Chapter I.

 1. Your desire for information, my right well-beloved and most deeply respected brother Amphilochius, I highly commend, and not less your industrious

 2. If “To the fool on his asking for wisdom, wisdom shall be reckoned,” at how high a price shall we value “the wise hearer” who is quoted by the Prop

 3. Lately when praying with the people, and using the full doxology to God the Father in both forms, at one time “  with  the Son  together with   thr

 Chapter II.

 4. The petty exactitude of these men about syllables and words is not, as might be supposed, simple and straightforward nor is the mischief to which

 Chapter III.

 5. They have, however, been led into this error by their close study of heathen writers, who have respectively applied the terms “  of  whom” and “  t

 Chapter IV.

 6. We acknowledge that the word of truth has in many places made use of these expressions yet we absolutely deny that the freedom of the Spirit is in

 Chapter V.

 7. After thus describing the outcome of our adversaries’ arguments, we shall now proceed to shew, as we have proposed, that the Father does not first

 8. But if our adversaries oppose this our interpretation, what argument will save them from being caught in their own trap?

 9. In his Epistle to the Ephesians the apostle says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Chri

 10. It must now be pointed out that the phrase “through whom” is admitted by Scripture in the case of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost

 11. In the same manner it may also be said of the word “in,” that Scripture admits its use in the case of God the Father. In the Old Testament it is s

 12. And it is not only in the case of the theology that the use of the terms varies, but whenever one of the terms takes the meaning of the other we f

 Chapter VI.

 13. Our opponents, while they thus artfully and perversely encounter our argument, cannot even have recourse to the plea of ignorance. It is obvious t

 14. Let us first ask them this question: In what sense do they say that the Son is “after the Father ” later in time, or in order, or in dignity? But

 15. If they really conceive of a kind of degradation of the Son in relation to the Father, as though He were in a lower place, so that the Father sits

 Chapter VII.

 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

 Chapter VIII.

 17. When, then, the apostle “thanks God through Jesus Christ,” and again says that “through Him” we have “received grace and apostleship for obedience

 18. For “through Him” comes every succour to our souls, and it is in accordance with each kind of care that an appropriate title has been devised. So

 19. It will follow that we should next in order point out the character of the provision of blessings bestowed on us by the Father “through him.” Inas

 20. When then He says, “I have not spoken of myself,” and again, “As the Father said unto me, so I speak,”

 21. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father not the express image, nor yet the form, for the divine nature does not admit of combination but the

 Chapter IX.

 22. Let us now investigate what are our common conceptions concerning the Spirit, as well those which have been gathered by us from Holy Scripture con

 23. Now the Spirit is not brought into intimate association with the soul by local approximation. How indeed could there be a corporeal approach to th

 Chapter X.

 24. But we must proceed to attack our opponents, in the endeavour to confute those “oppositions” advanced against us which are derived from “knowledge

 25. But all the apparatus of war has been got ready against us every intellectual missile is aimed at us and now blasphemers’ tongues shoot and hit

 26. Whence is it that we are Christians? Through our faith, would be the universal answer. And in what way are we saved? Plainly because we were regen

 Chapter XI.

 27. “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow?” For whom is distress and darkness? For whom eternal doom? Is it not for the transgressors? For them that deny the

 Chapter XII.

 28. Let no one be misled by the fact of the apostle’s frequently omitting the name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit when making mention of baptism

 Chapter XIII.

 29. It is, however, objected that other beings which are enumerated with the Father and the Son are certainly not always glorified together with them.

 30. And not only Paul, but generally all those to whom is committed any ministry of the word, never cease from testifying, but call heaven and earth t

 Chapter XIV.

 31. But even if some are baptized unto the Spirit, it is not, it is urged, on this account right for the Spirit to be ranked with God. Some “were bapt

 32. What then? Because they were typically baptized unto Moses, is the grace of baptism therefore small? Were it so, and if we were in each case to pr

 33. But belief in Moses not only does not show our belief in the Spirit to be worthless, but, if we adopt our opponents’ line of argument, it rather w

 Chapter XV.

 34. What more? Verily, our opponents are well equipped with arguments. We are baptized, they urge, into water, and of course we shall not honour the w

 35. The dispensation of our God and Saviour concerning man is a recall from the fall and a return from the alienation caused by disobedience to close

 36. Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liber

 Chapter XVI.

 37. Let us then revert to the point raised from the outset, that in all things the Holy Spirit is inseparable and wholly incapable of being parted fro

 38. Moreover, from the things created at the beginning may be learnt the fellowship of the Spirit with the Father and the Son. The pure, intelligent,

 39. But when we speak of the dispensations made for man by our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who will gainsay their having been accomplished thr

 40. Moreover by any one who carefully uses his reason it will be found that even at the moment of the expected appearance of the Lord from heaven the

 Chapter XVII.

 41. What, however, they call sub-numeration, and in what sense they use this word, cannot even be imagined without difficulty. It is well known that i

 42. What is it that they maintain? Look at the terms of their imposture. “We assert that connumeration is appropriate to subjects of equal dignity, an

 43. Do you maintain that the Son is numbered under the Father, and the Spirit under the Son, or do you confine your sub-numeration to the Spirit alone

 Chapter XVIII.

 44. In delivering the formula of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, our Lord did not connect the gift with number. He did not say “into First, S

 45. For we do not count by way of addition, gradually making increase from unity to multitude, and saying one, two, and three,—nor yet first, second,

 46. And it is not from this source alone that our proofs of the natural communion are derived, but from the fact that He is moreover said to be “of Go

 47. And when, by means of the power that enlightens us, we fix our eyes on the beauty of the image of the invisible God, and through the image are led

 Chapter XIX.

 48. “Be it so,” it is rejoined, “but glory is by no means so absolutely due to the Spirit as to require His exaltation by us in doxologies.” Whence th

 49. And His operations, what are they? For majesty ineffable, and for numbers innumerable. How shall we form a conception of what extends beyond the a

 50. But, it is said that “He maketh intercession for us.” It follows then that, as the suppliant is inferior to the benefactor, so far is the Spirit i

 Chapter XX.

 51. He is not a slave, it is said not a master, but free. Oh the terrible insensibility, the pitiable audacity, of them that maintain this! Shall I r

 Chapter XXI.

 52. But why get an unfair victory for our argument by fighting over these undignified questions, when it is within our power to prove that the excelle

 Chapter XXII.

 53. Moreover the surpassing excellence of the nature of the Spirit is to be learned not only from His having the same title as the Father and the Son,

 Chapter XXIII.

 54. Now of the rest of the Powers each is believed to be in a circumscribed place. The angel who stood by Cornelius

 Chapter XXIV.

 55. Furthermore man is “crowned with glory and honour,” and “glory, honour and peace” are laid up by promise “to every man that worketh good.”

 56. Let us then examine the points one by one. He is good by nature, in the same way as the Father is good, and the Son is good the creature on the o

 57. Now it is urged that the Spirit is in us as a gift from God, and that the gift is not reverenced with the same honour as that which is attributed

 Chapter XXV.

 58. It is, however, asked by our opponents, how it is that Scripture nowhere describes the Spirit as glorified together with the Father and the Son, b

 59. As we find both expressions in use among the faithful, we use both in the belief that full glory is equally given to the Spirit by both. The mout

 60. As compared with “  in  ,” there is this difference, that while “  with   in   with   in   and   in   in 

 Chapter XXVI.

 61. Now, short and simple as this utterance is, it appears to me, as I consider it, that its meanings are many and various. For of the senses in which

 62. It is an extraordinary statement, but it is none the less true, that the Spirit is frequently spoken of as the  place  of them that are being sanc

 63. In relation to the originate, then, the Spirit is said to  be in   be in   be with   with   in   with   in 

 64. Another sense may however be given to the phrase, that just as the Father is seen in the Son, so is the Son in the Spirit. The “worship in the Spi

 Chapter XXVII.

 65. The word “  in,  ” say our opponents, “is exactly appropriate to the Spirit, and sufficient for every thought concerning Him. Why then, they ask,

 66. Of the beliefs and practices whether generally accepted or publicly enjoined which are preserved in the Church  first   one 

 67. Time will fail me if I attempt to recount the unwritten mysteries of the Church. Of the rest I say nothing but of the very confession of our fait

 68. The force of both expressions has now been explained. I will proceed to state once more wherein they agree and wherein they differ from one anothe

 Chapter XXVIII.

 69. But let us see if we can bethink us of any defence of this usage of our fathers for they who first originated the expression are more open to bla

 70. I am ashamed to add the rest. You expect to be glorified together with Christ (“if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified to

 Chapter XXIX.

 71. In answer to the objection that the doxology in the form “with the Spirit” has no written authority, we maintain that if there is no other instanc

 72. There is the famous Irenæus, and Clement of Rome  in   with   carnal 

 73. Origen, too, in many of his expositions of the Psalms, we find using the form of doxology “  with  the Holy Ghost.” The opinions which he held con

 74. But where shall I rank the great Gregory, and the words uttered by him? Shall we not place among Apostles and Prophets a man who walked by the sam

 75. How then can I be an innovator and creator of new terms, when I adduce as originators and champions of the word whole nations, cities, custom goin

 Chapter XXX.

 76. To what then shall I liken our present condition? It may be compared, I think, to some naval battle which has arisen out of time old quarrels, and

 77. Turn now I beg you from this figurative description to the unhappy reality. Did it not at one time appear that the Arian schism, after its separat

 78. So, since no human voice is strong enough to be heard in such a disturbance, I reckon silence more profitable than speech, for if there is any tru

 79. For all these reasons I ought to have kept silence, but I was drawn in the other direction by love, which “seeketh not her own,” and desires to ov

2. If “To the fool on his asking for wisdom, wisdom shall be reckoned,”  2  Prov. xvii. 28, lxx. at how high a price shall we value “the wise hearer” who is quoted by the Prophet in the same verse with “the admirable counsellor”?  3  Is. iii. 3, lxx. It is right, I ween, to hold him worthy of all approbation, and to urge him on to further progress, sharing his enthusiasm, and in all things toiling at his side as he presses onwards to perfection. To count the terms used in theology as of primary importance, and to endeavour to trace out the hidden meaning in every phrase and in every syllable, is a characteristic wanting in those who are idle in the pursuit of true religion, but distinguishing all who get knowledge of “the mark” “of our calling;”  4  Phil. iii. 14. for what is set before us is, so far as is possible with human nature, to be made like unto God. Now without knowledge there can be no making like; and knowledge is not got without lessons. The beginning of teaching is speech, and syllables and words are parts of speech. It follows then that to investigate syllables is not to shoot wide of the mark, nor, because the questions raised are what might seem to some insignificant, are they on that account to be held unworthy of heed. Truth is always a quarry hard to hunt, and therefore we must look everywhere for its tracks. The acquisition of true religion is just like that of crafts; both grow bit by bit; apprentices must despise nothing. If a man despise the first elements as small and insignificant, he will never reach the perfection of wisdom.

Yea and Nay are but two syllables, yet there is often involved in these little words at once the best of all good things, Truth, and that beyond which wickedness cannot go, a Lie. But why mention Yea and Nay? Before now, a martyr bearing witness for Christ has been judged to have paid in full the claim of true religion by merely nodding his head.  5  i.e., confessed or denied himself a Christian. The Benedictine Editors and their followers seem to have missed the force of the original, both grammatically and historically, in referring it to the time when St. Basil is writing; ἤδη ἐκρίθη does not mean “at the present day is judged,” but “ere now has been judged.” And in a.d. 374 there was no persecution of Christians such as seems to be referred to, although Valens tried to crush the Catholics. If, then, this be so, what term in theology is so small but that the effect of its weight in the scales according as it be rightly or wrongly used is not great? Of the law we are told “not one jot nor one tittle shall pass away;”  6  Matt. v. 18. how then could it be safe for us to leave even the least unnoticed? The very points which you yourself have sought to have thoroughly sifted by us are at the same time both small and great. Their use is the matter of a moment, and peradventure they are therefore made of small account; but, when we reckon the force of their meaning, they are great. They may be likened to the mustard plant which, though it be the least of shrub-seeds, yet when properly cultivated and the forces latent in its germs unfolded, rises to its own sufficient height.

If any one laughs when he sees our subtilty, to use the Psalmist’s  7  Ps. cxix. 85, lxx. “The lawless have described subtilties for me, but not according to thy law, O Lord;” for A.V. & R.V., “The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy law.” The word ἀδολεσχία is used in a bad sense to mean garrulity; in a good sense, keenness, subtilty. words, about syllables, let him know that he reaps laughter’s fruitless fruit; and let us, neither giving in to men’s reproaches, nor yet vanquished by their disparagement, continue our investigation. So far, indeed, am I from feeling ashamed of these things because they are small, that, even if I could attain to ever so minute a fraction of their dignity, I should both congratulate myself on having won high honour, and should tell my brother and fellow-investigator that no small gain had accrued to him therefrom.

While, then, I am aware that the controversy contained in little words is a very great one, in hope of the prize I do not shrink from toil, with the conviction that the discussion will both prove profitable to myself, and that my hearers will be rewarded with no small benefit. Wherefore now with the help, if I may so say, of the Holy Spirit Himself, I will approach the exposition of the subject, and, if you will, that I may be put in the way of the discussion, I will for a moment revert to the origin of the question before us.

2 Prov. xvii. 28, lxx.
3 Is. iii. 3, lxx.
4 Phil. iii. 14.
5 i.e., confessed or denied himself a Christian. The Benedictine Editors and their followers seem to have missed the force of the original, both grammatically and historically, in referring it to the time when St. Basil is writing; ἤδη ἐκρίθη does not mean “at the present day is judged,” but “ere now has been judged.” And in a.d. 374 there was no persecution of Christians such as seems to be referred to, although Valens tried to crush the Catholics.
6 Matt. v. 18.
7 Ps. cxix. 85, lxx. “The lawless have described subtilties for me, but not according to thy law, O Lord;” for A.V. & R.V., “The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy law.” The word ἀδολεσχία is used in a bad sense to mean garrulity; in a good sense, keenness, subtilty.

[2] Εἰ δὲ τῷ «ἀνοήτῳ ἐπερωτήσαντι σοφία λογισθήσεται», τὸν συνετὸν ἀκροατήν, τὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ προφήτου «τῷ θαυμαστῷ συμβούλῳ» παραζευχθέντα, πόσου ἄξιον λογισόμεθα; Ἦ που δίκαιον, πάσης μὲν ἀποδοχῆς ἀξιοῦν, προάγειν δὲ εἰς τὸ πρόσω, συνεφαπτομένους αὐτῷ τῆς σπουδῆς, καὶ πάντα συνεκπονοῦντας, ἐπειγομένῳ πρὸς τὴν τελείωσιν. Τὸ γὰρ μὴ παρέργως ἀκούειν τῶν θεολογικῶν φωνῶν, ἀλλὰ πειρᾶσθαι τὸν ἐν ἑκάστῃ λέξει καὶ ἐν ἑκάστῃ συλλαβῇ κεκρυμμένον νοῦν ἐξιχνεύειν, οὐκ ἀργῶν εἰς εὐσέβειαν, ἀλλὰ γνωριζόντων τὸν σκοπὸν τῆς κλήσεως ἡμῶν: ὅτι πρόκειται ἡμῖν ὁμοιωθῆναι Θεῷ, κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν ἀνθρώπου φύσει. Ὁμοίωσις δέ, οὐκ ἄνευ γνώσεως: ἡ δὲ γνῶσις, ἐκ διδαγμάτων. Λόγος δέ, διδασκαλίας ἀρχή: λόγου δὲ μέρη, συλλαβαὶ καὶ λέξεις. Ὥστε οὐκ ἔξω σκοποῦ γέγονε τῶν συλλαβῶν ἡ ἐξέτασις. Οὐ μὴν ὅτι μικρά, ὡς ἄν τῳ δόξαι, τὰ ἐρωτήματα, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ παροφθῆναι ἄξια: ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ δυσθήρατος ἡ ἀλήθεια, πανταχόθεν ἡμῖν ἐξιχνευτέα. Εἰ γὰρ ὥσπερ αἱ τέχναι, οὕτω καὶ ἡ τῆς εὐσεβείας ἀνάληψις ταῖς κατὰ μικρὸν προσθήκαις αὔξεται, οὐδενὸς ὑπεροπτέον τοῖς εἰς τὴν γνῶσιν εἰσαγομένοις: ὡς εἴ τις τῶν πρώτων στοιχείων ὡς σμικρῶν ὑπερίδοι, οὐδέποτε τῶν τελείων τῆς σοφίας ἐφάψεται. Τὸ ναὶ καὶ τὸ οὔ, συλλαβαὶ δύο: ἀλλ' ὅμως τὸ κράτιστον τῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἡ ἀλήθεια, καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος ὅρος τῆς πονηρίας, τὸ ψεῦδος, τοῖς μικροῖς τούτοις ῥήμασι πολλάκις ἐμπεριέχεται. Καὶ τί ταῦτα λέγω; Ἤδη τις καὶ μόνον κατανεύσας τῇ κεφαλῇ ἐν τοῖς ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ μαρτυρίοις, πάσης πληρωτὴς εὐσεβείας ἐκρίθη. Εἰ δὲ ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει, τί τῶν θεολογικῶν ῥημάτων οὕτω μικρόν, ὡς ἢ καλῶς ἢ ἐναντίως ἔχον, μὴ μεγάλην παρέχειν τὴν ῥοπὴν ἐφ' ἑκάτερα; Εἰ γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ παρελεύσεται, πῶς ἂν ἡμῖν ἀσφαλὲς ὑπερβαίνειν καὶ τὰ σμικρότατα; Ἅ γε μὴν αὐτὸς διευκρινηθῆναι παρ' ἡμῶν ἐπεζήτησας, καὶ βραχέα ἐστὶ ταῦτα καὶ μεγάλα: τῷ μὲν συντόμῳ τῆς προφορᾶς βραχέα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἴσως εὐκαταφρόνητα: τῇ δὲ δυνάμει τῶν σημαινομένων μεγάλα, κατὰ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ σινάπεως, ὃ μικρότατον ὂν τῶν φρυγανικῶν σπερμάτων, τῆς προσηκούσης ἐπιμελείας ἀξιωθέν, εἰς ὕψος αὔταρκες διανίσταται, τῆς συνεσπαρμένης ἐν αὐτῷ δυνάμεως ἁπλωθείσης. Εἰ δέ τις γελᾷ, βλέπων τὴν περὶ τὰς συλλαβὰς ἡμῶν, ψαλμικῶς εἰπεῖν, ἀδολεσχίαν, αὐτὸς μὲν ἴστω ἀνωφελῆ καρπὸν τοῦ γελοίου δρεπόμενος: ἡμεῖς δὲ μὴ τοῖς ὀνείδεσι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐνδόντες, μηδὲ τῷ φαυλισμῷ αὐτῶν ἡττηθέντες, τὴν ἔρευναν καταλίπωμεν. Τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἀπέχω τούτοις ὡς μικροῖς ἐπαισχύνεσθαι, ὥστε εἰ καὶ πολλοστοῦ μέρους τῆς ἀξίας αὐτῶν ἐφικοίμην, ἐμαυτῷ τε ἂν συνησθείην ὡς μεγάλων ἀξιωθέντι, τῷ τε συνδιερευνῶντι ἡμῖν ἀδελφῷ οὐ μικρὸν ἂν φαίην ἐντεῦθεν ἀπηντηκέναι τὸ κέρδος. Μέγιστον οὖν ὁρῶν ἐν μικροῖς ῥήμασι τὸ ἀγώνισμα, ἐλπίδι τῶν μισθῶν, τὸν πόνον οὐκ ἀναδύομαι, ἐμαυτῷ τε ἡγούμενος ἔγκαρπον τὸν λόγον ἔσεσθαι, τοῖς τε ἀκούουσι διαρκῆ τὴν ὠφέλειαν ὑπάρξειν. Διόπερ ἤδη σὺν αὐτῷ γε φάναι τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι βαδιοῦμαι πρὸς τὴν ἐξήγησιν. Καὶ εἰ βούλει ὥστε με εἰς ὁδὸν καταστῆναι τοῦ λόγου, μικρὸν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ προβλήματος ὑποστρέψω.