Ambrosiaster Q&A on Ecclesiastes

1^ST CATEGORY OT

2ND CATEGORY OT

(Ecclesiastes 9:4)

QUESTION 39. WHAT DO THESE WORDS OF SOLOMON MEAN: "HOPE IS IN DARKNESS; A LIVING DOG IS BETTER THAN A DEAD LION?" — Darkness is the figure of propriety and ignorance. The sacred writer therefore wishes to make us understand that there is more hope in the people of propriety than in an apostate; This is indicated by the following words: "A living dog is better than a dead lion,” because the lion is the strongest of all animals, and the Christian religion is stronger than all other sects. If, therefore, we separate ourselves from this divine religion, we lose the hope of salvation, and we become worse than a pagan, because it is possible for a pagan to embrace the faith and to acquire the rights to salvation which the lost apostate. If the pagan remains in his unbelief, the apostate is in a worse state, because it is much worse to have lost salvation than to have never have it. Our Lord Himself teaches us that the dog is the figure of the Gentiles when he says, "It is not good to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs. (Matt 15:26)

(Ecclesiastes 9:4)

QUESTION 19. IT IS WRITTEN IN ONE OF SOLOMON'S BOOKS: “HOPE IS IN DARKNESS, AND A LIVING DOG IS BETTER THAN A DEAD LION.” — Darkness is here the figure of ignorance and propriety, because a pagan offers more hope than an apostate. The dead lion is the apostate Christian; as long as he kept the faith, he was a lion; does he come to lose faith? He is a dead lion. The dog is the gentleman whom we can hope to embrace the faith, and we have this hope as long as he is alive. For the other, on the contrary, no more hope. Our Lord teaches us that the dog is the figure of the Gentiles when he says, "It is not good to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs.” (Matt 15:26)

(Ecclesiastes 7:17)

1^ST CATEGORY OT

QUESTION 15. SINCE THE LAW PRAISES THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE TRUE RIGHTEOUS IS THE ONE WHO DOES ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THESE WORDS OF SOLOMON: "DO NOT BE OVERLY RIGHTEOUS?" — Over-righteousness is exposed to sin, while moderate justice makes men perfect. He who is too just is not exempt from sin; for if you want to take every fault in detail, it is for you as many occasions of sin. Let us add that the justice of God is always moderate. Sometimes he forgives sinners, sometimes he is angry with them; sometimes he does not punish them as much as they deserve; he supports them to bring them back to good. The law by itself cannot relax from its severity; it is therefore up to us to soften it in the interest of those who are subject to it. The man who models his conduct with that of God cannot be just too much.

(Ecclesiastes 13:16; Psalm 142:2)

1^ST CATEGORY OT

QUESTION 22. WHY DOES SOLOMON SAY, "JUSTIFY YOUR SOUL BEFORE YOUR DEATH," AS WE READ IN A PSALM, "NO LIVING MAN WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR PRESENCE?" —Justifying one's soul before one's death is to embrace faith in the hope of the future life so as not to die in sin. Now Solomon makes this recommendation to him who lives under the law and does not practice justice. If this man comes to repent and walk in the ways of righteousness, he justifies his soul before his death. Solomon gives him this counsel for the coming judgment, lest by his negligence he should die in his sin. David, on the other hand, speaks of the perfection of justice, that is, no one will be justified in the presence of God, and will not be judged worthy of promises unless he dies in righteousness. As long as he lives on this earth, he does not yet fully deserve the goods of the future life. This is why the Savior said, "He who perseveres unto the end will be saved." (Matt. 10:22; 24:23)

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