The Presbyters Project

9.46 [...] Venit enim Paulus crucem domini praedicare, ilicem semper uirentem et nuces, quarum testa durior, fructus tenerior - merito que uirga sacerdotalis Aaron nucina et Hieremiae baculum huiusmodi -, argentum quoque duplex. non otiosa munera esse quis dubitet, cum et patriarchae uita et apostoli sermo semper uirescat in pectoribus singulorum et eloquium sanctorum sicut argentum igne examinatum praecepti salubris fulgore resplendeat? Nec inmerito duplex argentum referunt, in quibus Pauli praefigurabatur aduentus, qui laborantes presbyteros in uerbo atque doctrina duplici honore donabat.

(ed. Schenkl 1897: 105)

9.46. [...] For Paul came to preach the cross of the Lord, an oak that is always verdant. And almonds appear, which are rather hard in the shell but more tender in the meat - it was right that Aaron's priestly rod was of the almond tree, [cf. Num 17:23] and Jeremia's staff as well - and double money too [cf. Gen 43: 12]. Who would doubt that these gifts were useful? For the life of the patriarch and the preaching of the Apostle are always verdant in the heart of each man, and the speech of the saints shines brightly with the splendor of the precept of salvation, like silver tried by the fire [cf. Ps 12 (11): 7]. And it is with reason that they carry double money, for in them there is prefigured the coming of Paul, who presented presbyters who labor in the word and in the teaching with a double honor [cf. 1 Tim 5:17]

(trans. McHugh 1972: 220)

Place of event:

Region

Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia

City

Milan

About the source:

Author: Ambrose of Milan
Title: De Ioseph, De Joseph, On Joseph, Joseph
Origin: Milan (Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

In "On Joseph" 6.30 and 6.34 Ambrose makes allusion to his meeting with Calligonus, the chamberlain (praepositus cubiculi) of the emperor Valentinian II during the conflict over basilicas (Ambrose, Letter 76.28); Ambrose seems to refer also to the death of Calligonus who was executed in 388 (see Augustine, Contra Julianum Pelagianum 6.14.41) so the work "On Joseph" was most probably composed shortly after this event. See PLRE, v. 1, Calligonus.

Edition:

K. Schenkl ed., Sancti Ambrosii opera pars II. De Iacob. De Ioseph. De patriarichis. De fuga saeculi. De interpellatione Iob et David. De apologia David. Apologia David altera. De Helia et ieiunio. De Nabuthae. De Tobia, Coprus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum 32/2, Wien 1897

Translation:

Saint Ambrose, Seven exegetical works. Isaac, or the soul. Death as a Good. Jacob and the Happy Life. Joseph. The Patriarchs. Flight from the World. The Prayer of Job and David, trans. M.P. McHugh, Washington D.C. 1972

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Livelihood/income

Theoretical considerations - On priesthood

Pastoral activity - Teaching

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER2001, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=2001