St. Basil the Great
On the Holy Spirit
The treatise De Spiritu Sancto, complete in thirty chapters
Contents30 sections
- 1Chapter I. Prefatory remarks on the need of exact investigation of the most minute portions of theology
- 2Chapter II. The origin of the heretics' close observation of syllables
- 3Chapter III. The systematic discussion of syllables is derived from heathen philosophy
- 4Chapter IV. That there is no distinction in the scriptural use of these syllables
- 5Chapter V. That "through whom" is said also in the case of the Father, and "of whom" in the case of the Son and of the Spirit
- 6Chapter VI. Issue joined with those who assert that the Son is not with the Father, but after the Father. Also concerning the equal glory
- 7Chapter VII. Against those who assert that it is not proper for "with whom" to be said of the Son, and that the proper phrase is "through whom."
- 8Chapter VIII. In how many ways "Throughwhom" is used; and in what sense "with whom" is more suitable. Explanation of how the Son receives a commandment, and how He is sent
- 9Chapter IX. Definitive conceptions about the Spirit which conform to the teaching of the Scriptures
- 10Chapter X. Against those who say that it is not right to rank the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son
- 11Chapter XI. That they who deny the Spirit are transgressors
- 12Chapter XII. Against those who assert that the baptism in the name of the Father alone is sufficient
- 13Chapter XIII. Statement of the reason why in the writings of Paul the angels are associated with the Father and the Son
- 14Chapter XIV. Objection that some were baptized unto Moses and believed in him, and an answer to it; with remarks upon types
- 15Chapter XV. Reply to the suggested objection that we are baptized "into water." Also concerning baptism
- 16Chapter XVI. That the Holy Spirit is in every conception inseparable from the Father and the Son, alike in the creation of perceptible objects, in the dispensation of human affairs, and in the judgment to come
- 17Chapter XVII. Against those who say that the Holy Ghost is not to be numbered with, but numbered under, the Father and the Son. Wherein moreover there is a summary notice of the faith concerning right sub-numeration
- 18Chapter XVIII. In what manner in the confession of the three hypostases we preserve the pious dogma of the Monarchia. Wherein also is the refutation of them that allege that the Spirit is subnumerated. [1085]
- 19Chapter XIX. Against those who assert that the Spirit ought not to be glorified
- 20Chapter XX. Against those who maintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither of a servant nor of a master, but in that of the free
- 21Chapter XXI. Proof from Scripture that the Spirit is called Lord
- 22Chapter XXII. Establishment of the natural communion of the Spirit from His being, equally with the Father and the Son, unapproachable in thought. [1167]
- 23Chapter XXIII. The glorifying of the enumeration of His attributes
- 24Chapter XXIV. Proof of the absurdity of the refusal to glorify the Spirit, from the comparison of things glorified in creation
- 25Chapter XXV. That Scripture uses the words "in" or "by," en, cf. note on p. 3, in place of "with." Wherein also it is proved that the word "and" has the same force as "with."
- 26Chapter XXVI. That the word "in," in as many senses as it bears, is understood of the Spirit
- 27Chapter XXVII. Of the origin of the word "with," and what force it has. Also concerning the unwritten laws of the church
- 28Chapter XXVIII. That our opponents refuse to concede in the case of the Spirit the terms which Scripture uses in the case of men, as reigning together with Christ
- 29Chapter XXIX. Enumeration of the illustrious men in the Church who in their writings have used the word "with."
- 30Chapter XXX. Exposition of the present state of the Churches