Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 5
Gregory of Nyssa — Dogmatic Treatises
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A SELECT LIBRARY
Title: NPNF2-05. Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc. Creator(s): Gregory of Nyssa Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) (Editor) Print Basis: New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1892 Rights: Public Domain CCEL Subjects: All; Proofed; Early Church; LC Call no: BR60 LC Subjects: Christianity Early Christian Literature. Fa…
2,309 wordsSECTION 2Prolegomena to the Paris edition of all Gregory's Works, with notes by Father Fronto Du Duc, 1638.
To the many points of modern interest in this Gregory should be added his eschatology, which occupies a large share of his thoughts. On Infants' Early Deaths is a witness of this. In fact, when not occupied in defending, on one side or another, the Baptismal Formula, he is absorbed in eschatology. He dwells continually on the ag…
755 wordsSECTION 3Chapter I.--A Sketch of the Life of S. Gregory of Nyssa.
Chapter I.--A Sketch of the Life of S. Gregory of Nyssa. In the roll of the Nicene Fathers there is no more honoured name than that of Gregory of Nyssa. Besides the praises of his great brother Basil and of his equally great friend Gregory Nazianzen, the sanctity of his life, his theological learning, and his strenuous advocacy…
2,500 wordsSECTION 4Henceforward the fortunes of Gregory are more closely linked with those of his great brother Basil.
Henceforward the fortunes of Gregory are more closely linked with those of his great brother Basil. About a.d. 365 Basil was summoned from his retirement to act as coadjutor to Eusebius, the Metropolitan of Cæsarea in Cappadocia, and aid him in repelling the assaults of the Arian faction on the Faith. In these assaults the Aria…
2,204 wordsSECTION 5Chapter II.--His General Character as a Theologian.
Scarcely anything is known of the latter years of Gregory of Nyssa's life. The last record we have of him is that he was present at a Synod of Constantinople, summoned a.d. 394, by Rufinus, the powerful prefect of the East, under the presidency of Nectarius. The rival claims to the See of Bostra in Arabia had to be then settled;…
2,261 wordsSECTION 6III. Spirit.' Speaking of the soul, Gregory asks, How can that which is incomposite be dissolved?' i.e. the soul is spirit, and spirit is in
III. Spirit.' Speaking of the soul, Gregory asks, How can that which is incomposite be dissolved?' i.e. the soul is spirit, and spirit is incomposite and therefore indestructible. But care must be taken not to infer too much from this his favourite expression spirit' in connexion with the soul. God is spirit' too; and we are in…
2,408 wordsSECTION 7Chapter III.--His Origenism.
The style of Gregory is much more elegant than that of Basil: sometimes it may be called eloquent. His occasional digressions did not strike ancient critics as a fault. To them he is "sweet," "bright," "dropping pleasure into the ears." But his love for splendour, combined with the lateness of his Greek, make him one of the more…
2,283 wordsSECTION 8II. But nevertheless much had happened in the interval of 130 years that divides them and this leads us to consider the limits which the sta
II. But nevertheless much had happened in the interval of 130 years that divides them and this leads us to consider the limits which the state of the Church, as well as Gregory's own originality and more extended physical knowledge, placed upon the complete filling in of the outlines sketched by the master. First and chiefly, Or…
2,422 wordsSECTION 9This transcendent idealism embarrasses him in many ways, and makes his theory of the soul full of inconsistency. (1) He will not say unhesit
This transcendent idealism embarrasses him in many ways, and makes his theory of the soul full of inconsistency. (1) He will not say unhesitatingly whether that pure humanity in the beginning created in the image of God had a body or not like ours. Origen at all events says that the eternally pre-existing spirits were invested w…
2,434 wordsSECTION 10Chapter IV.--His Teaching on the Holy Trinity.
[22] Cf. Dallæus, de poenis et satisfactionibus, I. IV. c. 7, p. 368. [23] Cf. De An. et Resurr., 227 C.D. [24] Collected by Ceillier in his Introduction (Paris, 1860). [25] Bunsen. [26] c. Cels. VI. 64. [27] In Joann., tom. 32, 18. [28] Comment. in Rom. ii. 9, p. 486. [29] De Hom. Op. c. viii.; De An. et Resurr. 205. [3…
2,670 wordsSECTION 11S. Gregory's own doctrine, indeed, has seemed to some critics to be open to the charge of tritheism. But even if his doctrine were entirely
S. Gregory's own doctrine, indeed, has seemed to some critics to be open to the charge of tritheism. But even if his doctrine were entirely expressed in the single illustration of which we have spoken, it does not seem that the charge would hold good, when we consider the light in which the illustration would present itself to h…
2,213 wordsSECTION 12Chapter V.--Mss. And Editions.
[41] S. Athanasius, Tom. ad Antioch, 5. [42] Ad Afr. Episc. §4. S. Athanasius, however, does not shrink from the phrase treis hupostaseis in contradistinction to the mia ousia: see the treatise, In illud, Omnia mihi tradita sunt.' §6. [43] [1]S. Bas. Ep. 125 (being the confession of faith drawn up by S. Basil for the subscript…
2,200 wordsSECTION 13Letter I.
German. 1. Of Glauber: Great Catechetical, &c. Gregorius von Nyssa und Augustinus über den ersten Christlichen Religions-unterricht. Leipzic, 1781. 2. Of Julius Rupp, Königsberg: On Meletius. Gregors Leben und Meinungen. Leipzic, 1834. 3. Of Oehler: Various treatises. Bibliothek der Kirchenväter I. Theil. Leipzic, 1858-59. 4…
882 wordsSECTION 14Letter II.
Letter II. To his most pious brother Gregory. Peter greeting in the Lord. Having met with the writings of your holiness and having perceived in your tract against this heresy your zeal both for the truth and for our sainted father in God, I judge that this work was not due simply to your own ability, but was that of one who st…
2,254 wordsSECTION 15[63] Photius reports very much the same as to his style, i.e. he shows a prodigious ostentation:' uses words difficult to pronounce, and abo
[63] Photius reports very much the same as to his style, i.e. he shows a prodigious ostentation:' uses words difficult to pronounce, and abounding in many consonants, and that in a poetic, or rather a dithyrambic style:' he has periods inordinately long:' he is obscure,' and seeks to hide by this very obscurity whatever is weak …
2,203 wordsSECTION 16[72] This can be no other than the district Chammanene, on the east bank of the Halys, where Galatia and Cappadocia join.
[72] This can be no other than the district Chammanene, on the east bank of the Halys, where Galatia and Cappadocia join. §6. A notice of Aetius, Eunomius' master in heresy, and of Eunomius himself, describing the origin and avocations of each. Verily this did great damage to our declamation-writer, or rather to his patron and…
2,254 wordsSECTION 17[77] hupothesis.
[77] hupothesis. §7. Eunomius himself proves that the confession of faith which He made was not impeached. Let us see for a moment now what kind of truth is dealt with by this man, who in his Introduction complains that it is because of his telling the truth that he is hated by the unbelievers; we may well make the way he hand…
2,257 wordsSECTION 18Where, then, was that unnamed spot in which this examination of his teachings was to take place? What was this occasion when the best then w
Where, then, was that unnamed spot in which this examination of his teachings was to take place? What was this occasion when the best then were collected for a trial? Who were these men who hurried over land and sea to share in these labours? What was this expectant world that hung upon the issue of the voting?' Who was the arra…
2,720 wordsSECTION 19[89] sophistes
[89] sophistes [90] Jeremiah iii. 3. [91] eti en to klero ton presbuteron ierateuon [92] 2 Thess. iii. 8. [93] According to Ruffinus (Hist. Eccl. x. 25), his constitution was poisoned with jaundice within and without. [94] en anonumo tini Korniaspines eschati& 139;. Cf. mega chrema hu& 232;s (Herod.) for the use of this gen…
2,446 wordsSECTION 20Nor did his wrestling stop there; the emperor himself succeeds to the attack, exasperated because he did not get effected in the first attem
Nor did his wrestling stop there; the emperor himself succeeds to the attack, exasperated because he did not get effected in the first attempt all that he wished. Just, accordingly, as the Assyrian effected the destruction of the temple of the Israelites at Jerusalem by means of the cook Nabuzardan, so did this monarch of ours e…
2,636 wordsSECTION 21[106] i.e. of the equality of Persons.
[106] i.e. of the equality of Persons. [107] i.e. for the Persons. [108] Eccles. vii. 16. §15. He does wrong in making the being of the Father alone proper and supreme, implying by his omission of the Son and the Spirit that theirs is improperly spoken of, and is inferior. But at all events he will allow that this supremacy …
2,678 wordsSECTION 22This, however, does not please our new dogmatist. He opposes the arrangement of Scripture. He separates off that equality with the Father an
This, however, does not please our new dogmatist. He opposes the arrangement of Scripture. He separates off that equality with the Father and the Son of His proper and natural rank and connexion which our Lord Himself pronounces, and numbers Him with subjects': he declares Him to be a work of both Persons [112] , of the Father, …
2,640 wordsSECTION 23But let us still scrutinize his words. He declares each of these Beings, whom he has shadowed forth in his exposition, to be single and abso
But let us still scrutinize his words. He declares each of these Beings, whom he has shadowed forth in his exposition, to be single and absolutely one. We believe that the most boorish and simple-minded would not deny that the Divine Nature, blessed and transcendent as it is, was single.' That which is viewless, formless, and si…
2,278 wordsSECTION 24[115] There is of course reference here to John i. 3: and Eunomius is called just below the new theologian,' with an allusion of S. John, wh
[115] There is of course reference here to John i. 3: and Eunomius is called just below the new theologian,' with an allusion of S. John, who was called by virtue of this passage essentially ho theologos §21. The blasphemy of these heretics is worse than the Jewish unbelief. But let us assume that this is not so: for they allo…
2,384 wordsSECTION 25If, then, this surmise is to have its way, namely, that our Lord is not perfected in every kind of good, it is very easy to see the conclusi
If, then, this surmise is to have its way, namely, that our Lord is not perfected in every kind of good, it is very easy to see the conclusion of the blasphemy. This being so, our faith is vain, and our preaching vain; our hopes, which take their substance from our faith, are unsubstantial. Why are they baptized into Christ [124…
2,666 wordsSECTION 26That divine Apostle perceived this. He understood that the same matter is indicated under different names by the two prophets, and he took t
That divine Apostle perceived this. He understood that the same matter is indicated under different names by the two prophets, and he took the best known of the two words, and called those Seraphim "powers:" so that no ground is left to our critics for saying that any single one of these beings is omitted equally with the Holy G…
2,253 wordsSECTION 27It was this kind of honour that the great David fully paid, when he confessed to the Lord in a prelude [145] of his psalmody that he loved t
It was this kind of honour that the great David fully paid, when he confessed to the Lord in a prelude [145] of his psalmody that he loved the Lord, and told all the reasons for his love, calling Him his "rock" and "fortress," and "refuge," and "deliverer," and "God-helper," and "hope," and "buckler," and "horn of salvation," an…
2,507 wordsSECTION 28It is clear, even with a moderate insight into the nature of things, that there is nothing by which we can measure the divine and blessed Li
It is clear, even with a moderate insight into the nature of things, that there is nothing by which we can measure the divine and blessed Life. It is not in time, but time flows from it; whereas the creation, starting from a manifest beginning, journeys onward to its proper end through spaces of time; so that it is possible, as …
2,921 wordsSECTION 29But he adds, "variation in the works indicates variation in the energies." How, again, is this dictum of his corroborated by facts? Look, if
But he adds, "variation in the works indicates variation in the energies." How, again, is this dictum of his corroborated by facts? Look, if you please, at plain instances. Is not the energy' of command, in Him who embodied the world and all things therein by His sole will, a single energy? "He spake and they were made. He comma…
2,363 wordsSECTION 30But let us yield in this; grant him that beings are known in their energies. The First being is known through His work; and this Second bein
But let us yield in this; grant him that beings are known in their energies. The First being is known through His work; and this Second being is revealed in the work proceeding from Him. But what, my learned friend, is to show this Third being? No such work of this Third is to be found. If you insist that these beings are percei…
2,637 wordsSECTION 31It remains to see whether it contributes anything further to the proof of his blasphemy. What, then, was he aiming at? The necessity of beli
It remains to see whether it contributes anything further to the proof of his blasphemy. What, then, was he aiming at? The necessity of believing in accordance with their being in the likeness or unlikeness of the Son to the Father; and, as we cannot know about this being from considerations of Providence, the necessity of havin…
2,705 wordsSECTION 32For I challenge him to say why a believer in the Son as having come into being from the Father must advance to the opinion that there are tw
For I challenge him to say why a believer in the Son as having come into being from the Father must advance to the opinion that there are two First Causes; and let him tell us who is most guilty of this establishment of two First Causes; one who asserts that the Son is falsely so named, or one who insists that, when we call Him …
2,337 wordsSECTION 33What are they? I think no Christian is ignorant that He is good, kind, holy, just and hallowed, unseen and immortal, incapable of decay and
What are they? I think no Christian is ignorant that He is good, kind, holy, just and hallowed, unseen and immortal, incapable of decay and change and alteration, powerful, wise, beneficent, Master, Judge, and everything like that. Why lengthen our discussion by lingering on acknowledged facts? If, then, we find these qualities …
2,253 wordsSECTION 34[189] 1 Cor. xii. 3.
[189] 1 Cor. xii. 3. [190] enoesamen: aorist of instantaneous action. §37. Defence of S. Basil's statement, attacked by Eunomius, that the terms Father' and The Ungenerate' can have the same meaning. The stream of his abuse is very strong; insolence is at the bottom of every principle he lays down; and vilification is put by …
2,560 wordsSECTION 35But perhaps a man would be more easily led into the true view by personal illustrations; so let us leave this looking backwards and forwards
But perhaps a man would be more easily led into the true view by personal illustrations; so let us leave this looking backwards and forwards and this twisting of false premisses [203] , and discuss the matter in a less learned and more popular way. Your father, Eunomius, was certainly a human being; but the same person was also …
2,445 wordsSECTION 36If, then, all that is the Father's is in the Only-begotten, and He is in the Father, and the Fatherhood is not dissociated from the not havi
If, then, all that is the Father's is in the Only-begotten, and He is in the Father, and the Fatherhood is not dissociated from the not having been generated,' I for my part cannot see what there is to think of in connexion with the Father, by Himself, that is parted by any interval so as to precede our apprehension of the Son. …
2,266 wordsSECTION 37[198] kata ten ton antikeimenon phusin. If 'Agennetos means not having a son, then to affirm God is always 'Agennetos' is even to deny (its
[198] kata ten ton antikeimenon phusin. If 'Agennetos means not having a son, then to affirm God is always 'Agennetos' is even to deny (its logical contradictory) God once had a Son.' [199] ton basilea. [200] pros to. Cod. Ven., surely better than the common pros to, which Oehler has in his text. [201] eleutheria; late Greek,…
2,254 wordsSECTION 38What harm, too, does our Faith suffer from our admitting those expressions of our opponents which they bring forward against us as absurd, w
What harm, too, does our Faith suffer from our admitting those expressions of our opponents which they bring forward against us as absurd, when they ask whether He which is can be begotten?' We do not assert that this can be so in the sense in which Nicodemus put his offensive question [218] , wherein he thought it impossible th…
2,489 wordsSECTION 39[223] hos einai men ton Theon kata tauton hos einai pote(infinitive by attraction to preceding) kai einai pepisteutai
[223] hos einai men ton Theon kata tauton hos einai pote(infinitive by attraction to preceding) kai einai pepisteutai [224] euarithmeton rhematon. But it is possible that the true reading may be euruthmon, alluding to the rhythm' in the form of abuse with which Eunomius connected his arguments (preceding section). [225] ouk ei…
2,207 wordsSECTION 40Book II.
But a lover of controversial wrangling catches up the argument, on the ground that such a sequence would make Him Ungenerate from Ungenerate. Let him, however, cool his combative heart, and insist upon the proper expressions, for in confessing His coming from the Father' he has banished all ideas of Ungeneracy as regards the Onl…
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Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.