Sketch of the Life and Works of Saint Basil the Great

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Page 68

This is in the style of exegesis hitherto popular. To hearers familiar with exegesis of the school of Origen, it is an innovation for Basil to adopt such an exclusively literal system of exposition as he does,--e.g. in Hom. IX. on the Hexaemeron,--the system which is one of his distinguishing characteristics. [483] In his common-sense literalism he is thus a link with the historical school of Antioch, whose principles were in contrast with those of Origen and the Alexandrians, a school represented by Theodore of Mopsuestia, Diodorus of Tarsus, and later by Theodoret. [484]

It is remarked by Gregory of Nazianzus in his memorial oration [485] that Basil used a threefold method of enforcing Scripture on his hearers and readers. This may be understood to be the literal, moral, and allegorical. Ceillier points out that this description, so far as we know, applies only to the Homilies on the Psalms.

The praise of the Psalms, prefixed to Psalm i., is a passage of noticeable rhetorical power and of considerable beauty. Its popularity is shewn by the fact of its being found in some manuscripts of St. Augustine, and also in the commentary of Rufinus. The latter probably translated it; portions of it were transcribed by St. Ambrose. [486]

[483] Im Allgemeinen und im Grundsatze aber ist Basil gegen die allegorische Erkaerungsweise, so oft er sie dann auch im Einzelnen anwendet. Boehringer, Basil, p. 116.

[484] cf. Gieseler i. p. 109.

[485] Or. xliii. S: 67.

[486] Ceillier.

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