Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Series 2. In 14 vols. Volume 08. Basil: Letters and Select Works

992 Pages·6.987 MB·English

by  Schaff Philip (Ed.)

NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works
Author(s): Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) (Editor)
Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Description: With over twenty volumes, the Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers is a momentous achievement. Originally gathered
by Philip Schaff, the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a
collection of writings by classical and medieval Christian
theologians.The purpose of such a collection is to make their
writings readily available.The entire work is divided into two
series, each with fourteen volumes.The second series fo-
cuses on a variety of important Church Fathers, ranging from
the fourth century to the eighth century.This volume contains
selected works of St. Basil the Great. St. Basil is well-known
for his care for the poor and his important impact upon the
communal practices of the monastic life.The Nicene and
Post-Nicene Fathers are comprehensive in scope, and
provide keen translations of instructive and illuminating texts
from some of the great theologians of the Christian church.
These spiritually enlightening texts have aided Christians for
over a thousand years, and remain instructive and fruitful
even today!
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer
i
Contents
Title Page. 1
Title Page. 2
Preface. 3
Genealogical Tables 4
Chronological Table. 5
Prolegomena. 8
Life. 8
Parentage and Birth. 8
Education. 11
Life at Cæsarea; Baptism; and Adoption of Monastic Life. 16
Basil and the Councils, to the Accession of Valens. 21
The Presbyterate. 24
Basil as Archbishop. 28
The Breach with Gregory of Nazianzus. 36
St. Basil and Eustathius. 41
Unbroken Friendships. 43
Troubles of the Closing Years. 47
Works. 53
Classification. 53
Dogmatic. 54
Exegetic. 76
Ascetic. 87
Homiletical. 96
Letters. 126
Liturgical. 127
Writings Spurious and Dubious. 128
ii
Writings Mentioned, But Lost. 129
Additional Notes on Some Points in St. Basil's Doctrinal and Ecclesiastical 130
Position.
Editions and Manuscripts. 132
De Spiritu Sancto. 138
Preface. 138
Prefatory remarks on the need of exact investigation of the most minute portions 140
of theology.
The origin of the heretics' close observation of syllables. 143
The systematic discussion of syllables is derived from heathen philosophy. 145
That there is no distinction in the scriptural use of these syllables. 147
That v: not found “of whom” in the case of the Son and of the Spirit. 149
Issue joined with those who assert that the Son is not with the Father, but after 155
the Father.  Also concerning the equal glory.
Against those who assert that it is not proper for “with whom” to be said of the 160
Son, and that the proper phrase is “through whom.”
In how many ways “Through whom” is used; and in what sense “with whom” is 162
more suitable.  Explanation of how the Son receives a commandment, and how
He is sent.
Definitive conceptions about the Spirit which conform to the teaching of the 171
Scriptures.
Against those who say that it is not right to rank the Holy Spirit with the Father 174
and the Son.
That they who deny the Spirit are transgressors. 177
Against those who assert that the baptism in the name of the Father alone is 178
sufficient.
Statement of the reason why in the writings of Paul the angels are associated with 180
the Father and the Son.
Objection that some were baptized unto Moses and believed in him, and an answer 182
to it; with remarks upon types.
Reply to the suggested objection that we are baptized “into water.”  Also concerning 186
baptism.
That the Holy Spirit is in every conception inseparable from the Father and the 190
Son, alike in the creation of perceptible objects, in the dispensation of human
affairs, and in the judgment to come.
iii
Against those who say that the Holy Ghost is not to be numbered with, but 196
numbered under, the Father and the Son.  Wherein moreover there is a summary
notice of the faith concerning right sub-numeration.
In what manner in the confession of the three hypostases we preserve the pious 199
dogma of the Monarchia.  Wherein also is the refutation of them that allege that
the Spirit is subnumerated.
Against those who assert that the Spirit ought not to be glorified. 205
Against those who maintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither of a servant nor 209
of a master, but in that of the free.
Proof from Scripture that the Spirit is called Lord. 211
Establishment of the natural communion of the Spirit from His being, equally 213
with the Father and the Son, unapproachable in thought.
The glorifying of the enumeration of His attributes. 215
Proof of the absurdity of the refusal to glorify the Spirit, from the comparison of 217
things glorified in creation.
That Scripture uses the words “in” or “by,” ἐν, cf. note on p. 3, in place of “with.”  220
Wherein also it is proved that the word “and” has the same force as “with.”
That the word “in,” in as many senses as it bears, is understood of the Spirit. 223
Of the origin of the word “with,” and what force it has.  Also concerning the 229
unwritten laws of the church.
That our opponents refuse to concede in the case of the Spirit the terms which 236
Scripture uses in the case of men, as reigning together with Christ.
Enumeration of the illustrious men in the Church who in their writings have used 239
the word “with.”
Exposition of the present state of the Churches. 246
The Hexæmeron. 251
Introduction. 251
In the Beginning God made the Heaven and the Earth. 253
“The Earth was Invisible and Unfinished.” 265
On the Firmament. 278
Upon the gathering together of the waters. 291
The Germination of the Earth. 298
The creation of luminous bodies. 308
The creation of moving creatures. 323
iv
The creation of fowl and water animals. 332
The creation of terrestrial animals. 345
The Letters. 356
Introduction. 356
To Eustathius the Philosopher. 357
Basil to Gregory. 359
To Candidianus. 364
To Olympius. 366
To Nectarius. 367
To the wife of Nectarius. 369
To Gregory my friend. 371
To the Cæsareans.  A defence of his withdrawal, and concerning the faith. 372
To Maximus the Philosopher. 386
To a widow. 389
Without address.  To some friends. 390
To Olympius. 391
To Olympius. 392
To Gregory his friend. 393
To Arcadius, Imperial Treasurer. 395
Against Eunomius the heretic. 396
To Origenes. 397
To Macarius and John. 398
To Gregory my friend. 399
To Leontius the Sophist. 400
To Leontius the Sophist. 401
Without address.  On the Perfection of the Life of Solitaries. 402
To a Solitary. 407
To Athanasius, father of Athanasius bishop of Ancyra. 408
To Athanasius, bishop of Ancyra. 409
To Cæsarius, brother of Gregory. 411
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 412
To the Church of Neocæsarea.  Consolatory. 413
v
To the Church of Ancyra.  Consolatory. 416
To Eusebius of Samosata. 417
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 418
To Sophronius the Master. 419
To Aburgius. 421
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 422
Without address. 423
Without address. 424
Without address. 425
To his Brother Gregory, concerning the difference between οὐσία and ὑπόστασις. 426
Julian to Basil. 434
Julian to Basil. 435
Basil to Julian. 436
To Chilo, his disciple. 438
Admonition to the Young. 444
To a lapsed Monk. 445
To a lapsed Monk. 447
To a fallen virgin. 449
To Gregory. 456
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata. 458
To Arcadius the Bishop. 460
To Bishop Innocentius. 461
To Bishop Bosporius. 462
To the Canonicæ. 464
To the Chorepiscopi. 467
To the Chorepiscopi. 469
To Paregorius, the presbyter. 471
To Pergamius. 472
To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch. 473
To Gregory my brother. 474
To Gregory, his uncle. 476
To Gregory his uncle. 478
vi
To Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria. 479
To the Church of Parnassus. 480
To the Governor of Neocæsarea. 481
To Hesychius. 482
To Atarbius. 483
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. 485
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. 487
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch. 488
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. 489
Without address. 492
Basil to Gregory. 494
To Hesychius. 496
To Callisthenes. 497
To Martinianus. 499
To Aburgius. 502
To Sophronius the Master. 503
Without inscription:  about Therasius. 504
Without inscription, on behalf of Elpidius. 505
To Eustathius bishop of Sebastia. 506
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. 507
To Bishop Innocent. 508
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. 510
To a Magistrate. 512
To the President. 513
That the oath ought not to be taken. 515
To the Governor. 516
Without address on the same subject. 517
Without address on the subject of the exaction of taxes. 518
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch. 519
To the holy brethren the bishops of the West. 520
To Valerianus, Bishop of Illyricum. 522
To the Italians and Gauls. 523
vii
To the Patrician Cæsaria, concerning Communion. 526
To Elias, Governor of the Province. 527
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 529
To Sophronius, the master. 530
To the Senate of Tyana. 531
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 532
To Count Terentius. 534
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata. 537
Consolatory. 538
To the citizens of Satala. 539
To the people of Satala. 540
To the prefect Modestus. 541
To the deaconesses, the daughters of Count Terentius. 542
To a soldier. 543
To the Widow Julitta. 544
To the guardian of the heirs of Julitta. 545
To the Count Helladius. 546
To the prefect Modestus. 547
To Modestus, the prefect. 548
To Andronicus, a general. 549
To the presbyters of Tarsus. 551
To Cyriacus, at Tarsus. 552
To the heretic Simplicia. 553
To Firminius. 555
Without address. 556
To Jovinus, Bishop of Perrha. 557
To Eustathius, Bishop of Sebasteia. 558
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch. 559
To Theodotus, bishop of Nicopolis. 560
To Pœmenius, bishop of Satala. 561
To Urbicius, the monk. 562
To Theodorus. 563
viii
A transcript of the faith as dictated by Saint Basil, and subscribed by Eustathius, 564
bishop of Sebasteia.
To Atarbius. 568
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 569
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 570
To Meletius Bishop of Antioch. 572
To Theodotus bishop of Nicopolis. 574
To Olympius. 576
To Abramius, bishop of Batnæ. 578
To Peter, bishop of Alexandria. 579
To the presbyter Pœonius. 580
To Diodorus, presbyter of Antioch. 581
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 583
To Antipater, on his assuming the governorship of Cappadocia. 584
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 585
To the Alexandrians. 587
To the Church of Antioch. 589
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 591
To the prefects' accountant. 593
To another accountant. 594
To the prefects' officer. 595
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata. 596
To Antiochus. 597
To Aburgius. 598
To Trajan. 599
To Trajan. 600
To Amphilochius in the name of Heraclidas. 601
To Eustathius the Physician. 604
To Victor, the Commander. 605
To Victor the Ex-Consul. 606
To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica. 607
Without address.  In the case of a trainer. 608
ix