Skip to main content
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II

Fathers

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II

NPNF2 Volume 8: Basil: Letters and Select Works

Schaff, Series II

Edited by Philip Schaff

Historians, Cappadocians, Athanasius, and the councils.

Public domain. Not a modern critical translation.

Contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Preface
  4. Chronological Table
  5. Prolegomena
    1. Life
      1. Parentage and Birth
      2. Education
      3. Life at Cæsarea; Baptism; and Adoption of Monastic Life
      4. Basil and the Councils, to the Accession of Valens
      5. The Presbyterate
      6. Basil as Archbishop
      7. The Breach with Gregory of Nazianzus
      8. St. Basil and Eustathius
      9. Unbroken Friendships
      10. Troubles of the Closing Years
    2. Works
      1. Classification
      2. Dogmatic
      3. Exegetic
      4. Ascetic
      5. Homiletical
      6. Liturgical
      7. Writings Spurious and Dubious
      8. Writings Mentioned, But Lost
      9. Additional Notes on Some Points in St. Basil's Doctrinal and Ecclesiastical Position
      10. Editions and Manuscripts
  6. De Spiritu Sancto
    1. Preface
    2. Prefatory remarks on the need of exact investigation of the most minute portions of theology
    3. The origin of the heretics' close observation of syllables
    4. The systematic discussion of syllables is derived from heathen philosophy
    5. That there is no distinction in the scriptural use of these syllables
    6. That v: not found “of whom” in the case of the Son and of the Spirit
    7. Issue joined with those who assert that the Son is not with the Father, but after the Father. Also concerning the equal glory
    8. 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.”
    9. In how many ways “Through whom” is used; and in what sense “with whom” is more suitable. Explanation of how the Son receives a commandment, and how He is sent
    10. Definitive conceptions about the Spirit which conform to the teaching of the Scriptures
    11. Against those who say that it is not right to rank the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son
    12. That they who deny the Spirit are transgressors
    13. Against those who assert that the baptism in the name of the Father alone is sufficient
    14. Statement of the reason why in the writings of Paul the angels are associated with the Father and the Son
    15. Objection that some were baptized unto Moses and believed in him, and an answer to it; with remarks upon types
    16. Reply to the suggested objection that we are baptized “into water.” Also concerning baptism
    17. 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
    18. 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
    19. 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
    20. Against those who assert that the Spirit ought not to be glorified
    21. 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
    22. Proof from Scripture that the Spirit is called Lord
    23. Establishment of the natural communion of the Spirit from His being, equally with the Father and the Son, unapproachable in thought
    24. The glorifying of the enumeration of His attributes
    25. Proof of the absurdity of the refusal to glorify the Spirit, from the comparison of things glorified in creation
    26. That Scripture uses the words “in” or “by,” ἐν, cf. note on p. 3, in place of “with.” Wherein also it is proved that the word “and” has the same force as “with.”
    27. That the word “in,” in as many senses as it bears, is understood of the Spirit
    28. Of the origin of the word “with,” and what force it has. Also concerning the unwritten laws of the church
    29. 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
    30. Enumeration of the illustrious men in the Church who in their writings have used the word “with.”
    31. Exposition of the present state of the Churches
  7. The Hexæmeron
    1. Introduction
    2. In the Beginning God made the Heaven and the Earth
    3. “The Earth was Invisible and Unfinished.”
    4. On the Firmament
    5. Upon the gathering together of the waters
    6. The Germination of the Earth
    7. The creation of luminous bodies
    8. The creation of moving creatures
    9. The creation of fowl and water animals
    10. The creation of terrestrial animals
  8. The Letters
    1. Introduction
    2. To Eustathius the Philosopher
    3. Basil to Gregory
    4. To Candidianus
    5. To Olympius
    6. To Nectarius
    7. To the wife of Nectarius
    8. To Gregory my friend
    9. To the Cæsareans. A defence of his withdrawal, and concerning the faith
    10. To Maximus the Philosopher
    11. To a widow
    12. Without address. To some friends
    13. To Olympius
    14. To Olympius
    15. To Gregory his friend
    16. To Arcadius, Imperial Treasurer
    17. Against Eunomius the heretic
    18. To Origenes
    19. To Macarius and John
    20. To Gregory my friend
    21. To Leontius the Sophist
    22. To Leontius the Sophist
    23. Without address. On the Perfection of the Life of Solitaries
    24. To a Solitary
    25. To Athanasius, father of Athanasius bishop of Ancyra
    26. To Athanasius, bishop of Ancyra
    27. To Cæsarius, brother of Gregory
    28. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    29. To the Church of Neocæsarea. Consolatory
    30. To the Church of Ancyra. Consolatory
    31. To Eusebius of Samosata
    32. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    33. To Sophronius the Master
    34. To Aburgius
    35. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    36. Without address
    37. Without address
    38. Without address
    39. To his Brother Gregory, concerning the difference between οὐσία and ὑπόστασις
    40. Julian to Basil
    41. Julian to Basil
    42. Basil to Julian
    43. To Chilo, his disciple
    44. Admonition to the Young
    45. To a lapsed Monk
    46. To a lapsed Monk
    47. To a fallen virgin
    48. To Gregory
    49. To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
    50. To Arcadius the Bishop
    51. To Bishop Innocentius
    52. To Bishop Bosporius
    53. To the Canonicæ
    54. To the Chorepiscopi
    55. To the Chorepiscopi
    56. To Paregorius, the presbyter
    57. To Pergamius
    58. To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch
    59. To Gregory my brother
    60. To Gregory, his uncle
    61. To Gregory his uncle
    62. To Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria
    63. To the Church of Parnassus
    64. To the Governor of Neocæsarea
    65. To Hesychius
    66. To Atarbius
    67. To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria
    68. To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria
    69. To Meletius, bishop of Antioch
    70. To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria
    71. Without address
    72. Basil to Gregory
    73. To Hesychius
    74. To Callisthenes
    75. To Martinianus
    76. To Aburgius
    77. To Sophronius the Master
    78. Without inscription: about Therasius
    79. Without inscription, on behalf of Elpidius
    80. To Eustathius bishop of Sebastia
    81. To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria
    82. To Bishop Innocent
    83. To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria
    84. To a Magistrate
    85. To the President
    86. That the oath ought not to be taken
    87. To the Governor
    88. Without address on the same subject
    89. Without address on the subject of the exaction of taxes
    90. To Meletius, bishop of Antioch
    91. To the holy brethren the bishops of the West
    92. To Valerianus, Bishop of Illyricum
    93. To the Italians and Gauls
    94. To the Patrician Cæsaria, concerning Communion
    95. To Elias, Governor of the Province
    96. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    97. To Sophronius, the master
    98. To the Senate of Tyana
    99. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    100. To Count Terentius
    101. To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
    102. Consolatory
    103. To the citizens of Satala
    104. To the people of Satala
    105. To the prefect Modestus
    106. To the deaconesses, the daughters of Count Terentius
    107. To a soldier
    108. To the Widow Julitta
    109. To the guardian of the heirs of Julitta
    110. To the Count Helladius
    111. To the prefect Modestus
    112. To Modestus, the prefect
    113. To Andronicus, a general
    114. To the presbyters of Tarsus
    115. To Cyriacus, at Tarsus
    116. To the heretic Simplicia
    117. To Firminius
    118. Without address
    119. To Jovinus, Bishop of Perrha
    120. To Eustathius, Bishop of Sebasteia
    121. To Meletius, bishop of Antioch
    122. To Theodotus, bishop of Nicopolis
    123. To Pœmenius, bishop of Satala
    124. To Urbicius, the monk
    125. To Theodorus
    126. A transcript of the faith as dictated by Saint Basil, and subscribed by Eustathius, bishop of Sebasteia
    127. To Atarbius
    128. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    129. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    130. To Meletius Bishop of Antioch
    131. To Theodotus bishop of Nicopolis
    132. To Olympius
    133. To Abramius, bishop of Batnæ
    134. To Peter, bishop of Alexandria
    135. To the presbyter Pœonius
    136. To Diodorus, presbyter of Antioch
    137. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    138. To Antipater, on his assuming the governorship of Cappadocia
    139. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    140. To the Alexandrians
    141. To the Church of Antioch
    142. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    143. To the prefects' accountant
    144. To another accountant
    145. To the prefects' officer
    146. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    147. To Antiochus
    148. To Aburgius
    149. To Trajan
    150. To Trajan
    151. To Amphilochius in the name of Heraclidas
    152. To Eustathius the Physician
    153. To Victor, the Commander
    154. To Victor the Ex-Consul
    155. To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica
    156. Without address. In the case of a trainer
    157. To the Presbyter Evagrius
    158. To Amiochus
    159. To Antiochus
    160. To Eupaterius and his daughter
    161. To Diodorus
    162. To Amphilochius on his consecration as Bishop
    163. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    164. To Count Jovinus
    165. To Ascholius
    166. To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica
    167. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    168. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    169. To Antiochus
    170. Basil to Gregory
    171. To Glycerius
    172. To Gregory
    173. To Sophronius, the bishop
    174. To Theodora the Canoness
    175. To a Widow
    176. To Count Magnenianus
    177. To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium
    178. To Saphronius the Master
    179. To Aburgius
    180. To Arinthæus
    181. To the Master Sophronius, on behalf of Eunathius
    182. To Otreius, bishop of Melitene
    183. To the presbyters of Samosata
    184. To the Senate of Samosata
    185. To Eustathius, bishop of Himmeria
    186. To Theodotus, bishop of Beræa
    187. To Antipater, the governor
    188. Antipater to Basil
    189. To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons
    190. To Eustathius the physician
    191. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    192. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    193. To Sophronius the Master
    194. To Meletius the Physician
    195. To Zoilus
    196. To Euphronius, bishop of Colonia Armeniæ
    197. To Aburgius
    198. To Ambrose, bishop of Milan
    199. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    200. To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons
    201. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    202. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    203. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    204. To the bishops of the sea coast
    205. To the Neocæsareans
    206. To Elpidius the bishop
    207. To Elpidius the bishop. Consolatory
    208. To the clergy of Neocæsarea
    209. To Eulancius
    210. Without address
    211. To the notables of Neocæsarea
    212. To Olympius
    213. To Hilarius
    214. Without address
    215. To Count Terentius
    216. To the Presbyter Dorotheus
    217. To Meletius, bishop of Antioch
    218. To Amphilochius, the Canons
    219. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    220. To the clergy of Samosata
    221. To the Beræans
    222. To the Beræans
    223. To the people of Chalcis
    224. Against Eustathius of Sebasteia
    225. To the presbyter Genethlius
    226. To Demosthenes, as from the synod of bishops
    227. To the ascetics under him
    228. Consolatory, to the clergy of Colonia
    229. To the magistrates of Colonia
    230. To the clergy of Nicopolis
    231. To the magistrates of Nicopolis
    232. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    233. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    234. To Amphilochius, in reply to certain questions
    235. To the same, in answer to another question
    236. To the same, in answer to another question
    237. To the same Amphilochius
    238. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    239. To the presbyters of Nicopolis
    240. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    241. To the Presbyters of Nicopolis
    242. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata
    243. To the Westerns
    244. To the bishops of Italy and Gaul concerning the condition and confusion of the Churches
    245. To Patrophilus, bishop of Ægæ
    246. To Theophilus the Bishop
    247. To the Nicopolitans
    248. To the Nicopolitans
    249. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
    250. Without address. Commendatory
    251. To Patrophilus, bishop of Ægæ
    252. To the people of Evæsæ
    253. To the bishops of the Pontic Diocese
    254. To the presbyters of Antioch
    255. To Pelagius, bishop of the Syrian Laodicea
    256. To Vitus, bishop of Charræ
    257. 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
    258. To the monks harassed by the Arians
    259. To Epiphanius the bishop
    260. To the monks Palladius and Innocent
    261. To Optimus the bishop
    262. To the Sozopolitans
    263. To the Monk Urbicius
    264. To the Westerns
    265. To Barses, bishop of Edessa, in exile
    266. To Eulogius, Alexander, and Harpocration, bishops of Egypt, in exile
    267. To Petrus, bishop of Alexandria
    268. To Barses, bishop of Edessa, in exile
    269. To Eusebius, in exile
    270. To the wife of Arinthæus, the General. Consolatory
    271. Without Address. Concerning Raptus
    272. To Eusebius, my comrade, to recommend Cyriacus the presbyter
    273. To Sophronius the magister officiorum
    274. Without address. Concerning Hera
    275. To Himerius, the master
    276. Without address. Concerning Hera
    277. To the great Harmatius
    278. To the learned Maximus
    279. To Valerianus
    280. To Modestus the Prefect
    281. To Modestus the Prefect
    282. To Modestus the Prefect
    283. To a bishop
    284. To a widow
    285. To the assessor in the case of monks
    286. Without Address
    287. To the Commentariensis
    288. Without address
    289. Without address. Excommunicatory
    290. Without address. Concerning an afflicted woman
    291. To Nectarius
    292. To Timotheus the Chorepiscopus
    293. To Palladius
    294. To Julianus
    295. To Festus and Magnus
    296. To monks
    297. To a Censitor
    298. To the Comes Privatarum
    299. To the Governor of Sebasteia
    300. To a writer
    301. Basil to Libanius
    302. Libanius to Basilius
    303. Basil to Libanius
    304. Libanius to Basil
    305. Basil to Libanius
    306. Libanius to Basil
    307. Libanius to Basil
    308. Basil to Libanius
    309. Libanius to Basil
    310. Basil to Libanius
    311. Libanius to Basil
    312. Libanius to Basil
    313. Libanius to Basil
    314. Basil to Libanius
    315. Libanius to Basil
    316. Basil to Libanius
    317. Basil to Libanius
    318. Libanius to Basil
    319. Basil to Libanius
    320. Libanius to Basil
    321. Libanius to Basil
    322. Basil to Libanius
    323. Libanius to Basil
    324. Libanius to Basil
    325. Basil to Libanius
    326. Of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the invocation of Saints, and their Images
    327. Letters Ccclxi-ccclxv
    328. Basil to Urbicius the monk, concerning continency
  9. Indexes
    1. Index of Scripture References
    2. Greek Words and Phrases
    3. German Words and Phrases
    4. French Words and Phrases
    5. Index of Pages of the Print Edition