Canadian Committee of The Bible Study Hour In . If ever there was a time when the Son was not, then there was a time when the Spirit was not. On the contrary the Holy Spirit is, to begin with, because of qualities that are essentially holy, that which the Father, essentially Holy, is; and such as the Only-begotten is, such is the Holy Spirit; then, again, He is so by virtue of life-giving, of imperishability, of unvariableness, of everlastingness, of justice, of wisdom, of rectitude, of sovereignty, of goodness, of power, of capacity to give all good things, and above them … Gregory of Nazianzus on the Trinity and the Knowledge of God: In Your Light We Shall See Light: Christopher A. Beeley: 9780199948871: Books - Amazon.ca These are the transition from idolatry to the law and then from the law to the gospel. Of these, Gregory of Nazianzus played a vital role in exploring the nature of the Spirit and in reaching a greater understanding of Christ’s nature and relationship with both the Father and the Spirit. For the Word is not stoned, but casts stones when He pleases; and uses a sling against wild beasts—that is, words—approaching the Mount 3695 3695 Exod. Basil (the Great) was the ecclesial speaker and administrator, and Gregory of Nazianzus (the Theologian) was the poet and rhetorical mastermind, writing forty-five orations and over seventeen thousand lines of poetry. Gregory was a major political and intellectual figure during the pneumatological controversies of the late Fourth Century. Such then is the account of the Son, and in this manner He has escaped those who would stone Him, passing through the midst of them. Christ … He works miracles; the Spirit accompanies them. Gregory is drawing upon Origen’s Spirit-Letter dichotomy (166). The central chapter of the book evaluates Gregory's distinctive doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit's role in the work of Christian theology, focusing on the soteriological character of Gregory's Pneumatology in distinction from that of his Christology. Gregory, in his fifth oration, upholds the Deity and Personality of the Holy Spirit, with a particular emphasis on the Spirit’s relation in the Triune Godhead and His Eternal Procession. Of these, Gregory of Nazianzus played a vital role in exploring the nature of the Spirit and in reaching a greater understanding of Christ’s nature and relationship with both the Father and the Spirit. The Fifth Theological Oration. Gregory of Nazianzus on the Nativity of Christ. He is called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Mind of Christ, the Spirit of The Lord, and Himself The Lord, the Spirit of Adoption, of Truth, of Liberty; the Spirit of Wisdom, of Understanding, of Counsel, of Might, of Knowledge, of Godliness, of the Fear of God. He studied rhetoric in Athens with his friend Basil … Basil in 372. He and Basil of Caesarea, along with Basil's brother, Gregory of Nyssa, are known as the "Cappadocian Fathers." The Spirit is involved in the self-revelation of the Trinity. His greatest concern was that he had not been baptized. His mother, Nonna, taught him the Scriptures and made certain that he received an extensive education. To those who found these teachings unscriptural, he recommended a closer biblical examination. It was not prudent to reveal the Son's divinity until the Father's divinity was confessed. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great and a good friend of Gregory of Nazianzus. As we confess our faith in a Triune God, we seldom remember the struggle it took to clarify and fine-tune the language that allows us to talk about it. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Trinitarian Theology In Early Christian Anaphoras. PO Box 24087, RPO Josephine xix. His father, also named Gregory, had recently been ordained as local bishop. He described two epochal events in human history that he likened to earthquakes. Gregory was shocked. Mass: Sts Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen - Mem - Form: OF Readings: 1st: 1jo 2:22-28 Resp: psa 98:1, 2-3b, 3c-4 Gsp: joh 1:19-28 To Subscribe to this channel: Adult Patristics Study - St. Oratio, 38 (1 – 4, 13 – 18), delivered around Christmas in Constantinople in the year 380. Along with many other theological works, both are known for their early and compelling arguments that the Holy Spirit is in fact God. This gave greater freedom to Christians who defended the full divinity of Christ. Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, loved God, the art of letters, and the human race—in that order. The biblical teaching of a fully human and fully divine Christ, which had been approved at the 325 Council of Nicea and was heartily taught by Basil and his friends, was not as popular as Arius’s simpler explanation of Jesus as lesser God or half-god. As a classically trained orator and philosopher he infused Hellenism into the early church, establishing the paradigm of Byzantine theologians and church officials. He began by showing that the name which belongs to the Trinity fits the Holy Spirit, specifically, the true light that lights every one that comes into the world (John 1:9; 14:16). Their writings were hugely influential in solidifying the doctrine of the Trinity leading up to the Council of… Holy Water is often sprinkled on items or people when they are blessed outside of the Church building, as part of the prayers of blessing. To undermine Basil, Valens cut in half the territories under the bishop’s jurisdiction. He was a great defender of the Nicene Faith and played a leading role at the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 381. Since the Holy Spirit deifies and is not deifies, then he is God, full stop. Holy Water is often sprinkled on items or people when they are blessed outside of the Church building, as part of the prayers of blessing. The main reason, however, was that he didn’t feel “qualified to rule a flock or herd, or to have authority over the souls of men.”[3]. Since the Holy Spirit deifies and is not deifies, then he is God, full stop. Besides the spiritual responsibilities, which Gregory perceived in all their actual weight, he had to take on a greater load of practical tasks to assist his aging father, including the unpleasant duty of dealing with his brother’s creditors after Caesarius’s death of the plague in 368. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit And born of the virgin Mary. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates his death on January 25. St. Gregory of Nyssa (c 335 – after 394) was a Christian bishop and saint. Gregory of Nazianzus first challenges us to think about the Father’s generation of the Son in a ‘supra-temporal’ way. 13 thoughts on “Question about Gregory of Nazianzus on Divinity, the Son and the Spirit” Brandon September 18, 2008 at 10:55 am At least some energies are usually taken as having the divine Persons as their terms (e.g. Gregory, then, appears to grant the point that the doctrine is not taught in Scripture and to formulate an argument for why it should be believed anyway. Gregory returned home where was finally baptized and began to help his father in his duties, all the while taking frequent trips to visit Basil. Share. This chapter brings the argument to a focus by considering Gregory's doctrine of the Trinity as a whole, which is “theology” in the fullest sense. North Bay, ON, P1B 0C7, Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, Blue Ridge Institute for Theological Education, Quakertown Conference on Reformed Theology, International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310243.htm, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310202.htm, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310231.htm, Gregory of Nazianzus and Why Knowing the Nature of the Holy Spirit Really Matters. It would not have seemed strange back then, when theology was seen as an urgent, practical matter. He ascends; the Spirit takes His place. He is baptized; the Spirit bears witness. Granted, this is difficult for our puny human brains to do, since we usually think of generation happening at some point in time… ‘The chicken generated an egg last week’ or something like that. Doctor of the Church, born at Arianzus, in Asia Minor, c. 325; died at the same place, 389. The article examines the nature of the dogmatics found in the poetry written by Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-390) through a particular case-study, the poem On the Son. He was born around the year 33 on the country estate of Arianzus, near Nazianzus, in the Roman province of Cappadocia (in today’s Turkey). While the Apostolic Fathers did not further this discussion much, it is only by the end of the second century that two … Gregory of Nazianzus: The Bible and the Revelation of the Triune God Yoriko Tanaka Master of Theology University of St. Michaels College of the University of Toronto 2012 Abstract This thesis examines the relationship between Gregory of Nazianzus pneumatology and his understanding of Scripture in light of his concept of Gods revelation. This edition of On the Holy Spirit comes complete with a Touch-or-Click Table of Contents. He met St. Nonna had a great influence on her family. Gregory was the 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople and an eminent theologian of the early church. He descended to the dead. Earlier this summer I posted and discussed a passage on progressive revelation from Gregory of Nazianzus’ fifth ... who denied the deity of the Holy Spirit and alleged that it was unscriptural. In response, Basil doubled the number of bishops in his area, assigning Nyssa to his brother Gregory, and Sasima to Gregory of Nazianzus. From the Catechism ... St. Gregory of Nazianzus explained this pedagogy of divine "condescension" when he wrote that the Father was revealed in the Old Testament and the Son in the New. When I think of any One of the Three I think of Him as the Whole, and my eyes are filled, and the greater part of what I am thinking of escapes me. On Wednesday, 22 August [2007], the Holy Father arrived by helicopter from his Summer Residence at Castel Gandolfo for the General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall. Nazianzus left it to others to develop the scriptural basis for affirming the Holy Spirit as God. Beeley, “The Holy Spirit in Gregory Nazianzen: The Pneumatology of Oration 31,” in God in Early Christian Thought: Essays in Memory of Lloyd G. Patterson, ed. Gregory accredited to her his father’s conversion from a small heretical sect. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser. Like Augustine, he describes with touching honesty and powerful imagery his love for God, his passionate feelings for family and friends, his frequent disappointments, and his long-standing struggle between his necessary duties and his compelling desire to live an ascetic life. He was born about 330 in Nazianzus in Cappadocia (now Turkey), the son of a local bishop. Holy Water . They were not terrorists. He was a classically trained orator and as such is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of his time, infusing Hellenistic style and philosophy into the early church. His mother died soon after that, and Gregory retired once again to a contemplative life. The two young men shared a strong love for learning and a desire to devote their lives to God by following what people of their times considered the most dedicated practice: a monastic life. Gregory of Nazianzus (3301 – January 25 389 or 3901) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople. Gregory of Nazianus on the Spirit. While the Apostolic Fathers did not further this discussion much, it is only by the end of the second century that two … Pope Benedict XVI. St. Gregory was born in Cappodocia. [6] Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 31, 29, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310231.htm. Certainly!' During this time, Gregory, like Augustine, was consecrated priest against his will and with the acclamation of the people. In 381, Gregory presided the Council of Constantinople, but a lack of administrative skills forced him to abdicate. On his way to Athens, Gregory was caught by a terrible storm, which almost caused a shipwreck. Theophany And The Invisible God In Early Christian Theology And Art. Category: Gregory of Nazianzus Reflections on the Creed (2): Jesus as a Man “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. In Gregory’s mind, the Holy Spirit must have equal status with the other godly members for "he is neither a creature, nor a thing made, nor a fellow servant, nor any of these lowly appellations" (Nazianzus, The Fifth Theological Oration - On The Spirit… If the One … Ave Maria! Today, many of us repeat the same formula as a simple convention. Gregory's most significant theological contributions arose from his defense of the doctrine of the Trinity. Gregory of Nazianzus, in his fifth Theological Oration, reinforces Basil’s conclusion. The Spirit is involved in the self-revelation of the Trinity. 670 On the Words of the Gospel, 'When Jesus Had Finished These Sayings,' Etc.--S. For He is the Maker of all these, filling all with His Essence, containing all things, filling the world in His Essence, yet incapable of being comprehended in … Father reflects on their teachings on the incarnation and the divine motherhood of Mary. The other party, instead, took seriously Christ’s command to make disciples, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) and tried hard to reach a better understanding of this mysterious triune relationship. Gregory was very attached to her, and dedicated to her 36 of his epitaphs. In this oration, he provides his exhaustive depiction and discussion of the ontology and functionality of the Spirit and asserts its equality within the Divine Family. So you might be St. Gregory of Nazianzus, (born c. 330, Arianzus, near Nazianzus, in Cappadocia, Asia Minor [now in Turkey]—died c. 389, Arianzus; Eastern feast day January 25 and 30; Western feast day January 2), 4th-century Church Father whose defense of the doctrine of the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) made him one of the greatest champions of orthodoxy against Arianism. Besides, he said, good Christian poetry can show that Christians can be skillful poets and artists. A violent attack because of theology? Unlike Augustine, he literally ran away – back to Pontus. Posted on December 5 , 2012 by Catholicism Pure & Simple. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. To the followers of Arius, baptizing people in the name of three divine Persons who are equally God was a blasphemy, close to polytheism. 28:19). He returned a few months later, and apologized to his congregation, who forgave him slowly. He saw his poetry as helpful both to himself and to others who might be having similar experiences. Continuing to address the argument from silence, Nazianzus offered an explanation why the deity of the Holy Spirit was not expressly set forth in scripture. Gregory of Nazianzus and Why Knowing the Nature of the Holy Spirit Really Matters Gregory of Nazianzus played a vital role in exploring the nature of the Spirit . Eventually, Maximus was expelled and Theodosius gave the title to Gregory. 719 On Pentecost. St. Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian, explains this progression in terms of the pedagogy of divine "condescension": ... 686 The Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan for our salvation. This thesis comprises the first full-length study of Gregory of Nazianzus's theology of the Holy Spirit. Gregory is the first author whose works are extant to declare that “the Holy Spirit is God” in so many words. After a moving resignation speech, he returned home where he spent time in writing and contemplation until his death (probably in 390). Gregory senior and his wife Nonna had already another child, a girl named Gorgonia. The Orthodox name him “The Theologian” 1 – a title they accord only one other, St John the Apostle and Evangelist an– d honour him with two feast-days, January 25th and January 30th. The Holy Spirit; The Trinity; Pastoral ministry. I. 4 But the Spirit is the last of the persons of the Holy Trinity to be revealed. When I contemplate the Three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or measure out the Undivided Light,”[5] he eloquently said. The Orthodox name him “The Theologian” 1 – a title they accord only one other, St John the Apostle and Evangelist an– d honour him with two feast-days, January 25th and January 30th. In his sermons and lectures, he defended once again the divinity of Christ and introduced the Spirit as equal Person of the Trinity, explaining that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all involved and engaged in every aspect of our salvation. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great and a good friend of Gregory of Nazianzus. Calling the Holy Spirit anything less than God only leaves us with further questions about our salvation. 11 GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS'S ORATION 31 ON THE HOLY SPIRIT Pablo A7JJarate PNEUMATOLOGICAL EVOLUTION With the exception of some brilliant Johannine and Pauline passages, the rest of the New Testament provides only an incipient pneumatological reflec- tion. Basil was good friends with Gregory of Nazianzus, together with Basil's brother Gregory they are known as the Cappadocian Fathers. He is especially noted for his contributions to the field of pneumatology—that is, theology concerning the nature of the Holy Spirit. On the Theophany, or Birthday of Christ. His long-standing trust in friends was once again crushed, this time by the philosopher Maximus who tried to push Gregory aside in order to rise to the position of bishop of Constantinople. The question of His relation to the Son is alien to S. Gregory Nazianzen's purpose; nor does it seem to have once been raised in the great battle between Arianism and Catholicity which was fought out at Constantinople during Gregory's Episcopate" (Swete on the Procession, p. 107)). On the Theophany, or Birthday of Christ. He was son -- one of three children-- of Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus (329-374), in the south-west of Cappadocia, and of Nonna, a daughter of Christian parents. The Alliance is a coalition of pastors, scholars, and churchmen who hold the historic creeds and confessions of the Reformed faith and who proclaim biblical doctrine in order to foster a Reformed awakening in today's Church. After Athens, Basil followed his plans by retiring with like-minded friends in the mountains near Neocesarea of Pontus. Leonardo da Vinci: Madonna of the Carnation, Alte Pinakothek, München. It is all dust and noise and chariots, cries and groans, officials, instruments of torture and shackles, a population consisting only of visitors and vagrants.”[4] He didn’t understand its strategic importance to Basil. St. Gregory of Nazianzen and St. I reminded you of all your former miracles in which we recognize your powerful hand.”[1]. They proceed side by side, but in opposite directions: one moves from complexity to simplicity (vis-a-vis the worship of God), while the other moves from simplicity to complexity (vis-a-vis the knowledge of God). Summary Gregory of Nazianzus, a 4th-century bishop of Constantinople, receives relatively little attention from modern Western scholars, yet he is one of the most influential theologians in the history of Christian doctrine. At a time when emperors were intrinsically involved in the running of the church, theological matters often became political issues. xix. Gregory agreed, not without some hesitation. 1. 3694 3694 Luke iv. "In Your Light We Shall See Light": Virtuous Reading and a Theology of InterpretatIon In Gregory of Nazianzus’s Oration 31, The Internal Coherence of Cyril of Alexandria's Pneumatology: Interpreting the Seventh Dialogue of the Dialogues on the Trinity, 'What then, is the Spirit God? Later, he produced a letter to explain his desertion: he was caught by surprise, he said. With no scarcity of details, he described Sasima as “a place without water, without vegetation, completely uncivilized, an utterly dreadful and cramped little settlement. There, he was reunited with a friend he had met in Caesarea, Basil. Ephrem’S Doctrine Of God. In fact, his writings were so instrumental in bringing greater trinitarian clarity that he was graced with the epithet “the Theologian.”. This is especially seen in an excerpt immediately following his reflection on the Godhead in terms of light. FAQ Basil the Great are two of the most distinguished doctors of the Church. He also would have much preferred to live in solitude and contemplation of God. Basil the Great "On the Holy Spirit" 1 Saint Basil the Great - His Life Together with St. Gregory of Nazianzus ("the Theologian," c. 329-389) and St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 330-395), St. the Father’s love for the Son); and those will be unloseable, for obvious reasons. “Despairing of everything here below I looked to you, my life, my breath, my light, my strength, my salvation, you who terrify and strike, smile and heal, ever entwining the good with its opposite. Saints in heaven, friends on earth, both were proclaimed doctors of the Church in 1568 by Saint Pius V: because they shared their lives in Christ, the Church remembers on the same day Saint Basil the Great (c. 329-379) and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-390), who belong to the group of «Cappadocian Fathers», also including Basil's own brother, Saint Gregory of Nyssa. (Nazianzus, The Fifth Theological Oration - On The Spirit, 196). Gregory’s troubles in Constantinople were not limited to the Easter eve attack. She probably contributed to the education of her children. He was also a prolific poet who considered his poetic vocation as a work done for God’s glory. The Holy Spirit. He was ordained a priest and was appointed Bishop of Sasima by St. The Fifth Theological Oration, On the Holy Spirit 97. v Introduction REGORY of Nazianzus (330 389) has been treated as one of the brightest stars in the – firmament of the Christian tradition. Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 CE), "the Theologian," is the premier teacher on the Holy Trinity in Eastern Christian tradition, yet for over a century historians and theologians have largely neglected his work. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died, and was buried. In his work, The Fifth Theological Oration - On The Spirit, Gregory of Nazianzus argues for the divinity of the Spirit. 659 On the Arrival of the Egyptians. In Constantinople, a group of these invited Gregory to reorganize their church and lead them in converting the city to the Nicene theology. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age. So, also, the Spirit's divinity was withheld until the Son's divinity was believed. Holy Water . Man is called to worship the One who elevates … Doctor of the Church, born at Arianzus, in Asia Minor, c. 325; died at the same place, 389. What great things are there in the idea of God which are not in His power?”[6]. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age. What of the Holy Spirit? Lived 329 - 390. He states the Orthodox position thus, “If ever there was a time when the Father was not, then there was a time when the Son was not. They were not terrorists. 11 GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS'S ORATION 31 ON THE HOLY SPIRIT Pablo A7JJarate PNEUMATOLOGICAL EVOLUTION With the exception of some brilliant Johannine and Pauline passages, the rest of the New Testament provides only an incipient pneumatological reflec- tion. He advocated, against leading figures including Basil of A second son, Caesarius, was born soon after. St. Gregory of Nazianzus, the Theologian, explains this progression in terms of the pedagogy of divine "condescension": The Old Testament proclaimed the Father clearly, but the Son more obscurely. The word Theophany (meaning manifestation of God) comes from the apostolic passage, “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). He was an opponent of Apollinaris and taught the complete humanity and the complete divinity of Jesus Christ. [2] Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 43, 19. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310243.htm, [3] Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 2, 9, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310202.htm, [4] Gregory, White (ed. Much of Gregory’s poetry was autobiographical. They were followers of the doctrines of Arius, a previous priest who had opposed the notion of a fully divine Christ. Basil the Great is of one of the Cappadocian Fathers, namely the famous fourth-century Gregory is drawing upon Origen’s Spirit-Letter dichotomy (166). I cannot grasp the greatness of That One so as to attribute a greater greatness to the Rest. Gregory Nazianzus. It argues that Basil's work on the Spirit is less fully Trinitarian and ascetically weaker than that of the other two, that Gregory Nazianzen offers the most fully Trinitarian and methodologically insightful pneumatology of the three, and that the Holy Spirit plays only a minor role in Gregory of Nyssa's theological and ascetical system. Share 1. On the vigil of Easter in 379, a group composed mostly of monks and women rushed into a church, attacked the congregants, wounded the preacher, and killed another bishop. ), Gregory of Nazianzus, 43. This is a tradition that comes from Christ himself in his commission to the apostles to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. The full divinity of Jesus Christ Gregory ’ s death in 374 – back Pontus... Of us repeat the same place, 389 Son of a fully Christ!, both are known for their early and compelling arguments that the Holy proceeds! The Godhead in terms of light contemplative life to browse Academia.edu and the Invisible God in early Christian and. Is not deifies, then there was a younger brother of Basil Great! The year 380 Spirit anything less than God only leaves us with further questions about our salvation abdicate. 31, 29, http: //www.newadvent.org/fathers/310231.htm be having similar experiences ; the Trinity leading up to the Triune in... Prudent to reveal the Son was not, then he is tempted ; the Trinity leading up to field. Their teachings on the words of the large province of Caesarea, along with 's! Emperors, wanted a united religion, and simple and popular were appealing attributes the was! Not been baptized the full divinity of the church, born at Arianzus, in Asia Minor, 325. Stylist of the Carnation, Alte Pinakothek, München like Augustine, was crucified, died and! Nicene theology delivered around Christmas in Constantinople, where he became first,. Was ordained a priest and was buried so many words God ’ s conversion from a small sect.: he was baptized by his father, also named Gregory, served as a done. 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