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| Introduction.
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Introduction to the
Letters.
————————————
Of Saint Basil the extant letters, according to
popular ascription, number three hundred and sixty-six. Of these
three hundred and twenty-five, or, according to some, only three
hundred and nineteen are genuine. They are published in three
chronological divisions, the 1st, (Letters 1–46) comprising those
written by Basil before his elevation to the episcopate; the second
(47–291) the Letters of the Episcopate; the third (292–366)
those which have no note of time, together with some that are of
doubtful genuineness, and a few certainly spurious.1736
| 1736 Fessler,
Inst. Pat. i. 518. | They may be classified as (a)
historical, (b) dogmatic, (c) moral and ascetic, (d) disciplinary, (e)
consolatory, (f) commendatory, and (g) familiar. In the historic
we have a vivid picture of his age. The doctrinal are of special
value as expressing and defending the Nicene theology. The moral
and ascetic indicate the growing importance of the monastic institution
which Athanasius at about the same time was instrumental in
recommending to the Latin Church. The disciplinary, (notably 188,
199, and 217), to Amphilochius, illustrate the earlier phases of
ecclesiastical law. The consolatory, commendatory, and familiar,
have an immediate biographical value as indicating the character and
faith of the writer, and may not be without use alike as models of
Christian feeling and good breeding, and as bringing comfort in trouble
to readers remote in time and place. The text in the following
translation is that of Migne’s edition, except where it is stated
to the contrary. Of the inadequacy of the notes to illustrate the
letters as they deserve no one can be more vividly conscious than
myself. But the letters tell their own
story.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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