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Ephrem the Syrian

4th century · AD 373 · Syriac & Oriental · 790 passages

A deacon and poet who taught Scripture in hymns, rich with imagery drawn from paradise, light, and the Eucharist.

Background on Ephrem the Syrian

In his own words on Colossians

  • Colossians 1:20

    Thus, as peace began to be [established], the angels proclaimed, "Glory in the highest and peace on earth." When lower beings received [peace] from superior beings, "they cried, Glory on earth and peace in the heavens." At that time when the divinity came down [and] was clothed in humanity, the angels cried, "Peace on earth." And at the time when that humanity ascended in order to be absorbed into the divinity and sit on the right—"Peace in heaven"—the infants were crying forth before him, "Hosanna in the highest." Hence, the apostle also learned that one should say, "He made peace by the blood of his cross [for] that which is in heaven and on earth."

    Commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron

  • Colossians 2:14

    At the Birth of the Son the king was enrolling all men for the tribute-money, that they might be debtors to Him: the King came forth to us Who blotted out our bills, and wrote another bill in His own Name that He might be our debtor.

    Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh, Hymn 4

Quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations of the fathers — Aquinas's Catena Aurea, the Ante-Nicene and Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, and related editions. Each quotation links to its source.