In this session we shall be looking at several key works of Gregory of Nazianzus, latterly bishop of Constantinople. These include selections of his Poemata Arcana, his so-called ‘theological orations’, and a small number of other works sometimes taken to be representative of his thought such as his orations on baptism, and his autobiographical poetry.
Gregory of Nazianzus is often held to be one of a group of Christian thinker of signal importance for the intellectual life of the contemporary global church known as the ‘Cappadocian Fathers’. This group includes his friends, the brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa. Their extensive written works, covering diverse genres of prose and poetry, touch on the whole range of subjects in theology. In this module we will focus particularly on Gregory of Nazianzus’ Trinitarian theology, in its original context but with an eye towards its relevance for current scholarship. While some contemporary work in Patristics focuses on creating a sense of estrangement and distance from the thought of its subjects, attempting to locate it as solely a product of a context alien to modern Christians, we will instead draw out its vividly, recognizably contemporary concerns for the life of the ordinary believer juxtaposed against the tapestry of the immanent and transcendent life of the Godhead, revealed through three-fold action in the economy.
Gregory of Nazianzus is often held to be one of a group of Christian thinker of signal importance for the intellectual life of the contemporary global church known as the ‘Cappadocian Fathers’. This group includes his friends, the brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa. Their extensive written works, covering diverse genres of prose and poetry, touch on the whole range of subjects in theology. In this module we will focus particularly on Gregory of Nazianzus’ Trinitarian theology, in its original context but with an eye towards its relevance for current scholarship. While some contemporary work in Patristics focuses on creating a sense of estrangement and distance from the thought of its subjects, attempting to locate it as solely a product of a context alien to modern Christians, we will instead draw out its vividly, recognizably contemporary concerns for the life of the ordinary believer juxtaposed against the tapestry of the immanent and transcendent life of the Godhead, revealed through three-fold action in the economy.
Course Type: 2024-2025 Modules
Shared Course: No
Feeder Course: No