Ambrosiaster
Ambrosiaster (c. 366-384) “God has decreed that a person who believes in Christ can be saved WITHOUT works. By faith ALONE he receives the forgiveness of sins.”
and – “whoever does not sin is a friend of the law. For him faith ALONE is the way by which he is made perfect. “
and – “They are justified FREELY because they have not done anything nor given anything in return, but by FAITH alone they have been made HOLY by the GIFT of God” and – “Therefore there is no need of the law when the ungodly is justified before God by FAITH ALONE.” (Side note: read the Catholic Catechism on necessity of the Ten Commandments to see an ahistorical pseudo-Christian religion on full display Vs the clear statement of this writer and scripture and MULTIPLE antenicene writers – you aren’t even at the races Catholic!)
ANSWER:
Ambrosiaster did use the term “faith alone,” however, he did not use it in the Protestant sense. He used the word “faith” that would include good works or love. “Faith” according to his definition was to walk in love. We Catholics don’t have problems with this. He says:
“God by his mercy has saved us through Christ. By his grace, we, born again, have received abundantly of his Holy Spirit, so that relying on good works, with him helping us in all things, we might be able thus to lay hold of the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.” (Ambrosiaster, Commentary on Titus 3:7 cited by Robert B. Eno “Some Patristic Views on the Relationship of Faith and Works in Justification” in Justification By Faith: Lutherans and Catholics in Dialogue VII [1985], page 115)
“For justification, faith alone in love is necessary. For faith must be fortified with brotherly love for the perfection of the believer.” (Ambrosiaster, Commentary on Galatians 5:6, ibid 116)
Ambrosiaster on Romans 3:28:
He says the Gentile man, to be thought for sure, is justified believing, not doing any works of the law, that is, without circumcision or new moons, or veneration of the Sabbath.
Ambrosiaster on Titus 3:
God in his mercy has saved us through Christ, by whose grace we have been born again and now receive the Holy Spirit in abundance, so that we may excel in good works. He will help us in everything, so that by these things we may inherit the kingdom of heaven. For this reason we must follow him with all devotion and obey his commands, because if there is anything beautiful in us, he has painted it with spiritual brushstrokes. (This is cited in “Justification by Faith: Lutherans and Catholics in Dialogue VIII (1985, page115).
Ambrosiaster on Galatians 5:6:
What Paul is saying is clear; the hope of justification is in faith by the Spirit and not through the works of the law. By faith we serve God spiritually, by the devotion of our minds and the purity of our hearts. This is why the Lord said to the Samaritan woman: God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth (italics in original). For this reason, neither uncircumcision nor circumcision is of any value, but faith in love (italics added) is required for justification. Faith must be accompanied by brotherly love if the believer is to be perfect. Finally, the Savior answered the scribe who asked him what the most important commandment was, as follows: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hangs the whole law and the prophets (italics in original). Everything else is excluded (i.e. works of the law) and imperfect, because perfection is contained in these commandments.
Faith must be accompanied by brotherly love, i.e. good works. Faith is always accompanied by Agape. Faith, Hope and Agape are always required for a Living Faith. Without these 3 theological virtues, Faith is Alone and is Dead.
Sola Symbolica - The 6th Sola of Protestantism 