St Basil the Great ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, Complete

Translated by Bl. Jackson.

St Basil the Great Resources Online and in Print

88 Pages

Page 18

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."

16. But their contention is that to use the phrase "with him" is altogether strange and unusual, while "through him" is at once most familiar in Holy Scripture, and very common in the language of the brotherhood. [817] What is our answer to this? We say, Blessed are the ears that have not heard you and the hearts that have been kept from the wounds of your words. To you, on the other hand, who are lovers of Christ, [818] I say that the Church recognizes both uses, and deprecates neither as subversive of the other. For whenever we are contemplating the majesty of the nature of the Only Begotten, and the excellence of His dignity, we bear witness that the glory is with the Father; while on the other hand, whenever we bethink us of His bestowal [819] on us of good gifts, and of our access [820] to, and admission into, the household of God, [821] we confess that this grace is effected for us through Him and by [822] Him.

[817] The word adelphotes is in the New Testament peculiar to S. Peter (1 Peter ii. 17, and v. 9); it occurs in the Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians, Chap. ii.

[818] Philochristoi. The word is not common, but occurs in inscriptions. cf. Anth. Pal. I. x. 13. orthen pistin echousa philochristoio menoines.

[819] choregia. cf. the use of the cognate verb in 1 Pet. iv. 11. ex ischuos hes choregei ho theos.

[820] prosagoge. cf. Eph. ii. 18.

[821] oikeiosin pros ton Theon. cf. oikeioi tou Theou in Eph. ii. 19.

[822] en.

Previous Page / First / Next Page of St Basil - On the Holy Spirit

St Basil the Great Home Page / Works ||| More Church Fathers

Elpenor's Free Greek Lessons

Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/basil/holy-spirit.asp?pg=18