Severian of Gabala (ca. 398 AD) was a member of the Antiochene school of biblical interpretation. In consequence his sermons tend to be expository, and consequently still of value today. Regrettably they have not been translated into English, for the most part. Regular readers will be aware that I have commissioned translations of a number of them.
Bryson Sewell has just finished wrestling with Severian’s sermon De Spiritu Sancto (CPG 4188), as printed by Migne in the Patrologia Graeca 52, cols.813-826. This makes it one of the longer works preserved.
The text gets obscure at points. Severian has a bit of a tendency to address his audience; then switch to address some imaginary Arian or Macedonian; then back again. I’m not sure that either of us quite followed him at every point! On the other hand it has some very useful arguments from scripture for the divinity of the Holy Spirit (as well as some less good ones).
Here it is:
- Severian_of_Gabala-De_Spiritu_Sancto (PDF)
- Severian_of_Gabala-De_Spiritu_Sancto (Word .doc file)
These may also be found at Archive.org.
As usual I place these in the public domain; do whatever you like with them, personal, educational or commercial.[1]
There will now be a pause in translating Severian’s works, but I hope that we will return to him sometime. However the next translation that we do will be something else.
A translation of another early sermon – not by Severian – is in flight, and should appear in the next few days. But that will be it for a little while. Fear not; there will be more!
- [1]Just don’t claim exclusive ownership, tho!↩
Though it is counted among the works of Chrysostom, I could not find it in Chrysostom’s french translations (neither Jeannin, nor Bareille). Do you think it should be ?
It was in Montfaucon, but among the spuria. I don’t know.
You’re like a latter-day Maecenas of patristics. A true benefactor of scholarship.
You’re very kind; but only in a humble way.