Stephen M. Hildebrand

An exploration into the life, theology, writings, and asceticism of Basil of Caesarea.

The author throughout is conversant not only with Basil's own writings but those of his contemporaries, antecedents, and modern scholarly assessments of Basil's work. He provides his own voice and understanding of Basil and portrays him as an innovator and reformist (in terms of his Trinitarian theology and monastic lifestyle) who nonetheless strongly believed in the tradition and believed he maintained continuity with it.

The author describes Basil's life, his anthropology, his view of Scripture and creation, and his non-polemical theological work in terms of the Trinity. Basil's main polemic works against the Eunomians, and Eustathians / "Spirit-fighters" are assessed, and his understanding of the ascetic life in community, quite formative for Eastern Orthodoxy, is analyzed. Both inform each other; Basil's theology supports his lifestyle and ethos, and sees the challenges from the disputants in terms of the nature of the Son and Spirit as deleterious to the ability to become like God and to serve in the Spirit.

Basil is someone of whom I have heard much and knew little; this work did a lot to contextualize him and tell much about his disposition, theology, and place in the tradition. Worthy of consideration.

**--galley received as part of early review program… (mer)