This week the Orthodox cycle of saints included not one but two of my favorites: Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. Both were Archbishops of Constantinople back in one of my favorite centuries: the fourth. The fourth century was the time of the biggest arguments about the biggest issues, and so became the time of […]
The Trinity: Is It Really All About You?
I spent a whole blog post just ramping up to talk about Gregory of Nazianzus’ way of dealing with the Trinity. Let’s see if I can be on topic by making one brief comparison. For most people today the Trinity is discussed in relation to US. I’m not thinking of academic theology but ordinary conversation. Correct […]
Vocabulary Lesson: “Trinity,” “Council”
A couple of weeks ago when I wrote about Gregory of Nazianzus I noted that his approach to the Trinity was radically different from most of what is said on the topic today. “I could say more — just ask me!” I quipped. My dear friend Jack Craft said he’d like to hear more. Here […]
St. Gregory of Nazianzus — “The Theologian”
In much of Western Christianity, today is the feast of St. Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329 – c. 389). In the East he is celebrated on other days and regarded much more highly: they call him “The Theologian.” I can’t overestimate how important Gregory is to me, though in truth I have read only a […]
Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 2 — Humility, Integrity, and Calling
Gregory closes out his oration considering the things that drove him from ministry and those that drew him back to it. He makes a tour of biblical texts that make this line of work scary–think of Paul’s litany of his suffering and various prophets’ declarations of God’s judgment on faulty shepherds and priests. The things […]