Hilary of Poitiers

Hilarius Pictauiensis

Biography

Born around 315, from a noble pagan family of Gaul, Hilary, after a good literary and philosophical education, converted and became Bishop of Poitiers in 350. A highly talented preacher, he was the greatest defender of orthodoxy in the West against the Arianism of Saturninus of Arles and Emperor Constantius. Exiled to Phrygia following the Arian synod of Béziers which deposed him in 356, he continued his trinitarian struggle in the East, writing the De Trinitate, the De Synodis and the Books against Constantius. Very active at the Council of Seleucia (359), he was sent back to Gaul in 360, where he resumed the struggle, notably at the Council of Paris in 361 and in Italy around 364. His main exegetical works date from the end of his life, in particular the Commentary on the Psalms.

A vigorous and profound theologian, very knowledgeable in Scripture,  and, what was rare in the West, well versed in Greek theology, Hilary is a sober, sinewy writer, but sometimes difficult to read.

Works

• Apologetica ad reprehensores libri de synodis responsa
• Appendix ad collectanea antiariana parisina
• Collectanea antiariana parisina seu Excerpta ex opere historico deperdito
• Commentarius in Euangelium Matthaei I-XIII
• Commentarius in Evangelium Matthaei XIV-XXXIII

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Quotations

• [OBNIl]
• [JB] Ge
• [JB] Ge 1
• [JB] Ge 1:1
• [JB] Ge 1:1-19

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