Hilary of Poitiers

Hilary was bishop of Poitiers and the first major Latin theologian to defend the Nicene faith against the Arians. Exiled to the East for refusing to condemn Athanasius, he used the years there to write On the Trinity, a twelve-book argument from Scripture that the Son is truly God, born of the Father. He also wrote commentaries on Matthew and the Psalms.

Dates

ca. 310 – 367 (approximate)

See or city

Poitiers

Region

Gaul

Also known as

Hilary; Hilarius; Hilary the Confessor

Notes

Bishop of Poitiers from about 350. He opposed the Arianizing policy of the emperor Constantius, and was exiled to Phrygia (356–360) after the Synod of Béziers. In the East he learned the Greek theology of the Nicene debate and wrote On the Trinity there. Jerome called him the 'Rhone of Latin eloquence'.

Works

• On the TrinityDe Trinitate · ca. 356–360 · CPL 433 (not yet checked)
• Tractates on the PsalmsTractatus super Psalmos · ca. 360–367 · CPL 428 (not yet checked)
• Commentary on MatthewCommentarius in Matthaeum · ca. 353–355 · CPL 431 (not yet checked)
• On the SynodsDe synodis seu de fide Orientalium · ca. 358–359 · CPL 436 (not yet checked)
• To ConstantiusLiber ad Constantium imperatorem · 360 · CPL 459 (not yet checked)
• Against ConstantiusLiber contra Constantium imperatorem · ca. 360–361 · CPL 461 (not yet checked)
• Against AuxentiusLiber contra Arianos vel Auxentium Mediolanensem · 364–365 · CPL 462 (not yet checked)
• Treatise on the MysteriesTractatus mysteriorum · ca. 360–366 · CPL 446 (not yet checked)
• Historical FragmentsCollectanea antiariana Parisina (Fragmenta historica) · ca. 343–367 · CPL 454 (not yet checked)