Gregory of Nazianzus

## Who Was Gregory of Nazianzus?

Gregory of Nazianzus was a bishop, preacher, and poet from Cappadocia in central Turkey. He was born around 329 near the town of Nazianzus, where his father was bishop. He studied for about ten years in Athens, where he became close friends with Basil.

Gregory wanted a quiet life of study and prayer. The church kept calling him out of it. The Eastern church gives him the title the Theologian, a title it shares only with the apostle John and Symeon the New Theologian.

## Major Works

Theological Orations, five sermons (Orations 27 through 31) preached in 380.

About 45 orations in all, including his defense of fleeing the priesthood (Oration 2) and his funeral sermon for Basil (Oration 43).

Letters, about 245 surviving, including Letters 101 and 102 to Cledonius on the person of Christ.

Poems, several hundred, including a long autobiographical poem.

## Theological Orations

In 379 Gregory went to Constantinople to lead a small congregation that held to the Nicene faith. Most churches in the city were in Arian hands. He met in a house chapel he named Anastasia, meaning resurrection.

There he preached the Five Theological Orations. They defend the full deity of the Son and the Spirit with clarity and force. In Oration 31 he asks directly whether the Spirit is God and answers yes, and so of one substance with the Father.

## Letters

Gregory’s letters to Cledonius answered Apollinarius, who taught that Christ had no human mind. Gregory replied with a principle theologians still quote: what He has not assumed, He has not healed. If Christ did not take a full human nature, then human nature is not fully saved.

## Defense of the Trinity and Refinement of Doctrine

In 381 Gregory presided for a time over the Council of Constantinople. That council completed the Nicene Creed with the article on the Holy Spirit. Opposition within the council pushed him to resign as bishop of Constantinople. He returned to Cappadocia, wrote poetry, and died around 390.

In Oration 31 he explains why the Spirit’s deity was taught gradually. The Old Testament proclaimed the Father openly and the Son less clearly. The New Testament revealed the Son and hinted at the Spirit’s deity. Now the Spirit dwells among us and gives a clearer demonstration of Himself.

## Pastoral Care

In 361 his father ordained him a priest against his will, and Gregory fled. Oration 2 explains why. He calls the guiding of souls the art of arts and the science of sciences. A physician treats bodies. A pastor must treat the soul, and every soul needs different care.

Pope Gregory the Great drew on this oration two centuries later in his Pastoral Rule.

## How to Read Gregory of Nazianzus Today

Start with Oration 31, on the Holy Spirit. It reads in about 90 minutes.

Use On God and Christ (St Vladimir’s Seminary Press), which contains all five Theological Orations and the two letters to Cledonius.

Read Oration 2 if you serve in any pastoral role.

Many of his works are free in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, volume 7.

## About the Author

CK Quarterman is a USAF veteran, independent author, and publisher at CKQbooks. He writes the Malaterrestrials nonfiction series, which examines evil earthbound non‑human intelligences through Scripture and history, along with the Watchers’ Universe and Sons of the Flood fiction series. Find his books at ckqbooks.com.

Truth · History · Scripture