Justin Martyr (Justin the Philosopher)

Excerpt

Excerpt

While patristic commentary on St. Paul's shorter letters was not as prevalent as his more extensive one, certain passages in his epistles proved particularly important in doctrinal disputes and practical church matters. Proving pivotal during the Arian and Gnostic controversies, the most commented-upon christological text amid these Pauline epistles was Colossians 1:15-20, where Jesus is declared to be "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

Chief among the Eastern commentators and widely excerpted throughout this volume is John Chrysostom, praised for his pastoral insight and shrewd, generous empathy with the apostle Paul. Other Greek commentators whose works are cited include Theodoret of Cyr, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Severian of Gabala, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa. Among Western commentators Augustine dominates.

This volume opens up a treasure house of ancient wisdom that allows these faithful witnesses, some appearing here in English translation for the first time, to speak with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today.