John Chrysostom

"The last enemy that shall be abolished is death." How the last? After all, after the devil, after all the other things. For so in the beginning also death came in last; the counsel of the devil having come first, and our disobedience, and then death. Virtually then indeed it is even now abolished: but actually, at that time. For this cause indeed doth he set death last, that from the victory over the rest this also might be easily admitted by the unbeliever. …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 39 ↗

Irenaeus

For this end did He put enmity between the serpent and the woman and her seed, they keeping it up mutually: He, the sole of whose foot should be bitten, having power also to tread upon the enemy's head; but the other biting, killing, and impeding the steps of man, until the seed did come appointed to tread down his head,-which was born of Mary, of whom the prophet speaks: "Thou shalt tread upon the asp and the basilisk; thou shalt trample down the lion and the dragon;"-indicating that sin, which was set up and spread out against man, …

Against Heresies Book III ↗

Augustine of Hippo

The new life begins now by faith and is carried on by hope, but then will come the time when death shall be swallowed up in victory, when that "enemy, death, shall be destroyed last," when we shall be changed and become like the angels.… We have now mastered fear by faith, but then we shall have the mastery in love by vision.

LETTER 55, To Janarius ↗

Thomas Aquinas

944. – So, therefore, the subjection of all adversaries is clear, which subjection will, indeed, be most complete, because even that which is extremely hostile will be subjected to Him. This, however, is death, which is contrary to life most of all; and therefore, he says: the last enemy, where he does three things. First, he mentions death's subjection; secondly, he proves this by an authority (v. 26b); thirdly, he argues from this authority (v. 26c). 945. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗