"Indeed, this is the perfect and complete glorification of God, when one does not exult in his own righteousness, but recognizing oneself as lacking true righteousness to be justified by faith alone in Christ." - St. Basil the Great (Homily on Humility, PG 31.532; TFoTC vol. 9, p. 479)
Is this available in English online, or in Greek anywhere? I would curious as to the context.
ReplyDeleteAnswered my own question for an English version. See here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.openlibrary.org/details/fathersofthechur027835mbp
I would be interested to hear from anyone who has access to the Greek. This English seems excessively pre-Vatican II in tone, meaning quite legalistic sounding. Now, that could simply be Basil, though I don't remember him sounding that way elsewhere - though also in English translation, so...
Dear Christopher,
ReplyDeleteI read the document in The Fathers of the Church series - a MUCH better translation than the KJV-mimicking of Schaff. If you can get hold it, you'll probably enjoy it a great deal. I also gave the Migne reference, if you want to look up the Greek at some theological library that might have it.
But if it's the use of "faith alone" that's troubling, remember that not only St. Basil, but St. John Chrysostom could speak like that. Usually when treating one of the passages from Paul that deal directly with justification. Luther didn't invent that way of talking about faith; he received it.
I think the link I provided is to the series you mentioned. I will take a look at it.
ReplyDeleteFar be it from me to disagree with a Lutheran pastor on a Lutheran blog regarding Luther. The Fathers were, in certain ways, inconsistent in their use of terms - or perhaps the better term is poetic or rhetorical. Translation can tempt one to iron our the kinks and wrinkles that don't fit with our understanding - at that place and time in our lives, with the education and reference materials we have, etc. I was just wondering if the alone was an addition to the text to clarify the 'obvious' sense of Basil, as was the case with a famous translator of the Bible into a continental language in at least one place. It could also be something along the lines of the famous declared vs. made righteous arguments, or something ever more esoteric.
I'll read through that translation before commenting further.
Indeed, Christopher, one rule that my dear Nagel pounded into my head: "Never trust a translator!" :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I were going to St. Louis today, because I'd be happy to stop at the sem and look up the Migne citation and provide you with the Greek. Alas, I don't believe I'm headed there any time soon.
It's actually Migne 31.529D, not 532.
ReplyDeleteAutee gar dee hee teleia kai holokleeros kaucheesis en Thew, hote meete epi dikaiosunee tis epairetai te heautou, all egnw men ende/ee onta eauton dikaiosunees aleethous, pistei de monee tee eis Christon dedikaiwmenon.
Where ee= eta, w=omega, Th= theta
In the context, he's just cited 1 Cor 1.30,31, and immediately cites Phil. 3.9 afterwards.
(I picked up 6 volumes of the Patrologia Graeca in Athens a few years ago...)
Thanks, Fr. Gregory. I envy you the Migne!
ReplyDelete