John Litteral

Questions on the Old and New Testaments by Ambrosiaster John Litteral

Now, an English translation of Ambrosiaster's Questions on the Old and New Testaments! Ambrosiaster was an anonymous fourth century Christian writer who is credited with writing commentaries on all of St. Paul's epistles and a compilation of treatises known as the Questions on the Old and New Testaments. The name Ambrosiaster is not the actual name of the writer, but the name means "Star of Ambrose," and this name was given after the Ambrosian authorship of the commentaries on Paul's epistles had been ruled out. Scholars are still unsure of the author's identity, but they are certain that the same author is responsible for both the commentaries on the epistles and the Questions. These Questions (Quaestio) means 'an enquiry' or investigation into passages of Scripture which are difficult to understand. The Questions on the Old and New Testaments is a compilation of essays of various sizes as well as discourses and sermons. Some of the questions thoroughly examine and explain important doctrinal matters such as the meaning of God, the sin of Adam and Eve, baptism of the Savior, etc. Some questions are treatises against opponents to Christianity and heretics such as Pagans, Arians, Novatian, etc. There are some questions that are running commentaries on the Psalms and Gospels, while others are on Old Testament heroes such as Melchizedek, Abraham, Job, and Tobit.