Church History
12/9/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter X. Church Fathers, and Theological Literature." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2562-2700). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 161-180).
"§175. Ambrose." (pp. 2645-2652).
Schaff introduces Ambrose as the son of the governor of Gaul, born about 340 (Schaff 2014, p. 2646). He was a man of considerable education, and served initially as praetor in Upper Italy before being urged to take up the episcopacy in Milan (Schaff 2014, p. 2647). Milan had been in the hands of an Arian bishop, so the shift to Ambrose as bishop was not comfortable. Further, Ambrose was still a catechumen and had not yet been baptized. Within 8 days of the call, he had completed his catechesis, been baptized, and took up the episcopacy in Milan in 374.
Schaff (and others) give glowing accounts of Ambrose as bishop. He was apparently a gifted preacher and administrator (Schaff 2014, p. 2647). He himself took on a strict asceticism, as well as voluntary poverty.
Ambrose proved to be vigorous in his opposition to Arian errors (Schaff 2014, p. 2648). He further strove to separate the church from state politics. Schaff observes, "It was his maxim, that the emperor is in the church, but not over the church, and therefore has no right to the church buildings" (Schaff 2014, p. 2648). Consistent with this point of view, Ambrose chose not to involve himself with the affairs of the state. Ambrose famously refused the emperor Theodosius communion due to a matter of unrepented sin (Schaff 2014, p. 2649). The emperor was moved to repentance, confession, restitution, and absolution. The relationship between Theodosius and Ambrose grew stronger from that point to the time of Theodosius' death (Schaff 2014, p. 2650). Ambrose died on Good Friday, April 4, 397, aged 57 (Schaff 2014, p. 2650).
Schaff considers Ambrose to be of such a stature in his theology and writing to be excelled only by Augustine and Jerome, and to have been unparalleled as an administrator (Schaff 2014, p. 2651). He practiced an allegorical method of exegesis, which shows in many of his most important works, discussed in brief by Schaff. Much of Ambrose's theology and exegesis is modeled on Basil the Great.
"§176. Jerome as a Divine and Scholar." (pp. 2652-2656).
Because Schaff had previously discussed the life of Jerome, he here comments only on his theological and literary works. Jerome spent his life in study, teaching, and writing (Schaff 2014, p. 2652). He was an avid collector of books, at great personal expense. Schaff notes that Jerome "possessed a remarkable memory, a keen understanding, quick and sound judgment, an ardent temperament, a lively imagination, sparkling wit, and brilliant power of expression" (Schaff 2014, p. 2653). Jerome's Latin Vulgate arguably did more to solidify the Latin language as used among Christians than did all the works of other Latin Fathers. He had exhaustive knowledge of secular and sacred literature alike.
At times Schaff considers Jerome to have been somewhat arrogant about his scholastic ability (Schaff 2014, p. 2655). He was, however, genuinely a scholar of outstanding ability. Schaff discusses Jerome's character flaws, inconsistencies, and care for his own reputation frankly as serious problems. He was impulsive and inconsiderate in his work, and was incurably vain and ambitious.
12/9/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter X. Church Fathers, and Theological Literature." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2562-2700). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 161-180).
"§175. Ambrose." (pp. 2645-2652).
Schaff introduces Ambrose as the son of the governor of Gaul, born about 340 (Schaff 2014, p. 2646). He was a man of considerable education, and served initially as praetor in Upper Italy before being urged to take up the episcopacy in Milan (Schaff 2014, p. 2647). Milan had been in the hands of an Arian bishop, so the shift to Ambrose as bishop was not comfortable. Further, Ambrose was still a catechumen and had not yet been baptized. Within 8 days of the call, he had completed his catechesis, been baptized, and took up the episcopacy in Milan in 374.
Schaff (and others) give glowing accounts of Ambrose as bishop. He was apparently a gifted preacher and administrator (Schaff 2014, p. 2647). He himself took on a strict asceticism, as well as voluntary poverty.
Ambrose proved to be vigorous in his opposition to Arian errors (Schaff 2014, p. 2648). He further strove to separate the church from state politics. Schaff observes, "It was his maxim, that the emperor is in the church, but not over the church, and therefore has no right to the church buildings" (Schaff 2014, p. 2648). Consistent with this point of view, Ambrose chose not to involve himself with the affairs of the state. Ambrose famously refused the emperor Theodosius communion due to a matter of unrepented sin (Schaff 2014, p. 2649). The emperor was moved to repentance, confession, restitution, and absolution. The relationship between Theodosius and Ambrose grew stronger from that point to the time of Theodosius' death (Schaff 2014, p. 2650). Ambrose died on Good Friday, April 4, 397, aged 57 (Schaff 2014, p. 2650).
Schaff considers Ambrose to be of such a stature in his theology and writing to be excelled only by Augustine and Jerome, and to have been unparalleled as an administrator (Schaff 2014, p. 2651). He practiced an allegorical method of exegesis, which shows in many of his most important works, discussed in brief by Schaff. Much of Ambrose's theology and exegesis is modeled on Basil the Great.
"§176. Jerome as a Divine and Scholar." (pp. 2652-2656).
Because Schaff had previously discussed the life of Jerome, he here comments only on his theological and literary works. Jerome spent his life in study, teaching, and writing (Schaff 2014, p. 2652). He was an avid collector of books, at great personal expense. Schaff notes that Jerome "possessed a remarkable memory, a keen understanding, quick and sound judgment, an ardent temperament, a lively imagination, sparkling wit, and brilliant power of expression" (Schaff 2014, p. 2653). Jerome's Latin Vulgate arguably did more to solidify the Latin language as used among Christians than did all the works of other Latin Fathers. He had exhaustive knowledge of secular and sacred literature alike.
At times Schaff considers Jerome to have been somewhat arrogant about his scholastic ability (Schaff 2014, p. 2655). He was, however, genuinely a scholar of outstanding ability. Schaff discusses Jerome's character flaws, inconsistencies, and care for his own reputation frankly as serious problems. He was impulsive and inconsiderate in his work, and was incurably vain and ambitious.
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