Ephrem the Syrian
4th century · c. 306 – 373 · Nisibis / Edessa
A deacon and poet who taught Scripture in hymns, rich with imagery drawn from paradise, light, and the Eucharist.
Passages he speaks to
- Genesis 1:1
God brought the heavens and the earth out of nothingness. This verse establishes that there was no pre-existing matter used for creation. By His word alone, God established the height and the depth of the world in an instant, showing His power over all substance.
- Bel and the Dragon 1:31
The six days Daniel spent among the lions serve as a type of the soul preserved in the midst of worldly trials. Just as the lions became like lambs before the prophet, God restrains the natural ferocity of the enemy when a saint stands firm in prayer.
- Bel and the Dragon 1:33
The prophet Habakkuk was chosen to feed Daniel because God honors the physical needs of those who suffer for the truth. This miraculous delivery shows that the same God who fed Israel in the desert can transport food through the air to His elect.
Primary texts in English: public-domain edition at CCEL.