Questions to think about during this lesson…

• What year was St. Ambrose of Milan born?
• What is Arianism?
• How could one city have an Orthodox bishop and another city an Arian bishop?
• When the Arian bishop of Milan died in 374AD, the Orthodox and Arians disputed who should become the next bishop. How did St. Ambrose, who wasn’t even a baptized Christian, become the Bishop of Milan?
• After studying theology, did St. Ambrose of Milan become an Orthodox Christian or an Arian?
• Who was Theodosius I?
• Why did Theodosius I order the people of Thessalonica to be slaughtered?
• What happened after Theodosius I sent the order for the people of Thessalonica to be slaughtered?
• How does this story relate to the story of St. John Chrysostom’s famous sermon series called “On the Statues”?
• How did St. Ambrose of Milan respond when he learned that Emperor Theodosius I had 7,000 people killed?
• How did Emperor Theodosius I respond when St. Ambrose of Milan wouldn’t let him in the Church?
• What method of biblical interpretation did St. Ambrose of Milan prefer? (Hint: He was highly influenced by Origen)
• How do we know that the Orthodox custom of having a 40-day memorial service was happening at least as far back as the time of St. Ambrose of Milan?
• If St. Ambrose of Milan isn’t primarily known as an exegete, why are we talking about him?
• What role did St. Ambrose of Milan play in St. Augustine’s conversion to Christianity?
• What was one of St. Ambrose of Milan’s favorite sayings from the Bible? (Hint: Look up 2 Corinthians 3:6)
• What was St. Paul talking about in 2 Corinthians 3:6?
• How did people such as Origen and St. Ambrose of Milan – who favor allegorical interpretation of Scripture – interpret 2 Corinthians 3:6?
• Around what year was St. Augustine born?
• Who was St. Augustine’s main influence in his early life?
• Even though St. Augustine’s mother was a devout Christian, why did she refuse to allow her son to be baptized as a youngster?
• What was St. Augustine’s education like?
• Why was St. Augustine greatly disappointed when he read the Bible fr the first time… why did he find it repulsive?
• Why did St. Augustine leave Christianity after reading the Bible and become a Manichean?
• What is a Manichean?
• What happened when St. Augustin’s mom tasked bishops and priests to talk to St. Agustin and try to convince him that he was wrong to be a Manichean?
• Why did St. Augustine become in despair after 9 years of being a Manichean?
• Who did St. Augustine hear that was able to refute the Manichean criticism of the Old Testament? (Hint: He profoundly impressed St. Augustine with his use of allegory)
• After reading St. Athanasius the Great’s book, “The Life of Anthony,” St. Augustine fell into despair. Why?

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