On Christian Ethics

Popular Patristics Series #51

by Basil the Great, Jacob N. van Sickle (Translator)

St Basil was a towering figure in the fourth-century Church. In the midst of great controversy, he led the charge of those faithful to the doctrine proclaimed at Nicaea. For the bishop of Caesarea, the array of false teachings that plagued the Church was not merely a matter of conflicting opinions or interpretations. It was rather a result of the moral failure of so-called leaders of the Church to look first to the will of God revealed in Scripture as their compass in all things-in matters of both theology and personal conduct.

Here St Basil lays out a consistent theological ethic, rooted in a nuanced appreciation for the supremacy of Scripture. These texts, presented with the Greek on the facing page, are essential reading for anyone interested in early Christian approaches to ethics as well as the right use and interpretation of the Bible.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Catholic

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

After 370, Christian leader Saint Basil, known as "the Great," Greek bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, vigorously opposed Arianism.

Arabic: باسيليوس الكبير
Greek: Μέγας Βασίλειος

People also call him of Mazaca in Asia Minor. He influenced as a 4th century theologian and monastic.

Theologically, Basil supported the Nicene faction of the church, not the followers of Apollinaris of Laodicea on the other side. Ability to balance theological convictions with political connections made Basil a powerful advocate for the Nicene position.

In addition to work as a theologian, Basil cared for the poor and underprivileged. Basil established guidelines, which focus on community, liturgical prayer, and manual labor for monastic life. People remember him, together with Pachomius, as a father of communal monasticism in east. The traditions of east and west consider him.

People refer collectively to Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa as the fathers. The Eastern Orthodox Church and Catholics gave the title of hierarch to Basil, together with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. The Catholic Church recognizes him as a doctor. The epithet "revealer of heavenly mysteries," sometimes refers to Basil.

Reviews

[Erik Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves 6 out of 5 stars. It is an excellent handbook for Christian living abounding with Scripture. About 1,650 years after it was written, Basil’s “On Christian Ethics” is still exceedingly useful. Once the pastor of Caesarea, Basil still pastors us today. The faith once for all delivered to the saints doesn’t change, because the word of God is a sure as the God who gave it. What does it mean to follow Christ? How then should we live? This book will tell you. And be prepared, you will find Christian living to be just a radical today as it was when Basil wrote this book.

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book, or collection of 3 books. On the Final Judgement, on the Faith ( an apologetic for the Trinity), and Ethics. The other two I believe are on CCEL for free I had read them previously, but today I worked through His Ethics and it was a wonderful and short read on Christian living. From pursuing holiness and repentance, to the duties of Priest. It was laid out very interestingly. Basil would give a short summary, often one sentence, then accompanying Scripture. Expecting you to of course read the Scriptures and understand them, and how it shows his point. It's also interesting to sit it alongside his Homily on Humility where he says explicitly we are justified by faith alone, and in this work (as many fathers also do both of these things), he emphasizes often the importance of works to the Christian life. The question of Faith Alone as Paul clearly says, but also yet underlined by judgment by works (romans 1-2), and the challenge of balancing both. I think John Oswalts Call to be Holy does a very good job on that front for anyone interested.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful volume that provides not only a decent overview of the saint's life, but one of his more foundational works. The book proper begins with Basil working though a validation of the practice of Christianity. He then works through eighty tenets ("ethics") of the faith, establishing practical direction for life through numerous scriptural references. Many of these "ethics" have corollary points, also reinforced by scripture, that further demonstrate the intended action. It would be near impossible to envision a scenario in which a Christ-follower would consider time spent with this book a waste of time.

[Ted · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would say in this book Basil attempts to set up a list of all the things a Christian must do. He gleans every command and law he can from the New Testament and sets them down with scriptural quotes to support his ideas. It basically sets up Christianity as a religion with many rules to follow. The thinking is very black and white. His opening comments which are separate works attached to the main body present Christianity in very legal and judgmental terms. In fact in my read of his "On the Judgment of God", I would be hard pressed to say what Christ accomplished if anything. There was the law in the Old Testament which the Jews, let alone the Gentiles, failed to obey. Now, not only is the OT Law here to judge us but Christ adds to the judgment and expands it - there are even more ways to fall under God's judgment and we must completely answer to both the OT and the NT. Additionally, not only are we judged for failing to keep all of the laws of the OT and NT, but if we obey them imperfectly, or for the wrong reason, or with a bad attitude, or reluctantly, we will be condemned. Christ doesn't save us from our sins, but apparently what Christ calls us to is repentance. It is up to us to get repentance correct or we will be condemned. Since it seems to me even in the OT the Jews could repent and offer sacrifices to God seeking forgiveness, it isn't clear what Christ accomplished, but in many ways it seems that Basil is using a very heavy hand to threaten believers with hell to force them to obey God. For my sense of things the work lacks much refernce to God or Christ's love or God's effort to save not condemn sinners. The work is that of a maximalist who has little patience with those who struggle to believe, obey or love. As such it offers little hope to humanity.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows the guilt-grace-gratitude model of Christian ethics ( in form, though not explicitly), and is wonderfully concise. St. Basil's care in holding only to Scripture regarding the standard of Christian ethics is commendable. He does not lessen the degree or weightiness of sin, but he also does not keep us sinking in sorrow; the goal of Christian ethics is to reflect who God is, and these Scripture-steeped maxims are beneficial to all seeking to please their Lord and Savior.

[Jacob Usrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that requires the reader to first enact its ethic before a deep understanding of the meaning of the ethic can be attained. This book really challenges my faith and the way that I live my life. If you want your faith to grow and your vigilance to be sharpened, this book is for you!

[Brennan Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Essentially a list of rules from scripture that Christians ought to obey. Every rule is drawn from a command in scripture or easily inferred.

This biggest problem with this book is that it has TOO many useful practices to put into action. It bears thinking on how to internalize it and profit from it.

[Stewart Lindstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A consistent, Biblically rooted, comprehensive ethical treatise. Very enjoyable reading.

[Tynan Brooks]

Demonstrates the importance of Scripture as the basis for Christian life for the Fathers. Certainly very convicting.

[Starboy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool book but disappointing at the end because all the answers he gives are just quotes from scripture which isn’t bad but he doesn’t expand on it. First have of book is solid though.

[Guenther · Rating 5 out of 5]

The works attached by Basil as a preface to the Ethics are helpfully included in this volume. The actual Ethics themselves are a slow read if you don't want to accidentally speed read a section. This is more of a problem with Basil than the translator I feel but if point 70 has over 30 subpoints it may need to be broken down to like 70.1-10 71.1-10 72.1-10 instead of 70.1-30.