Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 2273
Ambrosiaster commenting on 1 Timothy 4:14 says that priestly duties consist of encouraging and teaching people. Negligent and unworthy priests will not enter the kingdom of God. The "Commentaries to the Pauline Epistles", written in Rome, the 370s or 380s.
1 Tim 4:14: "noli neglegere gratiam quae est in te, quae data est tibi per profetiam cum inpositione manuum presbyterii."
1. intentum hunc vult esse {et deditum} exercitio lectionis, ut omni cura diligentia que hoc enitatur, ut exhortetur et doceat. exhortatio est, cum miti verbo aliquos provocamus ad bonum opus, docere vero, quando ea quae latent intimamus mentibus audientium. si autem (enim) rector populi ab his dissimulet (dissimulat), neglegit gratiam datam sibi. ad hoc enim creatur dux populo, ut huius salutis sollicitudinem gerat admonendo, docendo, ut fructum habeat ordinatio, quam ad hoc utique deus constituit, ut proficiat saluti plebis suae.
2. qui ergo in hac auctoritate positus indiligens fuerit, dei contemptor habebitur, minimus in regno dei vocatus; neque enim poterit facere, qui nec docere dignatur. gratiam tamen dari ordinatis significat per profetiam et manuum inpositionem. profetia est, qua eligitur quasi doctor futurus idoneus, manus inpositionis vero verba sunt mystica, quibus confirmatur ad hoc opus electus, accipiens auctoritatem, teste conscientia sua, ut audeat vice domini sacrificium deo offerre.
 
(ed. Vogels 1969: 276)
 
1 Tim 4:14: "Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the presbyterate."
1. The exercise of reading aims at making him attentive (and devoted) to try with all diligence exhorting and teaching. When we provoke others with gentle words to good deeds, it is exhortation; when we disclose the hidden things to the minds of those who listen, this is teaching. But if a leader of the people refrains from that, he neglects grace given to him. The commander is given to the people to take care for its salvation by admonishment and teaching, so that his ordination brings fruits. For that God apppointed him to help the people be saved.
2. If a person having this position of authority, is negligent, he should be considered a contemner of God who is not called to the Kingdom of God. And who is not worthy to teach, will not be able to do [what he teach]. [Paul] explains that grace is given to the ordained by prophesy and imposition of hands. Prophesy, so that a chosen one be in the future an apt teacher; with the mystical words of the imposition of hands a chosen one is strengthen for the task, and he recieves authority (his conscience is his witness) in order to dare to sacrifice to God on account of the Lord.
 
(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region
  • Rome
City
  • Rome

About the source:

Author: Ambrosiaster
Title: Commentary to the Letters of Paul, Commentaries to the Pauline Epistles, Commentaria in Pauli epistulas
Origin: Rome (Rome)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
"Ambrosiaster" is a name given in the scholarship (probably since the 17th-century edition of the Maurines) to the author of the Commentaries to the Letters of Paul which where attributed to Bishop Ambrose of Milan throughout the Middle Ages. Some proposed to identify Ambrosiaster with one of the known authors but none of these identifications is supported by compelling evidence. From the remarks scattered in the Commentaries we can deduce that he lived in Rome during the pontificate of Pope Damasus (366-384). As he sometimes speaks disapprovingly about the Roman deacons, it is possible that he was himself a presbyter (Hunter 2017). The Commentaries follow a Latin translation of the Pauline epistles common in Italy before the Vulgate revision. The Commentaries survived in the several revisions. Their editor Vogels distinguishes three recensions in the commentary to the Romans, alpha, beta and gamma, and two recensions, alpha and gamma, for the remaining letters. The text given here takes into account both revisions.
Also the Quaestiones Veteris and Novi Testamenti, transmitted under the name of Augustine, are now unanimously attributed to Ambrosiaster.
 
Edition:
H.I. Vogels ed., Ambrosiaster, Commentarius in xiii Epistulas Paulinas, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Lationorum 81, Wien 1966–9
Bibliography:
D.G. Hunter, "The Significance of Ambrosiaster," Journal of Early Christian Studies 17 (2009), 1-26
D.G. Hunter, "Rivalry between Presbyters and Deacons in the Roman Church: Three Notes on Ambrosiaster, Jerome, and The Boasting of the Roman Deacons," Vigiliae Christianae 71 (2017), 495–510
S. Lunn-Rockliffe, Ambrosiaster's Political Theology, Oxford 2007
A. Merkt, "Wer war der Ambrosiaster?" Wissenschaft und Weisheit 59 (1996) 19-33
A. Polliastri, "Ambrosiaster", in: Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity, ed. A. Di Berardino, Downers Grove 2013

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
    Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour
      Act of ordination
        Ritual activity - Imposition of hands
          Described by a title - Doctor
            Theoretical considerations - On priesthood
              Pastoral activity - Teaching
                Described by a title - Rector
                  Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER2273, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=2273