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

To the notables of Neocæsarea.two, but in hypostasis one. 2786 The men who congratulate themselves on the subtilty oftheir intelligence could not perceive that this is said not in reference to dogmatic opinion,but in controversy with Ælian. And in this dispute there are not a few copyists’ blunders,as, please God, I shall shew in the case of the actual expressions used. But in his endeavourto convince the heathen, he deemed it needless to be nice about the words he employed; hejudged it wiser sometimes to make concessions to the character of the subject who was beingpersuaded, so as not to run counter to the opportunity given him. This explains how it isthat you may find there many expressions which now give great support to the heretics, asfor instance “creature” 2787 and “thing made” 2788 and the like. But those who ignorantlycriticise these writings refer to the question of the Godhead much that is said in referenceto the conjunction with man; as is the case with this passage which they are hawking about.For it is indispensable to have clear understanding that, as he who fails to confess the communityof the essence or substance falls into polytheism, so he who refuses to grant thedistinction of the hypostases is carried away into Judaism. For we must keep our mindstayed, so to say, on certain underlying subject matter, and, by forming a clear impressionof its distinguishing lines, so arrive at the end desired. For suppose we do not bethink usof the Fatherhood, nor bear in mind Him of whom this distinctive quality is marked off,how can we take in the idea of God the Father? For merely to enumerate the differences ofPersons 2789 is insufficient; we must confess each Person 2790 to have a natural existence inreal hypostasis. Now Sabellius did not even deprecate the formation of the persons withouthypostasis, saying as he did that the same God, being one in matter, 2791 was metamorphosedas the need of the moment required, and spoken of now as Father, now as Son, and now asHoly Ghost. The inventors of this unnamed heresy are renewing the old long extinguishederror; those, I mean, who are repudiating the hypostases, and denying the name of the Sonof God. They must give over uttering iniquity against God, 2792 or they will have to wailwith them that deny the Christ.2512786 The Ben. note refused to believe that so Sabellian an expression can have been used by Gregory. Basil’sexplanation is that it was used in controversy with a heathen on another subject, loosely and not dogmatically.The words are said not to be found in any extant document attributed to Gregory, whether genuine or doubtful.But they may be matched in some of the expressions of Athanasius. cf. p. 195. Ath., Tom. ad Af. § 4 and Hom.in Terem. viii. 96.2787 κτίσμα.2788 ποίημα.2789 προσώπων.2790 πρόσωπον.2791 τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ.2792 Ps. lxxv. 5, LXX.710