Saint Ambrose (c. 340–397 AD), one of the most influential bishops of the early Church, is often recognized as a key figure in shaping Christian theology, liturgy, and the development of the Latin Christian tradition. Born into a Roman aristocratic family, Ambrose was appointed bishop of Milan in 374 AD, despite having no formal clerical training. His rise to the episcopate is an emblematic example of the complexity of Christian leadership during the late Roman Empire, where political, social, and theological factors intersected in profound ways. As bishop, Ambrose played a pivotal role in defending the Church against Arianism, a heretical belief that denied the divinity of Christ and threatened the unity of the Nicene faith. He is also credited with influencing the conversion of Augustine of Hippo, who would go on to become one of the greatest theological minds in Western Christianity.

Ambrose's intellectual life was characterized by his integration of classical learning with Christian doctrine, a feature that defined much of his exegetical and theological work. His education, typical of a young man of his social status, would have included a thorough grounding in rhetoric, law, and philosophy—subjects that would prove influential in his later theological writings. He became fluent in Greek, which allowed him to engage with the writings of the Church Fathers in the East, particularly Origen and the Cappadocian Fathers. His studies of the Scriptures, particularly of Paul's letters, were deeply informed by his classical training, but he sought to develop a distinctive Christian exegesis that incorporated both the moral and spiritual dimensions of the biblical text.