Ambrosiaster : Christ did not win the victory for himself but for our benefit. For when he became a man, he remained God, and by overcoming the devil, he who never sinned gained the victory for us, who were bound in death because of sin. The death of Christ defeated the devil, who was forced to surrender all those who had died because of sin. — COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES Augustine of Hippo : The crown could not have been given to one who was worthy of it, unless grace had been given to him when still unworthy. — PROCEEDINGS OF PELAGIUS 35 John Chrysostom : "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." For the trophy He Himself erected, but the crowns He hath caused us also to partake of. And this not of debt, but of mere mercy. — Homily on 1 Corinthians 42