The Hexaemeron of Basil of Caesarea (d. 379) is a fourth-century Greek commentary on the Genesis creation narrative (or a Hexaemeron). It is the first known work in this genre by a Christian, although it was preceded by Jewish writings like the De opificio mundi of Philo of Alexandria in the 1st century AD (which Basil made use of in his Hexaemeron) and another, earlier lost work by Aristobulus of Alexandria in the 2nd century BC.[1]
Basil's Hexaemeron was composed over the course of nine homilies on the topic of the six days of creation, moving line by line through Genesis 1:1–26.[2] His Hexaemeron originated as a lecture series that he delivered to the congregation of Caesarea Maritima over the course of three days in the year 378 AD. The audience was likely a group of "average" Christians, as opposed to fellow Christian intellectuals or a group that he would have considered to have been spiritually advanced.[3]
- ^ Katsos 2023, p. 15–16.
- ^ Roberts 2019, p. 199–200.
- ^ Lim 1990, p. 351, 361.