On Abraham (complete)
Latin text: Migne, PL 14 (Latin text: Migne, Patrologia Latina 14, from the OCR of a Google Books scan (public-domain print), corrected by hand across the column break).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
On 1, chapter 4
1.4.25PL 14:453–454
Sed et vos moneo, viri, maxime qui ad gratiam Domini tenditis, non commisceri adulterino corpori (qui enim se jungit meretrici unum corpus est) nec dare hanc occasionem divortii mulieribus. Nemo sibi blandiatur de legibus hominum. Omne stuprum adulterium est, nec viro licet quod mulieri non licet. Eadem a viro, quae ab uxore debetur castimonia. Quidquid in eam quae non sit legitima uxor, commissum fuerit, adulterii damnatur crimine. Ergo advertistis quid debeatis cavere, ne quis sacramentis se indignum praebeat.
But I also warn you men, especially you who are approaching the grace of the Lord, not to mingle with an adulterous body (for he who joins himself to a harlot is one body), nor to give women this occasion for divorce. Let no one flatter himself with the laws of men. All sexual immorality is adultery, and what is not lawful for the woman is not lawful for the man. The same chastity is owed by the husband as by the wife. Whatever has been committed with a woman who is not one's lawful wife is condemned under the charge of adultery. You have noticed, then, what you must beware of, lest anyone show himself unworthy of the sacraments.
1 Cor 6:16 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Ambrose warns men preparing for baptism that any intercourse outside marriage is adultery, that the same chastity binds husband and wife, and that such sin gives wives an occasion for divorce.
- Ambrose, On Abraham 1.4.25 (Migne PL 14). No public-domain English translation exists; the translation was re-read against the Latin. Terms: stuprum “sexual immorality”, adulterium “adultery”, divortium “divorce”. Ambrose denies the double standard of the civil laws (“Let no one flatter himself with the laws of men”): “what is not lawful for the woman is not lawful for the man.” “You who are approaching the grace of the Lord” are those preparing for baptism. Quotation: 1 Cor 6:16.
Topics: Divorce and remarriage, Marriage, Ethics, Sexual morality
Cite (SBL): Ambrose, Abr. 1.4.25 (PL 14:453–454; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ambrose-abraham/1-4-25). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ambrose-abraham/1-4-25
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin (PL 14); re-read against the Latin, since no public-domain English exists.