Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Ezekiel 28:12

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Jerusalem

The chief author of sin, then, is the devil, the author of all evil. Not I but the Lord has said, "The devil sins from the beginning." Before him no one sinned. Nor did he sin because by nature he was of necessity prone to sin—or else the responsibility for sin would reflect on him who created him in this way—but after being created good, he became a devil by his own free choice, receiving that name from his action. …

Catechetical Lecture 2:4 ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

It follows that the serpent in paradise was certainly not brought into being without the will of God. In the figure of the serpent we see the devil. That the devil existed even in paradise we are informed by the prophet Ezekiel, who in discussing the prince of Tyre says, "You are in Eden, the garden of God." The prince of Tyre stands for the devil. …

On Paradise 2:9 ↗

Jerome

He who was nurtured in a paradise of delight as one of the twelve precious stones was wounded and went down to hell from the mount of God.

Against Jovinianus 2.4 ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

We should notice that the nature of angels is not said to have been made in the likeness of God but as the seal of the likeness, since as its essential nature is finer, it is suggested that God's image is expressed with greater likeness in it. The prophet immediately adds, every precious stone was your covering, carnelian, topaz and jasper, chrysolite, onyx and beryl, sapphire, carbuncle and emerald. He gave the names of nine stones, since there are nine ranks of angels. …

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 34 ↗