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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Observe the affection of the Teacher. After the admonition he adds a prayer; not only that, but even introduces it in his letter. For we need both counsel and prayer. "Sanctify you wholly," he says, and may "your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." What does he here call the spirit? The gift of grace. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
To his instruction the apostle also joins prayer, so that from both sides they might have security. What does "in all fullness" mean? That is, in body and soul, as is evident further on. The Spirit, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we received through baptism. If we keep His lamp bright and unextinguished, then we shall enter the bridal chamber of the Bridegroom; and both soul and body will then be blameless, if the spirit within us shines brightly. …
Irenaeus
Now God shall be glorified in His handiwork, fitting it so as to be conformable to, and modelled after, His own Son. For by the hands of the Father, that is, by the Son and the Holy Spirit, man, and not [merely] a part of man, was made in the likeness of God. …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
On this subject the Lord says, "When you come into the land to which I bring you and when you eat of the food of the land, you shall present an offering to the Lord. When you separate the firstfruits of your barn floors, you shall also give the firstfruits of your dough to the Lord." We are a composite of diverse elements mixed together, cold with hot, and moist with dry. This mixture is the source of many pleasures and manifold delights of the flesh. But these are not the firstfruits of this body of ours. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then, when Paul says: may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly, he interjects a prayer; and he does three things. First, he prays on their behalf; secondly, he indicates that his prayer will be heard; and finally he issues special admonitions. Paul says, I have given my advice; but remember that nothing will come of it unless God gives you grace. Therefore, may the God of peace himself sanctify you. "I am the Lord who sanctify you" (Lev. 22:32). …
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