Gênesis 22
Ambrose of Milan · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Gênesis 22:7
Therefore he brings his well-beloved son to be sacrificed, and offered promptly him whom he had received late; nor is he restrained by being called by the name of father, when his son called him "Father," and he replied, "My son." Dear pledges of love are these names, but the commands of God are loved still more. And so although their hearts felt for each other, their purpose remained firm. The father's hand stretched out the knife over his son, and the father's heart struck the blow that the sentence might not fail of being carried out; he feared lest the stroke should miss, lest his right hand should fail. He felt the movings of fatherly affection, but did not shrink from the work of submission, and hastened his obedience, even when he heard the voice from heaven. Let us then set God before all those whom we love, father, brother, mother, that He may preserve for us those whom we love, as in the case of Abraham we behold rather the liberal Rewarder than the servant. — On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus, Book 2, Section 97
Gênesis 22:10
The father's hand stretched out the knife over his son, and the father's heart struck the blow that the sentence might not fail of being carried out; he feared lest the stroke should miss, lest his right hand should fail. He felt the movings of fatherly affection, but did not shrink from the work of submission, and hastened his obedience, even when he heard the voice from heaven. — On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus, Book 2, Section 97
Gênesis 22:12
He showed the ram in the thicket in the stead of the lad, that He might restore the son to his father, and yet the victim not fail the priest. And so Abraham was not stained with his son's blood, nor was God deprived of the sacrifice. The prophet spoke, and neither yielded to boastfulness nor continued obstinate, but took the ram in exchange for the lad. And by this is shown the more how piously he offered him whom he now so gladly received back. — On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus, Book 2, Section 98
Gênesis 22:12
Determined by motives of high devotion, Abraham, obeying the oracle of God, offered his son for a whole burnt sacrifice; and, as if destitute of natural affection, drew his sword, that no delay might obscure the brightness of the offering. But when he was commanded to spare his son he willingly sheathed his sword, and he who with this faithful intention was hastening to offer up his only son with still more zealous piety hastened to substitute a ram as a sacrifice. — Letters, Letter 83, Section 5
Gênesis 22:13
Very many deny that the Sacred writers wrote according to the rules of art. Nor do we contend for the contrary; for they wrote not according to art, but according to grace, which is above all art; for they wrote that which the Spirit gave them to speak. And yet they who wrote on art made use of their writings from which to frame their art, and to compose its comments and rules. Again, in art there are principally required, a cause, a subject, and an end. When then we read that holy Isaac said to his father, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering," which of these is wanting? For he who asks, doubts, he who answers the query pronounces and solves the doubt. "Behold the fire," that is the cause, "and the wood," that is hulē, which in Latin is 'materia,' what third thing remains but the end, which the son asked for, saying, "Where is the lamb for a burnt-offering," and the father replied, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering?" Let us discuss for a little while the mystery. God shewed a ram hanging by his horns. Now the ram is the Word, full of tranquillity, moderation, and patience; whereby is shewn that Wisdom is a good sacrifice, and that He was well skilled in the mode of meritorious propitiation. Wherefore the Prophet also says, "Offer the sacrifice of righteousness." And so it is a sacrifice both of righteousness and of wisdom. — Letters, Letter 8 (to Justus), Sections 1-3