Voices from the Past: Meditations on the Person and Work of Christ
Gregory Nazianzen, also known as “Gregory the Theologian,” was born in 330 to an extraordinary mother who had a deep spiritual influence on him and for whom he had great respect. Through her prayers and piety she brought about the conversion of her husband. Gregory was a close friend of Basil of Ceaserea and his brother Gregory of Nyssa; together they were known as the Three Cappadocians. His friendship with Basil was akin to that of David and Jonathan: “as it were one soul animating two bodies.” Gregory presided over the Council of Constantinople in 381 and in June of that year left Constantinople for seclusion. He died in 390 leaving his most important work, Theological Orations.
Reading “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
Gregory Nazianzen, also known as “Gregory the Theologian,” was born in 330 to an extraordinary mother who had a deep spiritual influence on him and for whom he had great respect. Through her prayers and piety she brought about the conversion of her husband. Gregory was a close friend of Basil of Ceaserea and his brother Gregory of Nyssa; together they were known as the Three Cappadocians. His friendship with Basil was akin to that of David and Jonathan: “as it were one soul animating two bodies.” Gregory presided over the Council on Constantinople in 381 and in June of that year left Constantinople for seclusion. He died in 390 leaving his most important work, Theological Orations.
But look at it in this manner: that as for my sake He was called a curse, Who destroyed my curse; and sin, who takes away the sin of the world; and became a new Adamto take the place of the old, just so He makes my disobedience His own as Head of the whole body.
As long then as I am disobedient and rebellious, both by denial of God and by my passions, so Christ also is called disobedient on my account. But when all things shall be subdued unto Him on the one hand by acknowledgment of Him, and on the other by a reformation, then He Himself also will have fulfilled His submission, bringing me whom He has saved to God. For this, according to my view, is the subjection of Christ, namely, the fulfilling of the Father’s will. And thus He, Who subjects, presents to God that which he has subjected; he makes our condition His own.
Of the same kind, it appears to me, is the expression, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”It was not He who was forsaken by the Father, as some have thought. But as I said, He was in His own Person representing us, for we were the forsaken and despised before, but now by the sufferings of Him who could not suffer, we were taken up and saved.
Gregory Nazianzen, Theological Orations, XXX
