brothers (Gen. IX, 25). To this sentiment the ancients agreed, so as to define that all wise men are free, but all foolish men are slaves; because the wise man abstains from sins, so that he may be free, who follows what is right; but the servant who submits himself to sin through the imprudence of foolishness. And so Cham, because of his foolishness, who foolishly burned his father's nakedness, was called a servant. He showed therefore to the lords, that they are not truly lords, but as if through an image; for they are lords of bodies, not of souls. For only the Lord, and the author of invisible things, God, rules over both bodies and souls; so that considering these things, they may demand just services from them: such as they themselves also desire to be demanded from the common Lord.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 4:5

  For it is necessary for us to walk among unbelievers and engage in conversations for the sake of worldly conversation. This is what it reminds us, that our conversation should be with wisdom itself because of the offense of the Gentiles, so that they may not take an opportunity to blaspheme through us and be stirred up to persecute. For what need is there to speak with someone whom you know to be stubborn and obstinate in mind, ready to make insults? Therefore, she advises that these things should be spoken with appropriate place and time, under the guidance of modesty and religion: or if such a person is present, who makes a lot of noise, then it should be kept silent. Otherwise, it must be dealt with differently with the powerful of the world, differently with the average, and differently with the humble. Also, it must be dealt with differently with the gentle and differently with the angry, whom one must yield to, that is, redeem the time. For when you yield to the assailant's words on Sundays and the audacity of harmful time, you gain the injuries of dangerous time. For if the head, that is, the king, agrees with the body, then there is freedom to speak the words of God with gentleness, so that they may be provoked to do good. Nevertheless, when they are loud and bold for insults, you must always yield; for you conquer, while yielding.

  Commentary on Colossians

• Colossians 4:7

  And they have sent him with the purpose of making their affairs known to you and to be informed of what is happening with you. Although he says above that he is present with them in spirit and sees what they are doing, messengers are still necessary. For someone becomes more anxious when they see someone coming to consider their conversation; they fear even more if they think they are being watched. For although God sees everything and we know that everything is known to him, because we do not see ourselves being seen by him, we act differently.

  Commentary on Colossians