Abstract
This article deals with the intellectual relationship between Basil of Caesarea and his younger brother Gregory of Nyssa as seen in their two treatments of the six days of creation. The analysis first examines how Gregory himself in his In hexaemeron portrays the relationship of the two works. This leads to the conclusion that Gregory uses an agricultural analogy to present himself as subordinate and inferior to Basil, but still somewhat independent. The next section examines both Basil’s and Gregory’s treatments of Gen 1:1 as an example of where Gregory has expanded on Basil’s ideas and his self-presentation is generally accurate. The final section looks at Gregory’s discussion of the upper waters, where Gregory undermines Basil’s interpretation while at the same time seeking to cover his tracks rhetorically. Here Gregory shows a stronger preference than Basil for allegory and certain interpretations of Origen. In sum, it becomes clear that Gregory not only builds on Basil’s ideas, but also diverges from Basil more significantly than he would have us believe.
© 2014 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.
