Hilary of Poitiers
Bishop of Poitiers and 'Athanasius of the West.' Defender of Nicene Trinitarianism in Latin; wrote De Trinitate while exiled in Phrygia.
Why Hilary matters
Hilary is the Athanasius of the West. While Athanasius fought the Arians in Greek in the East, Hilary fought them in Latin in Gaul, and got exiled to Asia Minor for it — which turned out to be a gift, because he learned Greek theology there and brought it home. His De Trinitate was the first serious Latin treatment of the doctrine, and it gave Augustine the categories he later worked with. Without Hilary, Latin Trinitarian theology starts later and weaker. He also taught Martin of Tours, which is how monasticism reached Gaul.
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Common questions
- Who was Hilary of Poitiers?
- Hilary of Poitiers (310–367) — Bishop of Poitiers and 'Athanasius of the West.' Defender of Nicene Trinitarianism in Latin; wrote De Trinitate while exiled in Phrygia.
- Who did Hilary of Poitiers teach?
- Martin of Tours.
Works
- On the Trinityc. 360
Twelve-book Latin defense of Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism — Augustine called him 'the illustrious teacher of the Churches.'
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Sources for biography
- Hilary, De Trinitate primary
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 100 primary
- Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39-45 primary
documented connections(1)
- knew of Athanasius of AlexandriaHilary cited Athanasius and the Nicene cause; took up Athanasius's role in the West.Hilary, De Synodis
tradition connections(1)
- taught by (incoming) Martin of ToursHilary received Martin and ordained him exorcist; Martin founded Ligugé under Hilary's patronage. Sole source is Sulpicius Severus' Vita Martini, a hagiography written ~397 with strong panegyric framing.Sulpicius Severus, Vita Martini 5-7