On Christian Doctrine and Practice (Popular Patristics Series)
Overview
As a priest and then bishop, St. Basil the Great devoted sophisticated treatises to the Trinity and to articulating his vision of the Christian life. In his homilies, Basil distilled the best of his moral and theological teachings into forms readily accessible to his flock, and now to us. During his lifetime, Basil was recognized as one of the foremost rhetoricians of his day—a man supremely skilled in the art of speaking, instructing, persuading, and delighting at the same time. His rhetorical skills are on full display in the 11 moral homilies translated in this volume—seven of which appear in English for the first time.
Top Highlights
“But since he set aside his desire for divine glory, looking for something better and striving for what he could not attain, he lost what he could possess. And so, the greatest salvation for him, both the remedy for his illness and the road back to his original state, is humility,2 not imagining that the ornament of glory is attained through himself but seeking it instead from God. For in this way he will correct his fault; in this way he will be cured of his illness; in this way he will return to the sacred commandment which he forsook.” (Page 108)
“But wisdom will not enter a soul that plots evil [Wis 1:4]. Therefore, the souls of those who are going to converse with wisdom are first purified through the fear of God.” (Page 57)
“The Father is the principle of all, the cause of being for whatever exists, the root of the living” (Page 235)
“In sum, when you elevate your mind above human realities through your powers of reasoning and fix your attention on what is truly good and praiseworthy, you will be far beyond thinking that any corruptible and earthly good is a source of happiness or enviable. In anyone who has acquired this habit of mind, who is not obsessed with worldly goods as if they were of great value, it is impossible for envy ever to be present.” (Page 143)
“Do not be severe in rebuke. Do not be quick to make accusations nor be emotional when you do so, for this smacks of surliness. Do not condemn in matters of minor importance as if you were perfectly righteous.” (Page 118)
- Title: On Christian Doctrine and Practice
- Author: Basil of Caesarea
- Series: Popular Patristics Series
- Volume: 47
- Publisher: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Sermons, Greek › Translations into English; Sermons, Early Christian
- ISBNs: 9780881414585, 0881414581
- Resource ID: LLS:CHRSTNDCTRNBGRT
- Resource Type: text.monograph.sermons
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:20:57Z