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

A transcript of the faith as dictated by Saint Basil, and subscribed by Eustathius, bishop ofSebasteia.καί πάλιν ἐρχόμενον [μετὰ δόξης] κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς· [οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκἔσται τέλος·]καί εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον. [τὸ Κύριον καὶ τὸ ζωοποιὸν τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸςἐκπορευόμενον, τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱ& 254· συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον, τὸλαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν· εἰς μίαν ἁγίαν καθολικὴν καὶ ἀποστολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν,ὁμολογοῦμεν ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, προσδοκῶμεν ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν, καὶζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰ& 242·νος. ᾽Αμὴν.]τοῦς δὲ λέγοντας, ἦν ποτε ὅτε οὐκ ἦν, καὶ πρὶν γεννηθῆναι οὐκ ἦν, καὶ ὅτι ἐξ οὐκὄντων ἐγένετο, ἢ ἐξ ἑτέρας ὑποστάσεως ἢ οὐσίας φάσκοντας εἶναι, ἢ κτιστὸν ἢ τρεπτὸν ἢἀλλοιωτὸν τὸν Υἱ& 232·ν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τουτοὺς ἀναθεματίζει ἡ καθολικὴ καὶ ἀποστολικὴἐκκλησια. [Omit all the Anathemas.]3. Here then all points but one are satisfactorily and exactly defined, some for the correctionof what had been corrupted, some as a precaution against errors expected to arise.The doctrine of the Spirit, however, is merely mentioned, as needing no elaboration, becauseat the time of the Council no question was mooted, and the opinion on this subject in thehearts of the faithful was exposed to no attack. Little by little, however, the growing poisongermsof impiety, first sown by Arius, the champion of the heresy, and then by those whosucceeded to his inheritance of mischief, were nurtured to the plague of the Church, andthe regular development of the impiety issued in blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Underthese circumstances we are under the necessity of putting before the men who have no pityfor themselves, and shut their eyes to the inevitable threat directed by our Lord againstblasphemers of the Holy Ghost, their bounden duty. They must anathematize all who callthe Holy Ghost a creature, and all who so think; all who do not confess that He is holy bynature, as the Father is holy by nature, and the Son is holy by nature, and refuse Him Hisplace in the blessed divine nature. Our not separating Him from Father and Son is a proofof our right mind, for we are bound to be baptized in the terms we have received and toprofess belief in the terms in which we are baptized, and as we have professed belief in, soto give glory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to hold aloof from the communion of allwho call Him creature, as from open blasphemers. One point must be regarded as settled;and the remark is necessary because of our slanderers; we do not speak of the Holy Ghostas unbegotten, for we recognise one Unbegotten and one Origin of all things, 2414 the Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ: nor do we speak of the Holy Ghost as begotten, for by the traditionof the faith we have been taught one Only-begotten: the Spirit of truth we have been taughtto proceed from the Father, and we confess Him to be of God without creation. We are alsobound to anathematize all who speak of the Holy Ghost as ministerial, 2415 inasmuch as by2414 cf. pp. 27 and 39, notes.2415 cf. De Sp. S. § 25, p. 17. On those who described the Spirit as merely a ministering spirit, vide Athan.,Ad Serap. i. (λεγόντων αὐτὸ μὴ μόνον κτίσμα, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν λειτουργικῶν πνευμάτων ἓν αὐτὸ εἶναι). This566