Basil: Letters and Select Works

BASIL: LETTERS AND SELECT WORKS

NICENE AND POST-NICENE CHURCH FATHERS:SECOND SERIES: VOLUME VIII. BASIL: LETTERS AND SELECT WORKS.

A SELECT LIBRARY OF THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The Treatise De Spiritu Sancto. The Nine Homilies Of The Hexaemeron And The Letters Of Saint Basil The Great Archbishop Of Caesaria

Sketch of the Life and Works of Saint Basil

De Spiritu Sancto

The Hexaemeron

The Letters

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The Treatise De Spiritu Sancto. The Nine Homilies Of The Hexaemeron And The Letters Of Saint Basil The Great Archbishop Of Caesaria

Sketch of the Life and Works of Saint Basil

I. Life

I
Parentage and Birth

II
Education

III
Life at Caesarea; Baptism; and Adoption of Monastic Life

IV
Basil and the Councils, to the Accession of Valens

V
The Presbyterate

VI
Basil as Archbishop

VII
The Breach with Gregory of Nazianzus

VIII
St. Basil and Eustathius

IX
Unbroken Friendships

X
Troubles of the Closing Years

II. Works

De Spiritu Sancto

Chapter I
Prefatory remarks on the need of exact investigation of the most minute portions of theology

Chapter II
The origin of the heretics’ close observation of syllables

Chapter III
The systematic discussion of syllables is derived from heathen philosophy

Chapter IV
That there is no distinction in the scriptural use of these syllables

Chapter V
That “through whom” is said also in the case of the Father, and “of whom” in the case of the Son and of the Spirit

Chapter VI
Issue joined with those who assert that the Son is not with the Father, but after the Father. Also concerning the equal glory

Chapter VII
Against those who assert that it is not proper for “with whom” to be said of the Son, and that the proper phrase is “through whom.”

Chapter VIII
In how many ways “Throughwhom” is used; and in what sense “with whom” is more suitable. Explanation of how the Son receives a commandment, and how He is sent

Chapter IX
Definitive conceptions about the Spirit which conform to the teaching of the Scriptures

Chapter X
Against those who say that it is not right to rank the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son

Chapter XI
That they who deny the Spirit are transgressors

Chapter XII
Against those who assert that the baptism in the name of the Father alone is sufficient

Chapter XIII
Statement of the reason why in the writings of Paul the angels are associated with the Father and the Son

Chapter XIV
Objection that some were baptized unto Moses and believed in him, and an answer to it; with remarks upon types

Chapter XV
Reply to the suggested objection that we are baptized “into water.” Also concerning baptism

Chapter XVI
That the Holy Spirit is in every conception inseparable from the Father and the Son, alike in the creation of perceptible objects, in the dispensation of human affairs, and in the judgment to come

Chapter XVII
Against those who say that the Holy Ghost is not to be numbered with, but numbered under, the Father and the Son. Wherein moreover there is a summary notice of the faith concerning right sub-numeration

Chapter XVIII
In what manner in the confession of the three hypostases we preserve the pious dogma of the Monarchia. Wherein also is the refutation of them that allege that the Spirit is subnumerated

Chapter XIX
Against those who assert that the Spirit ought not to be glorified

Chapter XX
Against those who maintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither of a servant nor of a master, but in that of the free

Chapter XXI
Proof from Scripture that the Spirit is called Lord

Chapter XXII
Establishment of the natural communion of the Spirit from His being, equally with the Father and the Son, unapproachable in thought

Chapter XXIII
The glorifying of the enumeration of His attributes

Chapter XXIV
Proof of the absurdity of the refusal to glorify the Spirit, from the comparison of things glorified in creation

Chapter XXV
That Scripture uses the words “in” or “by,” en, cf. note on p. 3, in place of “with.” Wherein also it is proved that the word “and” has the same force as “with.”

Chapter XXVI
That the word “in,” in as many senses as it bears, is understood of the Spirit

Chapter XXVII
Of the origin of the word “with,” and what force it has. Also concerning the unwritten laws of the church

Chapter XXVIII
That our opponents refuse to concede in the case of the Spirit the terms which Scripture uses in the case of men, as reigning together with Christ

Chapter XXIX
Enumeration of the illustrious men in the Church who in their writings have used the word “with.”

Chapter XXX
Exposition of the present state of the Churches

The Hexaemeron

Homily I
In the Beginning God made the Heaven and the Earth

Homily II
“The Earth was Invisible and Unfinished.”

Homily III
On the Firmament

Homily IV
Upon the gathering together of the waters

Homily V
The Germination of the Earth

Homily VI
The creation of luminous bodies

Homily VII
The creation of moving creatures

Homily VIII
The creation of fowl and water animals

Homily IX
The creation of terrestrial animals

The Letters

Letter I
To Eustathius the Philosopher

Letter II
Basil to Gregory

Letter III
To Candidianus

Letter IV
To Olympius

Letter V
To Nectarius

Letter VI
To the wife of Nectarius

Letter VII
To Gregory my friend

Letter VIII
To the Caesareans. A defence of his withdrawal, and concerning the faith

Letter IX
To Maximus the Philosopher

Letter X
To a Widow

Letter XI
Without address. To some friends

Letter XII
To Olympius

Letter XIII
To Olympius

Letter XIV
To Gregory his friend

Letter XV
To Arcadius, Imperial Treasurer

Letter XVI
Against Eunomius the heretic

Letter XVII
To Origenes

Letter XVIII
To Macarius and John

Letter XIX
To Gregory my friend

Letter XX
To Leontius the Sophist

Letter XXI
To Leontius the Sophist

Letter XXII
Without address. On the Perfection of the Life of Solitaries

Letter XXIII
To a Solitary

Letter XXIV
To Athanasius, father of Athanasius bishop of Ancyra

Letter XXV
To Athanasius, bishop of Ancyra

Letter XXVI
To Caesarius, brother of Gregory

Letter XXVII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter XXVIII
To the Church of Neocaesarea. Consolatory

Letter XXIX
To the Church of Ancyra. Consolatory

Letter XXX
To Eusebius of Samosata

Letter XXXI
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter XXXII
To Sophronius the Master

Letter XXXIII
To Aburgius

Letter XXXIV
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter XXXV
Without address

Letter XXXVI
Without address

Letter XXXVII
Without address

Letter XXXVIII
To his Brother Gregory, concerning the difference between ousia and hupostasis

Letter XXXIX
Julian to Basil

Letter XL
Julian to Basil

Letter XLI
Basil to Julian

Letter XLII
To Chilo, his disciple

Letter XLIII
Admonition to the Young

Letter XLIV
To a lapsed Monk

Letter XLV
To a lapsed Monk

Letter XLVI
To a fallen virgin

Letter XLVII
To Gregory

Letter XLVIII
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata

Letter XLIX
To Arcadius the Bishop

Letter L
To Bishop Innocentius

Letter LI
To Bishop Bosporius

Letter LII
To the Canonicae

Letter LIII
To the Chorepiscopi

Letter LIV
To the Chorepiscopi

Letter LV
To Paregorius, the presbyter

Letter LVI
To Pergamius

Letter LVII
To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch

Letter LVIII
To Gregory my brother

Letter LIX
To Gregory, his uncle

Letter LX
To Gregory his uncle

Letter LXI
To Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria

Letter LXII
To the Church of Parnassus

Letter LXIII
To the Governor of Neocaesarea

Letter LXIV
To Hesychius

Letter LXV
To Atarbius

Letter LXVI
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria

Letter LXVII
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria

Letter LXVIII
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch

Letter LXIX
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria

Letter LXX
Without address

Letter LXXI
Basil to Gregory

Letter LXXII
To Hesychius

Letter LXXIII
To Callisthenes

Letter LXXIV
To Martinianus

Letter LXXV
To Aburgius

Letter LXXVI
To Sophronius the Master

Letter LXXVII
Without inscription: about Therasius

Letter LXXVIII
Without inscription, on behalf of Elpidius

Letter LXXIX
To Eustathius bishop of Sebastia

Letter LXXX
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria

Letter LXXXI
To Bishop Innocent

Letter LXXXII
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria

Letter LXXXIII
To a Magistrate

Letter LXXXIV
To the President

Letter LXXXV
That the oath ought not to be taken

Letter LXXXVI
To the Governor

Letter LXXXVII
Without address on the same subject

Letter LXXXVIII
Without address on the subject of the exaction of taxes

Letter LXXXIX
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch

Letter XC
To the holy brethren the bishops of the West

Letter XCI
To Valerianus, Bishop of Illyricum

Letter XCII
To the Italians and Gauls

Letter XCIII
To the Patrician Caesaria, concerning Communion

Letter XCIV
To Elias, Governor of the Province

Letter XCV
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter XCVI
To Sophronius, the master

Letter XCVII
To the Senate of Tyana

Letter XCVIII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter XCIX
To Count Terentius

Letter C
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata

Letter CI
Consolatory

Letter CII
To the citizens of Satala

Letter CIII
To the people of Satala

Letter CIV
To the prefect Modestus

Letter CV
To the deaconesses, the daughters of Count Terentius

Letter CVI
To a soldier

Letter CVII
To the Widow Julitta

Letter CVIII
To the guardian of the heirs of Julitta

Letter CIX
To the Count Helladius

Letter CX
To the prefect Modestus

Letter CXI
To Modestus, the prefect

Letter CXII
To Andronicus, a general

Letter CXIII
To the presbyters of Tarsus

Letter CXIV
To Cyriacus, at Tarsus

Letter CXV
To the heretic Simplicia

Letter CXVI
To Firminius

Letter CXVII
Without address

Letter CXVIII
To Jovinus, Bishop of Perrha

Letter CXIX
To Eustathius, Bishop of Sebasteia

Letter CXX
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch

Letter CXXI
To Theodotus, bishop of Nicopolis

Letter CXXII
To Poemenius, bishop of Satala

Letter CXXIII
To Urbicius, the monk

Letter CXXIV
To Theodorus

Letter CXXV
A transcript of the faith as dictated by Saint Basil, and subscribed by Eustathius, bishop of Sebasteia

Letter CXXVI
To Atarbius

Letter CXXVII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXXVIII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXXIX
To Meletius Bishop of Antioch

Letter CXXX
To Theodotus bishop of Nicopolis

Letter CXXXI
To Olympius

Letter CXXXII
To Abramius, bishop of Batnae

Letter CXXXIII
To Peter, bishop of Alexandria

Letter CXXXIV
To the presbyter Poeonius

Letter CXXXV
To Diodorus, presbyter of Antioch

Letter CXXXVI
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXXXVII
To Antipater, on his assuming the governorship of Cappadocia

Letter CXXXVIII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXXXIX
To the Alexandrians

Letter CXL
To the Church of Antioch

Letter CXLI
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXLII
To the prefects’ accountant

Letter CXLIII
To another accountant

Letter CXLIV
To the prefects’ officer

Letter CXLV
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXLVI
To Antiochus

Letter CXLVII
To Aburgius

Letter CXLVIII
To Trajan

Letter CXLIX
To Trajan

Letter CL
To Amphilochius in the name of Heraclidas

Letter CLI
To Eustathius the Physician

Letter CLII
To Victor, the Commander

Letter CLIII
To Victor the Ex-Consul

Letter CLIV
To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica

Letter CLV
Without address. In the case of a trainer

Letter CLVI
To the Presbyter Evagrius

Letter CLVII
To Amiochus

Letter CLVIII
To Antiochus

Letter CLIX
To Eupaterius and his daughter

Letter CLX
To Diodorus

Letter CLXI
To Amphilochius on his consecration as Bishop

Letter CLXII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CLXIII
To Count Jovinus

Letter CLXIV
To Ascholius

Letter CLXV
To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica

Letter CLXVI
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CLXVII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CLXVIII
To Antiochus

Letter CLXIX
Basil to Gregory

Letter CLXX
To Glycerius

Letter CLXXI
To Gregory

Letter CLXXII
To Sophronius, the bishop

Letter CLXXIII
To Theodora the Canoness

Letter CLXXIV
To a Widow

Letter CLXXV
To Count Magnenianus

Letter CLXXVI
To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium

Letter CLXXVII
To Saphronius the Master

Letter CLXXVIII
To Aburgius

Letter CLXXIX
To Arinthaeus

Letter CLXXX
To the Master Sophronius, on behalf of Eunathius

Letter CLXXXI
To Otreius, bishop of Melitene

Letter CLXXXII
To the presbyters of Samosata

Letter CLXXXIII
To the Senate of Samosata

Letter CLXXXIV
To Eustathius, bishop of Himmeria

Letter CLXXXV
To Theodotus, bishop of Beraea

Letter CLXXXVI
To Antipater, the governor

Letter CLXXXVII
Antipater to Basil

Letter CLXXXVIII
(Canonica Prima.)

Letter CLXXXIX
To Eustathius the physician

Letter CXC
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CXCI
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CXCII
To Sophronius the Master

Letter CXCIII
To Meletius the Physician

Letter CXCIV
To Zoilus

Letter CXCV
To Euphronius, bishop of Colonia Armeniae

Letter CXCVI
To Aburgius

Letter CXCVII
To Ambrose, bishop of Milan

Letter CXCVIII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CXCIX
Canonica Secunda

Letter CC
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCI
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCII
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCIII
To the bishops of the sea coast

Letter CCIV
To the Neocaesareans

Letter CCV
To Elpidius the bishop

Letter CCVI
To Elpidius the bishop. Consolatory

Letter CCVII
To the clergy of Neocaesarea

Letter CCVIII
To Eulancius

Letter CCIX
Without address

Letter CCX
To the notables of Neocaesarea

Letter CCXI
To Olympius

Letter CCXII
To Hilarius

Letter CCXIII
Without address

Letter CCXIV
To Count Terentius

Letter CCXV
To the Presbyter Dorotheus

Letter CCXVI
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch

Letter CCXVII
To Amphilochius, the Canons

Letter CCXVIII
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCXIX
To the clergy of Samosata

Letter CCXX
To the Beraeans

Letter CCXXI
To the Beraeans

Letter CCXXII
To the people of Chalcis

Letter CCXXIII
Against Eustathius of Sebasteia

Letter CCXXIV
To the presbyter Genethlius

Letter CCXXV
To Demosthenes, as from the synod of bishops

Letter CCXXVI
To the ascetics under him

Letter CCXXVII
Consolatory, to the clergy of Colonia

Letter CCXXVIII
To the magistrates of Colonia

Letter CCXXIX
To the clergy of Nicopolis

Letter CCXXX
To the magistrates of Nicopolis

Letter CCXXXI
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCXXXII
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCXXXIII
To Amphilochius, in reply to certain questions

Letter CCXXXIV
To the same, in answer to another question

Letter CCXXXV
To the same, in answer to another question

Letter CCXXXVI
To the same Amphilochius

Letter CCXXXVII
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CCXXXVIII
To the presbyters of Nicopolis

Letter CCXXXIX
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CCXL
To the Presbyters of Nicopolis

Letter CCXLI
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Letter CCXLII
To the Westerns

Letter CCXLIII
To the bishops of Italy and Gaul concerning the condition and confusion of the Churches

Letter CCXLIV
To Patrophilus, bishop of AEgae

Letter CCXLV
To Theophilus the Bishop

Letter CCXLVI
To the Nicopolitans

Letter CCXLVII
To the Nicopolitans

Letter CCXLVIII
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium

Letter CCXLIX
Without address. Commendatory

Letter CCL
To Patrophilus, bishop of AEgae

Letter CCLI
To the people of Evaesae

Letter CCLII
To the bishops of the Pontic Diocese

Letter CCLIII
To the presbyters of Antioch

Letter CCLIV
To Pelagius, bishop of the Syrian Laodicea

Letter CCLV
To Vitus, bishop of Charrae

Letter CCLVI
To the very well beloved and reverend brethren the presbyters Acacius, Aetius, Paulus, and Silvanus; the deacons Silvinus and Lucius, and the rest of the brethren the monks, Basil, the bishop

Letter CCLVII
To the monks harassed by the Arians

Letter CCLVIII
To Epiphanius the bishop

Letter CCLIX
To the monks Palladius and Innocent

Letter CCLX
To Optimus the bishop

Letter CCLXI
To the Sozopolitans

Letter CCLXII
To the Monk Urbicius

Letter CCLXIII
To the Westerns

Letter CCLXIV
To Barses, bishop of Edessa, in exile

Letter CCLXV
To Eulogius, Alexander, and Harpocration, bishops of Egypt, in exile

Letter CCLXVI
To Petrus, bishop of Alexandria

Letter CCLXVII
To Barses, bishop of Edessa, in exile

Letter CCLXVIII
To Eusebius, in exile

Letter CCLXIX
To the wife of Arinthaeus, the General. Consolatory

Letter CCLXX
Without Address. Concerning Raptus

Letter CCLXXI
To Eusebius, my comrade, to recommend Cyriacus the presbyter

Letter CCLXXII
To Sophronius the magister officiorum

Letter CCLXXIII
Without address. Concerning Hera

Letter CCLXXIV
To Himerius, the master

Letter CCLXXV
Without address. Concerning Hera

Letter CCLXXVI
To the great Harmatius

Letter CCLXXVII
To the learned Maximus

Letter CCLXXVIII
To Valerianus

Letter CCLXXIX
To Modestus the Prefect

Letter CCLXXX
To Modestus the Prefect

Letter CCLXXXI
To Modestus the Prefect

Letter CCLXXXII
To a bishop

Letter CCLXXXIII
To a widow

Letter CCLXXXIV
To the assessor in the case of monks

Letter CCLXXXV
Without Address

Letter CCLXXXVI
To the Commentariensis

Letter CCLXXXVII
Without address

Letter CCLXXXVIII
Without address. Excommunicatory

Letter CCLXXXIX
Without address. Concerning an afflicted woman

Letter CCXC
To Nectarius

Letter CCXCI
To Timotheus the Chorepiscopus

Letter CCXCII
To Palladius

Letter CCXCIII
To Julianus

Letter CCXCIV
To Festus and Magnus

Letter CCXCV
To monks

Letter CCXCVI
To a widow

Letter CCXCVII
To a widow

Letter CCXCVIII
Without address

Letter CCXCIX
To a Censitor

Letter CCC
Without address

Letter CCCI
To Maximus

Letter CCCII
To the wife of Briso

Letter CCCIII
To the Comes Privatarum

Letter CCCIV
To Aburgius

Letter CCCV
Without address

Letter CCCVI
To the Governor of Sebasteia

Letter CCCVII
Without address

Letter CCCVIII
Without address

Letter CCCIX
Without address

Letter CCCX
Without address

Letter CCCXI
Without address

Letter CCCXII
Without address

Letter CCCXIII
Without address

Letter CCCXIV
Without address

Letter CCCXV
Without address

Letters CCCXVI., CCCXVII., CCCXVIII., CCCXIX
Without address

Letter CCCXX
Without address

Letter CCCXXI
To Thecla

Letter CCCXXII
Without address

Letter CCCXXIII
To Philagrius Arcenus

Letter CCCXXIV
To Pasinicus, the Physician

Letter CCCXXV
To Magninianus

Letter CCCXXVI
Without address

Letter CCCXXVII
Without address

Letter CCCXXVIII
To Hyperectius

Letter CCCXXIX
To Phalirius

Letters CCCXXX., CCCXXXI., CCCXXXII., CCCXXXIII
Without address

Letter CCCXXXIV
To a writer

Letter CCCXXXV
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCXXXVI
Libanius to Basilius

Letter CCCXXXVII
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCXXXVIII
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXXXIX
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCXL
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXLI
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXLII
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCXLIII
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXLIV
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCXLV
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXLVI
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXLVII
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCXLVIII
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCXLIX
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCL
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCLI
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCLII
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCLIII
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCLIV
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCLV
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCLVI
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCLVII
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCLVIII
Libanius to Basil

Letter CCCLIX
Basil to Libanius

Letter CCCLX
Of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the invocation of Saints, and their Images

Letters CCCLXI. and CCCLXIII., to Apollinarius, and Letters CCCLXII. and CCCLXIV
From Apollinarius to Basil

Letter CCCLXVI
Basil to Urbicius the monk, concerning continency