Rm 10, 4: «Christ, the End of the Law» in the Patristic Tradition and Especially in the Ambrosian Exegesis

Abstract

The continuity and novelty of Christianity with respect to Israel achieve a good synthesis in Romans 10:4: "Christ is the end of the law. The Church Fathers read St. Paul and generally interpret that text seeing in Christ the fulfillment of the Mosaic revelation, not the rupture. Among them is Ambrose who applies the verse to the long psalm CXVIII. With the isolated commentary of the longest psalm of the Psalter seeks to guide the faithful towards the end of the spiritual life, the perfect union with God. Intercepting in the commentary of the verses that praise the divine law the parallel commentary of the Song, gives a spousal sense to the Law so that the Church may find in Christ her living law and personal. We will go through the reception of Rm 10, 4 in the patristic tradition and then go into the use of the verse in the work of Ambrose.