Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Colossians 1:19

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For it was the good pleasure of the Father, that in Him should all the fullness dwell." Whatsoever things are of the Father, these he saith are of the Son also, and that with more of intensity, because that He both became "dead" for, and united Himself to us. He said, "Firstfruits," as of fruits. He said not "Resurrection," but "Firstfruits," showing that He hath sanctified us all, and offered us, as it were, a sacrifice. …

Homily on Colossians 3 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"The fullness" of the Godhead, that is, if the Son and the Word was somewhere, then it was not His activity that dwelt there, but His very essence. And Paul finds no other cause for this than the good pleasure and will of God.

Commentary on Colossians ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

In regard of His Godhead, therefore, the Son of God so hath His own glory, that the glory of Father and Son is one: He is not, therefore, inferior in splendour, for the glory is one, nor lower in Godhead, for the fulness of the Godhead is in Christ.

Exposition of the Christian Faith, Book 2 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then (v. 19), he shows the dignity of the head with respect to the fulness of all graces. For some saints had particular graces, but Christ had all graces; and so he says, that in him all the fulness was pleased to dwell. Each word has its own force. Pleased indicates that the gifts Christ had as man were not the result of fate or merits, as Photinus says, but were due to the good pleasure of the divine will taking this man into a unity of person: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Mt 3:17). …

Commentary on Colossians ↗

Bonaventure

It is objected that the soul of Christ was wise by uncreated wisdom only, thus: Where there is fullness of wisdom, it is superfluous to posit what is partial. But in Christ there is fullness of wisdom, because in him it pleased all fullness to dwell, Colossians 1. Therefore, if all created wisdom is partial, it is superfluous to posit created wisdom in Christ or in his soul. …

Quaestiones Disputatae, De Scientia Christi, Question 5 ↗