Basil of Caesarea — Commentary on Scripture

Isaiah 42:18

It is evident, indeed, that some possess ears better able to hear the words of God. But to those who do not have those ears, what does he say? “Hear, you deaf, and, you blind, behold.” Also, “I opened my mouth and panted,” and “You have broken the teeth of sinners.”4 All these things were said in reference to the faculties that render service for spiritual food and spiritual doctrine.

HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 16.13. (PSALM 33)

Isaiah 44:6

If we count, we do not add, increasing from one to many. We do not say, “one, two, three,” or “first, second, and third.” God says, “I am the first, and I am the last.” We have never to this present day heard of two gods.… How does one and one not equal two gods? Because we speak of the emperor and the emperor’s image—but not two emperors.… The image of the emperor is an image by imitation, but the Son is a natural image.

ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 18:45

Isaiah 44:27

Yet there will be a time when all things will be burned up by fire, as Isaiah says when he addresses the God of the universe: [You] “who say to the deep, ‘Be thou desolate, and I will dry up all your rivers.’ ” Casting aside, therefore, the wisdom that has been turned into foolishness, receive with us the teaching of truth, homely in speech but infallible in doctrine.

HOMILIES ON THE HEXAMERON 3:6

Isaiah 45:3

To one who believes, a promise is given by God: “I will give you hidden treasures, unseen ones.” When we have been deemed worthy of knowledge face to face, we shall see also the depth in the storehouses of God.

HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 15:5 (PSALM 32)

Isaiah 50:6

If you remain unruffled, you silence your insolent assailant by giving him a practical illustration of self-control. Were you struck? So also was the Lord. Were you spat on? The Lord also suffered this, for “he did not turn his face from the shame of the spittle.” … You have not been condemned to death or crucified.

HOMILY AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE PRONE TO ANGER

Isaiah 52:3

No one is sufficient to redeem himself, unless he comes who turns away the captivity of the people, not with ransoms or with gifts, as it is written in Isaiah, but in his own blood.

HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 19:4 (PSALM 48)

Isaiah 56:10

In souls, pure and cleansed from all defilement, the prophetic gift shines clear. In a foul mirror you cannot see what the reflection is, neither can a soul preoccupied with cares of this life and darkened with the passions of the lust of the flesh receive the rays of the Holy Spirit. Every dream is not a prophecy, as Zechariah says, “The Lord shall make bright clouds and give them showers of rain … for the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have spoken false dreams.” Those who, as Isaiah says, “dream and love to sleep in their bed” forget that an instigation of error is sent to “the children of disobedience.”

LETTER 210:6

Isaiah 60:18

Some give the definition that a city is an established community, administered according to law. And the definition that has been handed down of the city is in harmony with the celestial city, Jerusalem above. For there it is a community of the firstborn who have been enrolled in heaven, and this is established because of the unchanging manner of life of the saints, and it is administered according to the heavenly law. Therefore, it is not the privilege of human nature to learn the arrangement of that city and all this adornment. Those are the things “eye has not seen or ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of humanity, what things God has prepared for those who love him.” But there are myriads of angels there, and an assembly of saints and a church of the firstborn that are enrolled in heaven.… Therefore, having raised the eyes of your souls, seek, in a manner worthy of things above, what pertains to the city of God. What could anyone consider as deserving of the happiness in that city, which the river of God makes joyful and of which God is the craftsman and creator?

HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 18:4 (PSALM 45)

Isaiah 61:1

To name Christ is to confess the whole, for it is to point to God [The Father] who has anointed the Son; and to the Son who has been anointed, and to the unction itself, which is The Spirit. This accords with Peter’s teaching in Acts: ‘God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10.38) and with the teaching of Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me’ [Isaiah 61.1]. The Psalmist simply says, ‘Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness’ (Ps 45.7). - "On The Holy Spirit, 12"