Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 5
Gregory of Nyssa — Dogmatic Treatises
SECTION 41
[249] Or, somewhat more literally, "He admits of distinction into belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, being divided," &c.
[249] Or, somewhat more literally, "He admits of distinction into belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, being divided," &c. [250] S. John i. 18 [251] That nature which transcends our conceptions (huperkeimene). [252] Or "be conjoined with such attribute:" auto probably refers, like peri auton kai en auto just abo…
2,312 wordsSECTION 42"God," he says, "Who is without beginning, eternally, without end, alone." Once more "understand, ye simple ones," as Solomon says, "his sub
"God," he says, "Who is without beginning, eternally, without end, alone." Once more "understand, ye simple ones," as Solomon says, "his subtlety [284] ," lest haply ye be deceived and fall headlong into the denial of the Godhead of the Only-begotten Son. That is without end which admits not of death and decay: that, likewise, i…
2,532 wordsSECTION 43Mark, I pray you, the absurdity and childishness of this grovelling exposition of his articles of faith. What! He Who "upholds all things by
Mark, I pray you, the absurdity and childishness of this grovelling exposition of his articles of faith. What! He Who "upholds all things by the word of His power [305] ," Who says what He wills to be done, and does what He wills by the very power of that command, He Whose power lags not behind His will and Whose will is the mea…
2,923 wordsSECTION 44Perhaps, however, it is waste of time to linger long over such follies. Let us pass to the next point of his statement. He adds to what he h
Perhaps, however, it is waste of time to linger long over such follies. Let us pass to the next point of his statement. He adds to what he had already said, "Not standing in need, in the act of creation, of matter or parts or natural instruments: for He stands in need of nothing." This proposition, though Eunomius states it with…
2,280 wordsSECTION 45Since, then, the first-fruits made the true God to be its God, and the good Father to be its Father, the blessing is secured for human natur
Since, then, the first-fruits made the true God to be its God, and the good Father to be its Father, the blessing is secured for human nature as a whole, and by means of the first-fruits the true God and Father becomes Father and God of all men. Now "if the first-fruits be holy, the lump also is holy [344] ." But where the first…
2,786 wordsSECTION 46What is this vain juggling with words? Is he aware that it is God of Whom he speaks, Who was in the beginning and is in the Father, nor was
What is this vain juggling with words? Is he aware that it is God of Whom he speaks, Who was in the beginning and is in the Father, nor was there any time when He was not? He knows not what he says nor whereof he affirms [360] , but he endeavours, as though he were constructing the pedigree of a mere man, to apply to the Lord of…
2,753 wordsSECTION 47Why should I pursue this part of the subject in more detail? For the words preceding also are tainted with the same profanity--"receiving gl
Why should I pursue this part of the subject in more detail? For the words preceding also are tainted with the same profanity--"receiving glory from the Father, not sharing glory with the Father, for the glory of the Almighty God is incommunicable." For my own part, even had his words referred to Moses who was glorified in the m…
2,305 wordsSECTION 48The disjointed incoherencies which follow next, I think it well to pass over, not because they give no handle at all to censure, but because
The disjointed incoherencies which follow next, I think it well to pass over, not because they give no handle at all to censure, but because their language is such as might be used by the devout, if detached from its malignant context. If he does here and there use some expressions favourable to devotion it is just held out as a…
2,327 wordsSECTION 49We have thus generally described in a few words the several cases in which objects, because they are deemed to be different from what they r
We have thus generally described in a few words the several cases in which objects, because they are deemed to be different from what they really are, produce delusions in our senses. It is possible, of course, by a more laborious investigation, to extend one's enquiry through all things which are really different in kind one fr…
2,403 wordsSECTION 50Then Eunomius allows to Him the credit of the destruction of men by water in the days of Noah, of the rain of fire that fell upon Sodom, and
Then Eunomius allows to Him the credit of the destruction of men by water in the days of Noah, of the rain of fire that fell upon Sodom, and of the just vengeance upon the Egyptians, as though he were making some great concessions to Him Who holds in His hand the ends of the world, in Whom, as the Apostle says, "all things consi…
2,212 wordsSECTION 51[441] S. John v. 14
[441] S. John v. 14 [442] Eph. ii. 15. [443] Cf. S. John x. 17, 18. Here again the word psuchen is rendered in the A.V. by "life." [444] Ps. xvi. 8. Acts ii. 27, 31. [445] Acts ii. 36. A further exposition of Gregory's views on this passage will be found in Book V. [446] S. John ii. 19 [447] Cf. 2 Cor. vi. 16. [448] S. Jo…
2,787 wordsSECTION 52[451] S. John iv. 24
[451] S. John iv. 24 [452] Cf. Lam. iv. 20 in LXX. [453] Ps. xcix. 9. [454] Cf. the response to the words of the Priest at the elevation the Gifts in the Greek Liturgies. [455] S. John xiv. 16 [456] Ps. lxxvi. 17. [457] 2 Cor. i. 3-4. [458] 1 S. John ii. 1. (The word is in the A.V. rendered "advocate.") [459] From which …
2,414 wordsSECTION 53Let us now see further what he adds to this "sanctifying the saints." If any one says this also of the Father and of the Son, he will speak
Let us now see further what he adds to this "sanctifying the saints." If any one says this also of the Father and of the Son, he will speak truly. For those in whom the Holy One dwells, He makes holy, even as the Good One makes men good. And the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are holy and good, as has been shown. "Acting as…
2,036 wordsSECTION 54Book III.
Book III. §1. This third book shows a third fall of Eunomius, as refuting himself, and sometimes saying that the Son is to be called Only-begotten in virtue of natural generation, and that Holy Scripture proves this from the first; at other times, that by reason of His being created He should not be called a Son, but a "product…
2,364 wordsSECTION 55[522] 2 Tim. ii. 5.
[522] 2 Tim. ii. 5. [523] The earlier editions here omit a long passage, which Oehler restores. [524] gennema. [525] Inserting kai, which does not appear here in Oehler's text, but is found in later quotations of the same passage: autes is also found in the later citations. [526] Cf. Col. i. 16 [527] Oehler's punctuation he…
2,839 wordsSECTION 56After recounting these and the like matters, he proceeds to introduce also his teaching concerning the dispensation with regard to man, why
After recounting these and the like matters, he proceeds to introduce also his teaching concerning the dispensation with regard to man, why the Word was made flesh. For seeing that it is clear to all that God Who is over all has in Himself nothing as a thing created or imported, not power nor wisdom, nor light, nor word, nor lif…
2,203 wordsSECTION 57[535] 1 Cor. i. 24.
[535] 1 Cor. i. 24. [536] E. g.S. John xvii. 25. [537] Prov. i. 2. [538] The hiatus in the Paris editions ends here. [539] Cf. Prov. i. 3 (LXX.). [540] Gal. iv. 20. [541] Ps. xlv. 13 (LXX.). [542] Prov. i. 6 (LXX.). [543] Compare with what follows Prov. viii. 12, sqq. (LXX.). [544] S. Matt. v. 3 [545] Gal. v. 17. [546…
2,222 wordsSECTION 58[575] Cf. S. John xvi. 21
[575] Cf. S. John xvi. 21 [576] If, that is, they speak of the "generated essence" in contra-distinction to "ungenerate essence" they are precluded from saying that the essence of the Son is that He is begotten, and that the essence of the Father is that He is ungenerate: that which constitutes the essence cannot be made an epi…
2,665 wordsSECTION 59Learning these things, then, from the lofty words of the Apostle, we argue, by the passage quoted, in this way:--If His judgments cannot be
Learning these things, then, from the lofty words of the Apostle, we argue, by the passage quoted, in this way:--If His judgments cannot be searched out, and His ways are not traced, and the promise of His good things transcends every representation that our conjectures can frame, by how much more is His actual Godhead higher an…
2,626 wordsSECTION 60What can we say, then, to such things without relevance? That while, as they say, the names which Scripture applies to the Only-begotten are
What can we say, then, to such things without relevance? That while, as they say, the names which Scripture applies to the Only-begotten are many, we assert that none of the other names is closely connected with the reference to Him that begat Him. For we do not employ the name "Stone," or "Resurrection," or "Shepherd," or "Ligh…
1,394 wordsSECTION 61Book IV.
Book IV. §1. The fourth book discusses the account of the nature of the "product of generation," and of the passionless generation of the Only-Begotten, and the text, "In the beginning was the Word," and the birth of the Virgin. It is, perhaps, time to examine in our discourse that account of the nature of the "product of gene…
2,581 wordsSECTION 62Repeat, then, Eunomius, repeat this clever objection of yours to the Evangelist: "How dost thou give the name of Father' in thy discourse, h
Repeat, then, Eunomius, repeat this clever objection of yours to the Evangelist: "How dost thou give the name of Father' in thy discourse, how that of Only-begotten, seeing that all bodily generation is operated by passion?" Surely truth answers you on his behalf, that the mystery of theology is one thing, and the physiology of …
2,267 wordsSECTION 63[616] Cf. Ps. xxxiii. 9, and Ps. cxlviii. 5, in LXX. (reading egennethesan).
[616] Cf. Ps. xxxiii. 9, and Ps. cxlviii. 5, in LXX. (reading egennethesan). [617] The force of logos here appears to be nearly equivalent to "idea," in the sense of an exact expression of the nature of a thing. Gulonius renders it by "ratio." [618] The argument appears to be this:--The Anomoeans assert, on the ground that He …
2,204 wordsSECTION 64[637] Rom. xiv. 9.
[637] Rom. xiv. 9. [638] Cf. Rom. xi. 16 [639] Cf. Phil. ii. 6 §4. He proceeds again to discuss the impassibility of the Lord's generation; and the folly of Eunomius, who says that the generated essence involves the appellation of Son, and again, forgetting this, denies the relation of the Son to the Father: and herein he spe…
2,519 wordsSECTION 65[640] That is, in the sacramental doctrine with regard to Holy Baptism.
[640] That is, in the sacramental doctrine with regard to Holy Baptism. [641] S. John i. 13 [642] S. John iii. 3, where anothen may be interpreted either "from above" or as in A.V. [643] Reading ei for eis, according to Oehler's suggestion. [644] It is not quite clear whether any of this passage, or, if so, how much of it, i…
2,568 wordsSECTION 66Does he, by what still remains, make at all more secure this headless and rootless statement of his, in which, in its earliest stage, nothin
Does he, by what still remains, make at all more secure this headless and rootless statement of his, in which, in its earliest stage, nothing was laid down that had any force with regard to the point he is trying to establish? or does the rest also cling to the same folly, not deriving its strength from any support it gets from …
2,258 wordsSECTION 67§7. He then clearly and skilfully criticises the doctrine of the impossibility of comparison with the things made after the Son, and exposes
§7. He then clearly and skilfully criticises the doctrine of the impossibility of comparison with the things made after the Son, and exposes the idolatry contrived by Eunomius, and concealed by the terminology of "Son" and "Only-begotten," to deceive his readers. In the remainder of the passage, however, he becomes conciliatory…
2,972 wordsSECTION 68[667] The whole passage is rather obscure, and Oehler's punctuation renders it perhaps more obscure than that which is here adopted. The arg
[667] The whole passage is rather obscure, and Oehler's punctuation renders it perhaps more obscure than that which is here adopted. The argument seems to be something like this:--"The generated essence is not compared with any of the things made by it, or after it, because being only-begotten it leaves no room for a common basi…
2,200 wordsSECTION 69Book V.
[679] This whole passage, as it stands in Oehler's text, (which has here been followed without alteration,) is obscure: the connection between the clauses themselves is by no means clear; and the general meaning of the passage, in view of the succeeding sentences, seems doubtful. For it seems here to be alleged that Eunomius con…
2,332 wordsSECTION 70"In addition, moreover, to what we have mentioned, by his refusal to take the word made' as referring to the essence of the Son, and withal
"In addition, moreover, to what we have mentioned, by his refusal to take the word made' as referring to the essence of the Son, and withal by his being ashamed of the Cross, he ascribes to the Apostles what no one even of those who have done their best to speak ill of them on the score of stupidity, lays to their charge; and at…
2,304 wordsSECTION 71The beginning of his accusation was that we are ashamed of the Cross of Him Who for our sakes underwent the Passion. Surely he does not inte
The beginning of his accusation was that we are ashamed of the Cross of Him Who for our sakes underwent the Passion. Surely he does not intend to charge against us also that we preach the doctrine of dissimilarity in essence! Why, it is rather to those who turn aside to this opinion that the reproach belongs of going about to ma…
2,317 wordsSECTION 72[726] Cf. S. Mark xiv. 38
[726] Cf. S. Mark xiv. 38 §4. He shows the falsehood of Eunomius' calumnious charge that the great Basil had said that "man was emptied to become man," and demonstrates that the "emptying" of the Only-begotten took place with a view to the restoration to life of the Man Who had suffered [727] . He asserts that we say that man …
2,720 wordsSECTION 73But if we are to discuss the other points in the same way, let us consider what it is that dies, and what it is that destroys death; what it
But if we are to discuss the other points in the same way, let us consider what it is that dies, and what it is that destroys death; what it is that is renewed, and what it is that empties itself. The Godhead "empties" Itself that It may come within the capacity of the Human Nature, and the Human Nature is renewed by becoming Di…
1,079 wordsSECTION 74Book VI.
Book VI. §1. The sixth book shows that He Who came for man's salvation was not a mere man, as Eunomius, falsely slandering him, affirmed that the great Basil had said, but the Only-begotten Son of God, putting on human flesh, and becoming a mediator between God and man, on Whom we believe, as subject to suffering in the flesh, …
3,143 wordsSECTION 75[761] Acts ii. 36.
[761] Acts ii. 36. [762] Cf. Heb. v. 5 [763] Altering Oehler's punctuation. [764] 2 Cor. v. 21. [765] Reading, as Gulonius seems to have done, and according to Oehler's suggestion (which he does not himself follow), huiothetetheisi for athetesasi. In the latter reading the mss. seem to agree, but the sense is doubtful. It ma…
2,243 wordsSECTION 76[786] Heb. iv. 15.
[786] Heb. iv. 15. [787] 1 Pet. ii. 22. [788] Cf. S. John v. 22 [789] Rom. i. 17. [790] That is, "passion" in the sense defined above, as something with evil tendency. If the ginomenon (i.e. the salvation of men) is evil, then Father and Son alike must be "kept clear" from any participation in it. If it is good, and if, ther…
2,867 wordsSECTION 77These words are not mine: they are those of him who fights against the Word. For he says, in the very passage that is before us for examinat
These words are not mine: they are those of him who fights against the Word. For he says, in the very passage that is before us for examination, exactly thus:--"The blessed Peter speaks of Him Who was in the beginning and was God, and expounds to us that it was He Who became Lord and Christ." Eunomius, then, says that He Who was…
1,065 wordsSECTION 78Book VII.
Book VII. §1. The seventh book shows from various statements made to the Corinthians and to the Hebrews, and from the words of the Lord, that the word "Lord" is not expressive of essence, according to Eunomius' exposition, but of dignity. and after many notable remarks concerning "the Spirit" and the Lord, he shows that Eunomiu…
2,200 wordsSECTION 79And now that I have exposed this futile and pointless sham-argument, it seems to me that I may well pass by without discussion what he next
And now that I have exposed this futile and pointless sham-argument, it seems to me that I may well pass by without discussion what he next puts together by way of attack upon our master's statement. For a sufficient proof of the folly of his remarks is to be found in his actual argument, which of itself proclaims aloud its feeb…
2,569 wordsSECTION 80[834] That is, in making a rhetorical inversion of a proposition in itself objectionable, he so re-states it as to make it really a differen
[834] That is, in making a rhetorical inversion of a proposition in itself objectionable, he so re-states it as to make it really a different proposition while treating it as equivalent. The original proposition is objectionable as classing the Son with all generated existences: the inversion of it, because the term "God" is sub…
2,201 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.