Category: Gregory of Nazianzos
Online readings on Gregory of Nazianzus.
“Gregory Nazianzen”, Philip Schaff
“Gregory of Nazianzus”, earlychurch.org
“Gregory the Theologian”, Orthodox Wiki
“St. Gregory of Nazianzus”, Catholic Encyclopedia
“Trinitarian Relationship”, Tim Hankins
…please add to this list by placing links in the comments section below!
Let’s discuss Gregory of Nazianzus!
Gregory of Nazianzus
Today I want to discuss another one of the Cappodocian Fathers, Gregory of Nazianzus, also known as “the Theologian” (which is quite the title). Along with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa he contributed to the doctrine of the Trinity as we know it as the defeat of Arianism. He is known for his support of Christ being of the “same substance” (homoousia) as God the Father. Also, he provided the church with the language regarding the Spirit “proceeding” from the Father in order to differentiate from the Son being “begotten” of the Father, an idea that I admit not fully understanding.
One of the things that stood out to me about Gregory is that he is known to some as “the Patron Saint of Those Who Do Not Want to be Bishops”–a great title. When he was ordained as a priest he fled the scene. When he was installed as a Bishop he did the same. Apparently, he craved the ascetic (and even scholarly) life more than the pastoral. My memory may be failing me, but I think Basil coerced him into the office to strengthen his own ecclesiastical-political strength. Poor Gregory! I blogged about this a while back in “Gregory of Nazianzos, the Patron Saint of Those Who Do Not Want to be Bishop”.
What do you find to be the most important things to know about Gregory of Nazianzus?
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See my other posts wherein I prepare for my Th.M. oral defense:
If you’d like to discuss Origen of Alexandria and Irenaeus of Lyons, go here.
If you’d like to discuss Athanasius of Alexandria, go here.
If you’d like to discuss Basil the Great, go here.
See How Worthy You Are! Gregory of Nyssa on the Creation of Humans
In his work On the Origin of Man (quoted in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Old Testament I: Genesis 1-11 p. 28) Gregory of Nyssa exalts the creation of humans saying:
“The command was simple when light was created; God said, ‘let there be light.’ Heaven was also made without deliberation…. These, though, were before (the creation of) humans. For humans, there was deliberation. He did not say, as he did when creating other things, ‘Let there be a human.’ See how worthy you are! Your origins are not an imperative. Instead, God deliberated about the best way to bring to life a creation worthy of honor.”
If you had a downer Monday let these words from a father of the church remind you of your value.
Greek Fathers Annotated Bibliography
As previously mentioned I was in a class on the Greek Fathers this spring. Each student had to contribute to an annotated bibliography made for the class. Well, it is finished and available here.
Papers on the Greek Fathers
Over at Scienta et Sapientia several papers written by my classmates for our class on the Greek Father have been (or soon will be) posted. If you enjoy patristics, especially Greek patristics, you should see if anything seems interesting. Thus far the list includes a paper on John of Damascus and iconoclasm (here), the image of Irenaeus [1] in recent scholarship (here), Gregory Nazianzen’s understanding of Trinitarian relationship (here), and my aforementioned introduction to Athanasius’ Letters to Serapion on the Holy Spirit (here). There should be another half-dozen or so coming down the pipe.
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[1] Yes, Irenaeus was not technically a “Greek Father” but we studied him because along with Origen he was highly influential on their theology.
Who Is Your Favorite Greek Father?
Council of Nicaea
I am almost done with a class I have been taking on the Greek Fathers with Dr. Marc Cortez. It has been a facinating theological journey. I have come to greatly respect these men for their contributions to Christianity. The individuals we studied include the following: Athanasius of Alexandria, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Maximus the Confessor, and John of Damascus. For those who are familiar with any of this theologians who would you say is your favorite?
Gregory of Nazianzus on the Role of the Pastor
This post if for Brian Fulthorp who previously mentioned that he wants to read more of Gregory of Nazianzus’ pastoral theology. Maybe you will like this quote. I think all pastors should seriously consider the words written here:
“You’ve been considering a bishop as you would an accountant, laying stress on mere rubbish, where I’ve been concerned with important issues. A priest should have one function and one only, the sanctification of souls by his life and teaching. He should raise them toward the heights by heavenly impulses. He should be serene, high-minded, reflecting like a mirror the godly and unspotted image he has inside. For his flock he should send up holy offerings, until the day when he, too, shall perfect them into an offering. Other matters he should relinquish to those skilled in them.” [1]
Then, as now, the great concern of pastoral ministry may very well be that we have the pastor busy doing everything but pastoring. He must balance the budget, organize the building program, counsel all the saints, develop new and strategic ways to evangelize the city, engage in social/political issues of the day, and then, only then, if there is time, we let him slip away to study the Scriptures in hopes that we will not bore us during the Sunday morning homily. We as the church have minimized the potential of many good pastors by asking them to do the tasks we should be doing which prohibits them from doing the tasks that we cannot do. But who am I to say these things? That is my (maybe vain) rant on behalf of hard working pastors everywhere.
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[1] Concerning Himself and the Bishops, 2.1.12 as quoted in Brian E. Daley, Gregory of Nazianzus, 52.
When Should One Engage Theology?
Gregory of Nazianzus was serious about the art of theology (see here). He asks this question, “What is the right time” to do theology? This is the answer he gives:
Whenever we are free from the mire and noise without, and our commanding faculty is not confused by illusory, wandering images, leading us, as it were, to mix fine script with ugly scrawling, or sweet-smelling scent with slime. We need actually “to be still” in order to know God, and when we receive the opportunity, “to judge uprightly” in theology. [1]
Maybe it is just me, but I really appreciate the seriousness that Gregory presumes should accompany the theological tasks. He makes me rethink my approach.
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[1] Oriation 27.3 (trans. F. Williams)
The Discussion of Theology is Not for Everyone?
In a world of blogs, Twitter, self-publication, and church gatherings that are equated with discussing theology in a pub, I wonder what people think of the following words written by Gregory of Nazianzus:
Discussion of theology is not for everyone, I tell you, not for everyone–it is no such inexpensive or effortless pursuit. Nor, I would add, is it for every occasion, or every audience; neither are all its aspects open to inquiry. It must be reserved for certain occasions, for certain audiences, and certain limits must be observed. It is not for all people, but only for those who have been tested and have found a sound footing in study, and, more importantly, have undergone, or at the very least are undergoing, purification of body and soul. For one who is not pure to lay hold of pure things is dangerous, just as it is for weak eyes to look at the sun’s brightness. [1]
I get the feeling Gregory may not have had a blog! Do we need to be a bit more serious, even cautious, about our theological speculation? Has the holy become too familiar?
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[1] Oriation 27.3 (trans. F. Williams)
Gregory of Nazianzos, the Patron Saint of Those Who Do Not Want to Be Bishops
For all those who dread the thought of being part of church leadership consider Gregory of Nazianzos your patron saint. Adrian Fortescue named him, “…the patron saint of people who do not want to be bishops.” [1] When he was ordained as a priest in 361 he ran away! When he was ordained as Bishop of Sasima in 372 he ran away! In fact, he never visit Sasima!
So if people have told you that you should be a pastor or an elder or a priest, and you are just horrified by such a thought, consider Gregory your hero.
Also: See Gregory’s prayer before reading Scripture here.
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[1] Adrian Fortescue, The Greek Fathers: Their Lives and Writings, San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2007 (reprint from 1908). 100.
