NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

Exegetic.(iii.) The Commentary on Isaiah. The Commentary on Isaiah is placed by the BenedictineEditors in the appendix of doubtful composition, mainly on the ground of inferiorityof style. Ceillier is strongly in favour of the genuineness of this work, and calls attention tothe fact that it is attested by strong manuscript authority, and by the recognition of St.Maximus, of John of Damascus, of Simeon Logothetes, of Antony Melissa of Tarasius, andof the Greek scholiast on the Epistles of St. Paul, who is supposed to be Œcumenius.Fessler 513 ranks the work among those of doubtful authority on the ground of the silenceof earlier Fathers and of the inferiority of style, as well as of apparent citations from theCommentary of Eusebius, and of some eccentricity of opinion. He conjectures that we maypossibly have here the rough material of a proposed work on Isaiah, based mainly on Origen,which was never completed. Garnier regards it as totally unworthy of St. Basil. Maran (Vit. Bas. 42) would accept it, and refutes objections.Among the remarks which have seemed frivolous is the comment on Is. xi. 12, that theactual cross of the Passion was prefigured by the four parts of the universe joining in themidst. 514 Similar objections have been taken to the statement that the devils like rich fare,and crowd the idols’ temples to enjoy the sacrificial feasts. 515 On the other hand it has beenpointed out that this ingenuity in finding symbols of the cross is of a piece with that of JustinMartyr, 516 who cites the yard on the mast, the plough, and the Roman trophies, and thatGregory of Nazianzus 517 instances the same characteristic of the devils. While dwelling onthe holiness of character required for the prophetic offices, the Commentary points out 518that sometimes it has pleased God to grant it to Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar for the sakeof their great empires; to Caiaphas as the high priest; to Balaam, because of the exigenciesof the crisis at which he appeared. The unchaste lad 519 who has some great sin upon hisconscience shrinks from taking his place among the faithful, and is ashamed to rank himselfwith the weepers. So he tries to avoid the examination of those whose duty it is to enquireinto sins 520 and he invents excuses for leaving the church before the celebration of themysteries. The Commentary urges 521 that without penitence the best conduct is unavailing513 Patr. i. 522.514 § 249.515 § 236.516 Apol. i. § 72.517 Carm. 11, Epig. 28: Δαίμοσιν εἰλαπίναζον, ὅσοις τοπάροιθε μέμηλει Δαίμοσιν ἦρα φέρειν, οὐ καθαρὰςΘυσίας.518 § 4. cf. § 199.519 §19.520 id. ὄκνος εἰς προφάσεις πεπλασμένας ἐπινοῶν πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιζητοῦντας.521 § 34, 278.85