Gregory of Nyssa and the Grasp of Faith Union, Knowledge, and Divine Presence

by Laird, Martin

• ISBN13: 9780199267996
• ISBN10: 0199267995
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-06-24
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The first in-depth study of Gregory of Nyssa, this book shows how for Gregory the darkness of faith is what unites the believer with God. Through this union by faith alone, God yet speaks through the deeds and discourse of the believer. While the believer is immersed in the darkness ofunknowing, they are also transformed in light. Laird alters the way in which we understand Gregory's mystical theology.

Author Biography

Martin Laird is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	xi
Introduction	1	(14)
Faith, the Christian Foundation	1	(3)
Faith in late Neoplatonism: Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus	4	(11)
1 The Exaltation of Faith: The State of Current Research	15	(19)
Faith in Gregory of Nyssa: the Critical Heritage	15	(10)
New Directions	25	(9)
2 The Flow of the Mind	34	(29)
Introduction	34	(1)
The Mind and Passions	35	(5)
The Mind and the Intelligible World	40	(3)
The Mind's Ascent	43	(1)
The Mind and Grace	44	(5)
The Presence of God	49	(7)
Conclusion	56	(7)
3 The Grasp of Faith	63	(45)
Introduction	63	(1)
In Inscriptions Psalmorum	64	(1)
Contra Eunomium I	65	(3)
Contra Eunomium II	68	(10)
De vita Moysis	78	(7)
Commentarius in Canticum canticorum	85	(14)
Conclusion	99	(9)
4 The Grasp of Faith and Supranoetic Union	108	(23)
Introduction	108	(3)
Celsus	111	(1)
The Chaldaean Oracles	112	(5)
Plotinus	117	(7)
Parallels between Plotinus and Gregory of Nyssa	124	(5)
Conclusion	129	(2)
5 Fountain of Presence, Breasts of Wine: The Flow of Knowledge in the In Canticum canticorum	131	(23)
Introduction	131	(1)
The Gold of Knowledge	132	(3)
The Flow of Water	135	(13)
A Schema of the Flow of Knowledge	148	(4)
Conclusion	152	(2)
6 Christ Speaking Himself: The Logophatic Discourse of Paul and the Bride	154	(20)
Introduction	154	(1)
Paul and Logophasis	155	(9)
The Bride and the Daughters of Jerusalem	164	(5)
Conclusion	169	(5)
7 The Luminous Dark Revisited	174	(31)
Introduction	174	(1)
Preliminary Considerations	175	(2)
From Light to Increasing Darkness	177	(4)
Light unto Light	181	(5)
Light Communing in Light	186	(11)
Conclusion	197	(8)
Conclusion	205	(8)
Bibliography	213	(16)
Index	229