The Doctrine of the Eternal Generation of the Son in The
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THE DOCTRINE OF THE ETERNAL GENERATION OF THE SON IN THE TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY OF BASIL OF CAESAREA By Zachary Fischer Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Master of Theology in the subject Systematic Theology at the University of South Africa Promoter: Prof Dr L. J. MODISE Co-Promoter Dr R EBELING UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA February 2015 1 Declaration Unisa student no 55767362 I, Zachary Allen Fischer, the undersigned declare that this Dissertation entitled THE DOCTRINE OF THE ETERNAL GENERATION OF THE SON IN THE TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY OF BASIL OF CAESAREA is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. It has never been submitted to any other university for academic credit. Signature ……………………. Date ……………………….. Zachary Allen Fischer February 23, 2015 2 Abstract This paper explores the importance of the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son in Basil of Caesarea's Trinitarian writings. In order to judge the importance of the doctrine for Basil, its impact on all of his exegetical and dogmatic writings on the Trinity were surveyed and evaluated. In his writings, Basil repeatedly addresses his belief that the Father and the Son is the one, eternal God. He considered this possible due to the Son's eternal generation from the substance of the Father. Basil considered the eternal generation of the Son to be both a scripturally warranted and philosophically coherent doctrine that explains how the Father and Son are indelibly same in substance and truly distinct persons. This study concludes that the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son is essential to Basil's Trinitarian theology throughout his life. Keywords Father (patros), Son (huios), begotten or only Son (monogenēs), the only [Son] from the Father (monogenous para patros), his only Son (uion autou ton monogenēs), only Son of God (tou monogenous uiou tou theou), image (εἰχὼν), same in substance (homoousios), unlike in substance (heteroousios), Person (hypostasis), Persons (hypostaseis/hypostases), cause (aitia), source/beginning (archē), generation, eternal generation, Basil of Caesarea, Colossians 1.15, Hebrews 1.3, John 1.1-2 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor Prof. Leepo Modise and my co-supervisor Dr. Rainer Ebeling for their valuable contributions in the writing of this research paper. My thanks go to Keith E. Johnson for his comments on several chapters. I would also like to thank Mark DelCogliano who made himself available to answer my many questions. I am deeply grateful to Kevin Giles for his selfless dedication to helping me on this paper. His suggestions on both style and content were invaluable. I thank my sisters, Jessica Sona and Roberta Kerr, for proofreading the entire paper. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Stefanie, for the manifold ways in which she supported me throughout this project. 3 Table of Contents 1. Chapter 1: Introduction and Orientation ............................................................................... 8 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.1 Introduction to the Trinitarian Debates of the Fourth Century ........................ 10 1.2 Rationale for the Research Study ............................................................................... 18 1.3 Research Problem ......................................................................................................... 19 1.4 Aims of Research .......................................................................................................... 20 1.5 Research Design/Methodology ................................................................................... 21 1.5.1 Literature Study...................................................................................................... 21 1.5.2 Document Analysis................................................................................................ 22 1.6 Demarcation ................................................................................................................... 22 1.7 Overview of Content ..................................................................................................... 22 2. Chapter 2: A Brief Historical and Theological Overview of the Doctrine of the Son's Eternal Generation From Origen to Basil .................................................................................. 25 2.1 The Birth of a Doctrine .................................................................................................. 25 2.2 Origen .............................................................................................................................. 27 2.3 Alexander of Alexandria ............................................................................................... 30 2.4 Athanasius ...................................................................................................................... 31 2.5 Eternal Generation in the Creed of Nicaea (325) ..................................................... 32 2.6 Basil of Caesarea .......................................................................................................... 33 3. Chapter 3: The Eternal Generation of the Son in Basil's Against Eunomius ............... 38 3.1 Introduction to Basil's Against Eunomius ................................................................... 38 3.2 Against Eunomius Book 1 ............................................................................................ 51 3.2.1 Basil's Discussion of Unbegotten and Begotten (Section 1.16-18) ............... 51 3.2.2 Basil's Definition of the Commonality of Substance (Section 1.19-21) ......... 54 3.2.3 Basil's Claim that a Likeness in Substance Exists between Father and Son (Section 1.22-27) ................................................................................................................... 57 3.3 Against Eunomius Book 2 ............................................................................................ 62 3.3.1 Basil Refutes Eunomius's use of “Something Made” and Something Begotten” (Section 2.1-10) ................................................................................................... 64 4 3.3.2 Basil asserts that the Son is Truly and Eternally Begotten (Section 2.11-18) 70 3.3.3 Basil discusses Proverbs 8.22 (Section 2.20) ................................................... 78 3.3.4 Basil discusses the names 'Father' and 'Son (Section 2.22-24) .................... 79 3.3.5 Basil defines Nicaea's “Light from Light” (Section 2.25-28) ............................ 82 3.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 84 4. Chapter 4: The Eternal Generation of the Son in Basil's On the Holy Spirit ................ 86 4.1 Introduction to Basil's On the Holy Spirit.................................................................... 86 4.2 Introduction to On the Holy Spirit Section One (Section 2.4-8.21) ........................ 88 4.2.1 Basil's Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 8.6 (Section 2.4-5.12) ......................... 89 4.2.2 Basil declares the Son to be Eternal (Section 6.13-6.15) ............................... 90 4.2.3 The Unity of Will between Father and Son (Section 8.17-21) ........................ 91 4.3 Introduction to On the Holy Spirit Section Two (Section 9.22-24.57) .................... 94 4.3.1 Basil discusses sub-numeration (Section 17.43) ............................................. 95 4.3.2 Basil on the monarchy of God (Section 18.44-47) ........................................... 95 4.4 Introduction to On the Holy Spirit Section Three (25.58-29.75) ............................. 98 4.4.1 Basil discusses the Prepositions 'with' and 'and' (Section 25.59) .................. 98 4.5 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 99 5. Chapter 5: The Eternal Generation of the Son in Basil's Letters ................................. 101 5.1 Introduction to Basil's Dogmatic Letters ................................................................... 101 5.2 Letter 9 to Maximus the Philosopher ........................................................................ 102 5.3 Letter 52 To the Canonicae ....................................................................................... 104 5.4 Letter 125: A Transcript of Faith Dictated by the Most Holy Basil, to which Eustathius, the Bishop of Sebaste, Subscribed .................................................................. 107 5.5 Letter 214 To Count Terentius .................................................................................. 109 5.6 Letters 233, 234, 235 to Amphilochius ..................................................................... 111 5.6.1 Letter 233 .............................................................................................................. 111 5.6.2 Letter 234 .............................................................................................................. 112 5.6.3 Letter 235 .............................................................................................................. 113 5.6.4 Summary of Letters 233-235 ............................................................................. 114 5.7 Letter 236 To Amphilochius ......................................................................................