Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

1888 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Gen. xxxix. 17.

Editorial footnote · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 84, editorial note cite_note-30 · Original source

1888 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Gen. xxxix. 12.

Editorial footnote · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 37, editorial note cite_note-46 · Original source

Date uncertain | Ambrose of Milan

72. Joseph saw the fire when the woman eager for adultery spoke to him. She wished to catch him with her words. She set the snares of her lips, but was not able to capture the chaste man. For the voice of modesty, the voice of gravity, the rein of caution, the care for integrity, the discipline of chastity, loosed the woman’s chains. So that unchaste person could not entangle him in her meshes. She laid her hand upon him; she caught his garment, that she might tighten the noose around him. The words of a lascivious woman are the snares of lust, and her hands the bonds of love; but the chaste mind could not be taken either by snares or by bonds. The garment was cast off, the bonds were loosed, and because he did not admit the fire into the bosom of his mind, his body was not burnt.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Concerning Repentance, Chapter XIV., source paragraph 8 · Original source

Date uncertain | Ambrose of Milan

76. But if we pay so much attention to things like these, how much more careful ought we to be to let nothing shameful proceed out of our mouth, for that defiles a man terribly. It is not food that defiles, but unjust disparagement of others and foul words. These things are openly shameful. In our office indeed must no word be let fall at all unseemly, nor one that may give offence to modesty. But not only ought we to say nothing unbecoming to ourselves, but we ought not even to lend our ears to words of this sort. Thus Joseph fled and left his garment, that he might hear nothing inconsistent with his modesty. For he who delights to listen, urges the other on to speak.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · On the Duties of the Clergy, Chapter XVIII., source paragraph 12 · Original source

Date uncertain | Ambrose of Milan

God of Jacob”? A wretched thing is slavery, but Joseph was not wretched; nay, clearly he was blessed, when he whilst in slavery checked the lusts of his mistress. What shall I say of holy David who bewailed the death of three sons, and, what was even worse than this, his daughter’s incestuous connection? How could he be unblessed from whom the Author of blessedness Himself sprung, Who has made many blessed? For: “Blessed are they who have not seen yet have believed.” All these felt their own weakness, but they bravely prevailed over it. What can we think of as more wretched than holy Job, either in the burning of his house, or the instantaneous death of his ten sons, or his bodily pains? Was he less blessed than if he had not endured those things whereby he really showed himself approved?

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · On the Duties of the Clergy, Chapter V., source paragraph 8 · Original source

Date uncertain | John Chrysostom

Thus also the blessed Joseph obtained a good report, everywhere by suffering wrong getting the better of them who were doing it. For his brethren and the Egyptian woman were amongst those that were plotting against him, but over all did this man prevail. For tell me not of the prison, wherein this man dwelt, nor of the kings’ courts where she abode, but show me who it is that is conquered, who it is that is defeated, who that is in despondency, who that is in pleasure. For she, so far from being able to prevail over the righteous man, could not master so much as her own passion; but this man prevailed both over her and over that grievous disease. But if thou wilt, hear her very words, and thou shalt see the trophy. “Thou broughtest in unto us here an Hebrew servant to mock us.” It was not this man that mocked thee, O wretched and unhappy woman, but the devil that told thee that thou couldest break down the adamant. This thy husband brought not in unto thee an Hebrew servant to plot against thee, but the wicked spirit brought in that unclean lasciviousness; he it was that mocked thee.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 84, source paragraph 46 · Original source

Date uncertain | John Chrysostom

And in chastity too thou wouldest profit more, didst thou refrain from going thither. For if even now thou art chaste, thou wouldest have become chaster by avoiding such sights. Let us not then delight in useless argument, nor devise unprofitable apologies: there being but one apology, to flee from the Babylonian furnace, to keep far from the Egyptian harlot, though one must escape her hands naked.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 37, source paragraph 67 · Original source