Difference between revisions of "Gregory of Nyssa" - New World Encyclopedia

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:If, then, every good thing and every good name, depending on that power and purpose which is without beginning, is brought to perfection in the power of the Spirit through the Only-begotten God, without mark of time or distinction (since there is no delay, existent or conceived, in the motion of the Divine will from the Father, through the Son, to the Spirit): and if Godhead also is one of the good names and concepts, it would not be proper to divide the name into a plurality, since the unity existing in the action prevents plural enumeration. And as the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe is spoken of by the Apostle as one, and no one from this phrase argues either that the Son does not save them who believe, or that salvation is given to those who receive it without the intervention of the Spirit; but God who is over all, is the Saviour of all, while the Son works salvation by means of the grace of the Spirit, and yet they are not on this account called in Scripture three Saviours (although salvation is confessed to proceed from the Holy Trinity): so neither are they called three Gods, according to the signification assigned to the term “Godhead,” even though the aforesaid appellation attaches to the Holy Trinity.<ref>Gregory of Nyssa, "On 'Not Three Gods,'" ''Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc.'', A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church - Second Series, Volume 5. New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1892. Accessed online at: [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.v.html Christian Classics Ethereal Library].</ref>
 
:If, then, every good thing and every good name, depending on that power and purpose which is without beginning, is brought to perfection in the power of the Spirit through the Only-begotten God, without mark of time or distinction (since there is no delay, existent or conceived, in the motion of the Divine will from the Father, through the Son, to the Spirit): and if Godhead also is one of the good names and concepts, it would not be proper to divide the name into a plurality, since the unity existing in the action prevents plural enumeration. And as the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe is spoken of by the Apostle as one, and no one from this phrase argues either that the Son does not save them who believe, or that salvation is given to those who receive it without the intervention of the Spirit; but God who is over all, is the Saviour of all, while the Son works salvation by means of the grace of the Spirit, and yet they are not on this account called in Scripture three Saviours (although salvation is confessed to proceed from the Holy Trinity): so neither are they called three Gods, according to the signification assigned to the term “Godhead,” even though the aforesaid appellation attaches to the Holy Trinity.<ref>Gregory of Nyssa, "On 'Not Three Gods,'" ''Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc.'', A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church - Second Series, Volume 5. New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1892. Accessed online at: [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.v.html Christian Classics Ethereal Library].</ref>
  
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===Infinity===
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===Metaphysics and Cosmogony===
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Gregory's second major contribution to Christian theology was in the realm of metaphysics, where he has the distinction of being one of the first Christian theologians to argue for the infinity of God. More specifically, Gregory argues that if God is limited he must be limited by something greater than himself. As there is nothing greater than God, He<ref>Though it has become customary to translate Gregory's writings using the standard Christian "He" and "Him" to describe God, it is notable that the saint's Platonic heritage belied the application of a simplistic gender identification to the Divine. This phenomenon is explored by Meredith: "So, one of his favorite expressions for God is 'God who is above all', probably an echo of Romans 9:5. An equally favourite expression is the neuter ''τόθειον'', 'the divine', perhaps in allusion to Acts 17:29 but, more probably, to the Greek philosophical tradition beginning with Thales in the sixth century B.C.E. A further illustration of the apparent insouciance of Gregory to this sort of distinction can be seen in his indifference to the use of the masculine or neuter in reference to God as 'He who is' (more biblical) and 'That which is' (more Platonic)" (18).</ref> is therefore without boundaries, and thus infinite. The idea had already been developed by [[Neoplatonic]] philosophers, especially [[Plotinus]], another important influence on Gregory, but he is among the first Christians to defend it, apart from some hints in the work of [[Irenaeus]] and in one of Basil's letters.
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Gregory's second major contribution to Christian theology was in the realm of metaphysics, where he has the distinction of being one of the first Christian theologians to argue for the infinity of God. More specifically, Gregory argues that if God is limited he must logically be constrained by something greater than himself. As there is nothing greater than God, He<ref>Though it has become customary to translate Gregory's writings using the standard Christian "He" and "Him" to describe God, it is notable that the saint's Platonic heritage belied the application of a simplistic gender identification to the Divine. This phenomenon is explored by Meredith: "So, one of his favorite expressions for God is 'God who is above all', probably an echo of Romans 9:5. An equally favourite expression is the neuter ''τόθειον'', 'the divine', perhaps in allusion to Acts 17:29 but, more probably, to the Greek philosophical tradition beginning with Thales in the sixth century B.C.E. A further illustration of the apparent insouciance of Gregory to this sort of distinction can be seen in his indifference to the use of the masculine or neuter in reference to God as 'He who is' (more biblical) and 'That which is' (more Platonic)" (18).</ref> is therefore without boundaries, and thus infinite. The idea had already been developed by [[Neoplatonic]] philosophers, especially [[Plotinus]], another important influence on Gregory, but he is among the first Christians to defend it, apart from some hints in the work of [[Irenaeus]] and in one of Basil's letters.<ref>Meredith, 15-17, 142 ff. 27.</ref>
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The notion of the utter infinitude of the Divine led Gregory to offer a unique perspective on the creation of the universe. While the doctrine of creation ''[[ex nihilo]]'' (literally "from nothing") was already popular in Christian theology, the Nyssan bishop suggested that this "nothingness" could not logically coexist with a truly infinite God.
 +
 
 +
==Theory of Christian Praxis==
  
 
Accordingly, Gregory argues that since God is infinite he cannot be comprehended. [[Origen]] had spoken of the spiritual journey as a progression of increasing illumination, as the [[mysticism|mystic]] studies [[Scripture]] and comes to learn more about God. Nyssa taught on the other hand that God was knowable in his manifestations but that ultimately one must transcend knowledge or [[gnosis]] (since knowledge is based on reflection). Gnosis is limited and can become a barrier between man and God. If one wishes to commune with God one must have pure faith without any preconceived notions of God. Once one reaches this point one can commune with God just as Moses did in Nyssa's ''Life of Moses''.
 
Accordingly, Gregory argues that since God is infinite he cannot be comprehended. [[Origen]] had spoken of the spiritual journey as a progression of increasing illumination, as the [[mysticism|mystic]] studies [[Scripture]] and comes to learn more about God. Nyssa taught on the other hand that God was knowable in his manifestations but that ultimately one must transcend knowledge or [[gnosis]] (since knowledge is based on reflection). Gnosis is limited and can become a barrier between man and God. If one wishes to commune with God one must have pure faith without any preconceived notions of God. Once one reaches this point one can commune with God just as Moses did in Nyssa's ''Life of Moses''.
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Gregory also taught that while it cannot be known whether or not all humans will be saved, as [[Origen]] speculated, faithful Christians may hope and pray for the salvation of all, even after death.  He thus presents a hopeful alternative to those theologies, such as that of [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] which state that at least some, of necessity, will be eternally condemned to hell.
 
Gregory also taught that while it cannot be known whether or not all humans will be saved, as [[Origen]] speculated, faithful Christians may hope and pray for the salvation of all, even after death.  He thus presents a hopeful alternative to those theologies, such as that of [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] which state that at least some, of necessity, will be eternally condemned to hell.
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==Writings==
 
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Gregory's Trinitarian doctrine can be found in his ''Why there are not three Gods'' and in a letter to Basil which has been erroneously classified as Basil's ''38th letter''. His spiritual writings include ''Life of Moses'', ''Life of Macrina'' (his older sister), the ''Life of Gregory Thaumaturgos'', and 15 homilies ''On the Song of Songs''. A large number of letters, sermons, philosophical works and short essays on a number of topics also survive.
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 00:09, 3 October 2007


Gregory of Nyssa
Gregorius von Nyssa.jpeg

A medieval representation of Saint Gregory of Nyssa
Saint, Bishop
Born ca. 335 in Caesarea in Cappadocia
Died ca. 394 in Nyssa in Cappadocia
Venerated in Eastern and Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism
Feast March 9 (Roman Catholicism); January 10 (Eastern Christianity and Lutheranism); March 9, June 14, or July 19 (Anglicanism)

Gregory of Nyssa (Latin:Gregorius Nyssenus, Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης) (ca. 335–ca. 394 C.E.) was a Christian bishop and saint. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great, and a good friend of Gregory Nazianzus. These three saints, collectively referred to as the Cappadocian Fathers, were instrumental in defining and defending Christian theology during a particularly volatile period of theological development. Among this august company, Gregory "was, by most reckoning, the greatest speculative theologian of the three."[1]

His significance has long been recognized in Anglican, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic Christianity, all of which celebrate his memory through a commemorative feast day in the Calendar of Saints.

Biography

Gregory was born circa 335 C.E. at Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia. One of ten children, he came from a wealthy and pious family that produced a number of saints, including his father Basil, his mother Emelia, his grandmother Macrina the Elder, his sister Macrina the Younger, and his brothers Basil and Peter, the latter of whom became the Bishop of Sebaste. Though existing records do not confirm this, it appears that Gregory was orphaned at a relatively young age, as he was raised by his elder siblings, Basil and Macrina. As suggested by Butler, these circumstances were evidently formative for the future saint: "in a letter to his younger brother Peter, Gregory speaks of Basil as 'our father and master', and throughout his life he looked up to him with the greatest affection and veneration."[2] After departing from his childhood home, Gregory received an exhaustive education in Athens and eventually accepted a post as a professor of rhetoric at a prestigious academy.[3] After remonstrations from both Basil and Gregory of Nazianzus, the younger Gregory eventually forswore his secular life and accepted a posting as the bishop of Nyssa in 372 C.E.[4] This particular posting served a political purpose for the strategically savvy Basil, as it provided him with an episcopal ally near the metropolitan See of Caesarea (his own diocese). Such long-term planning was becoming increasingly necessary, as the Church was then enmired in the Arian controversy.

Gregory was present at the Council of Antioch, and later at the Second Ecumenical Council which took place in Constantinople. There he was a defender of the Nicene Creed against the Arians.[5]

Theology

Trinity

Gregory is remembered above all for two major contributions to theology. The first is his doctrine of the Trinity, a development of the theology of Basil and their mutual friend Gregory Nazianzus. Following Basil's lead, Gregory argues that the three Persons of the Trinity can be understood along the model of three members of a single class: thus, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three in the same way that Peter, Paul, and Timothy are three men. So why do we not say there are three Gods? Gregory answers that, normally, we can distinguish between different members of the same class by the fact that they have different shapes, sizes, and colors. Even if they are identical, they still occupy different points in space. But none of this is true of incorporeal beings like God. Even lesser spiritual beings can still be distinguished by their varying degrees of goodness, but this does not apply to God either. In fact, the only way to tell the three Persons apart is by their mutual relations — thus, the only difference between the Father and the Son is that the former is the Father of the latter, and the latter is the Son of the former.

Since, then, the character of the superintending and beholding power is one, in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ... issuing from the Father as from a spring, brought into operation by the Son, and perfecting its grace by the power of the Spirit; and since no operation is separated in respect of the Persons, being fulfilled by each individually apart from that which is joined with Him in our contemplation, but all providence, care, and superintendence of all, alike of things in the sensible creation and of those of supramundane nature, and that power which preserves the things which are, and corrects those which are amiss, and instructs those which are ordered aright, is one, and not three, being, indeed, directed by the Holy Trinity, yet not severed by a threefold division according to the number of the Persons contemplated in the Faith, so that each of the acts, contemplated by itself, should be the work of the Father alone, or of the Son peculiarly, or of the Holy Spirit separately, but while, as the Apostle says, the one and the selfsame Spirit divides His good gifts to every man severally, the motion of good proceeding from the Spirit is not without beginning;—we find that the power which we conceive as preceding this motion, which is the Only-begotten God, is the maker of all things; without Him no existent thing attains to the beginning of its being: and, again, this same source of good issues from the will of the Father.


If, then, every good thing and every good name, depending on that power and purpose which is without beginning, is brought to perfection in the power of the Spirit through the Only-begotten God, without mark of time or distinction (since there is no delay, existent or conceived, in the motion of the Divine will from the Father, through the Son, to the Spirit): and if Godhead also is one of the good names and concepts, it would not be proper to divide the name into a plurality, since the unity existing in the action prevents plural enumeration. And as the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe is spoken of by the Apostle as one, and no one from this phrase argues either that the Son does not save them who believe, or that salvation is given to those who receive it without the intervention of the Spirit; but God who is over all, is the Saviour of all, while the Son works salvation by means of the grace of the Spirit, and yet they are not on this account called in Scripture three Saviours (although salvation is confessed to proceed from the Holy Trinity): so neither are they called three Gods, according to the signification assigned to the term “Godhead,” even though the aforesaid appellation attaches to the Holy Trinity.[6]

Metaphysics and Cosmogony

Gregory's second major contribution to Christian theology was in the realm of metaphysics, where he has the distinction of being one of the first Christian theologians to argue for the infinity of God. More specifically, Gregory argues that if God is limited he must logically be constrained by something greater than himself. As there is nothing greater than God, He[7] is therefore without boundaries, and thus infinite. The idea had already been developed by Neoplatonic philosophers, especially Plotinus, another important influence on Gregory, but he is among the first Christians to defend it, apart from some hints in the work of Irenaeus and in one of Basil's letters.[8]

The notion of the utter infinitude of the Divine led Gregory to offer a unique perspective on the creation of the universe. While the doctrine of creation ex nihilo (literally "from nothing") was already popular in Christian theology, the Nyssan bishop suggested that this "nothingness" could not logically coexist with a truly infinite God.

Theory of Christian Praxis

Accordingly, Gregory argues that since God is infinite he cannot be comprehended. Origen had spoken of the spiritual journey as a progression of increasing illumination, as the mystic studies Scripture and comes to learn more about God. Nyssa taught on the other hand that God was knowable in his manifestations but that ultimately one must transcend knowledge or gnosis (since knowledge is based on reflection). Gnosis is limited and can become a barrier between man and God. If one wishes to commune with God one must have pure faith without any preconceived notions of God. Once one reaches this point one can commune with God just as Moses did in Nyssa's Life of Moses.

Stages of Spiritual Growth

Gregory speaks of three stages: initial darkness of ignorance, then spiritual illumination, and finally a darkness of the mind in contemplation of the God who cannot be comprehended.

Like earlier authors, including Philo, he uses the story of Moses as an allegory for the spiritual life. Moses first meets God in the burning bush, a theophany of light and illumination, but then he meets him again in the cloud, where he realizes that God cannot be seen by the eyes. Ascending Mount Sinai, he finally comes to the "divine darkness", and realizes that God cannot be known by the mind either.

It is only through not-knowing and not-seeing that God can, paradoxically, be known and seen. This notion would be extremely influential in both Western and Eastern spirituality, via the mystical writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, and later in the anonymous 14th century work, The Cloud of Unknowing. Thus, he is a major figure in the history of apophatic theology and spirituality.

Epektasis

Related to this is Gregory's idea of epektasis or constant progress. The platonic philosophy was that stability is perfection and change is for the worse. In contrast, Gregory described the ideal of human perfection as constant progress in virtue and godliness. In his theology, God himself has always been perfect and has never changed, and never will. Humanity fell from grace in the Garden of Eden, but rather than return to an unchanging state, humanity's goal is to become more and more perfect, more like God, even though humanity will never understand, much less attain, God's transcendence. This idea has had a profound influence on the Eastern Orthodox teaching regarding theosis or "divinization".

Gregory also taught that while it cannot be known whether or not all humans will be saved, as Origen speculated, faithful Christians may hope and pray for the salvation of all, even after death. He thus presents a hopeful alternative to those theologies, such as that of Augustine which state that at least some, of necessity, will be eternally condemned to hell.

See Also

Notes

  1. ↑ Aquilina, 151.
  2. ↑ Butler, 533.
  3. ↑ Farmer, 223.
  4. ↑ Leclercq (1910).
  5. ↑ Farmer, 223.
  6. ↑ Gregory of Nyssa, "On 'Not Three Gods,'" Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc., A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church - Second Series, Volume 5. New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1892. Accessed online at: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
  7. ↑ Though it has become customary to translate Gregory's writings using the standard Christian "He" and "Him" to describe God, it is notable that the saint's Platonic heritage belied the application of a simplistic gender identification to the Divine. This phenomenon is explored by Meredith: "So, one of his favorite expressions for God is 'God who is above all', probably an echo of Romans 9:5. An equally favourite expression is the neuter τόθειον, 'the divine', perhaps in allusion to Acts 17:29 but, more probably, to the Greek philosophical tradition beginning with Thales in the sixth century B.C.E. A further illustration of the apparent insouciance of Gregory to this sort of distinction can be seen in his indifference to the use of the masculine or neuter in reference to God as 'He who is' (more biblical) and 'That which is' (more Platonic)" (18).
  8. ↑ Meredith, 15-17, 142 ff. 27.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Aquilina, Mike. The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 1999. ISBN 0879736895.
  • Butler, Alban. Lives of the Saints. Edited, revised, and supplemented by Herbert Thurston and Donald Attwater. Palm Publishers, 1956.
  • Ehrman, Bart D. and Jacobs, Andrew S. Christianity in Late Antiquity: 300 – 450 C.E. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN 0195154614.
  • Farmer, David Hugh. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0192800582.
  • Leclercq, H. "St. Gregory of Nyssa" in the Catholic Encyclopedia. 1910.
  • McGrath, Alister E. Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1998. ISBN 0631208445.
  • Meredith, Anthony. Gregory of Nyssa. London and New York: Routledge, 1999. ISBN 0415118409.
  • Pelikan, Jaroslav. Christianity and Classical Culture: The Metamorphosis of Natural Theology in the Christian Encounter with Hellenism. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993. ISBN 0300062559.

External links

All sources retrieved September 23, 2007

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