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 of unknowing, they are also transformed in light. Laird alters the way in which we understand Gregory's mystical theology.
Author(s): Martin Laird
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 256
Contents......Page 10
Abbreviations......Page 12
Faith, the Christian Foundation......Page 14
Faith in late Neoplatonism: Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus......Page 17
Faith in Gregory of Nyssa: the Critical Heritage......Page 28
New Directions......Page 38
Introduction......Page 47
The Mind and Passions......Page 48
The Mind and the Intelligible World......Page 53
The Mind’s Ascent......Page 56
The Mind and Grace......Page 57
The Presence of God......Page 62
Conclusion......Page 69
Introduction......Page 76
In Inscriptiones Psalmorum......Page 77
Contra Eunomium I......Page 78
Contra Eunomium II......Page 81
De vita Moysis......Page 91
Commentarius in Canticum canticorum......Page 98
Conclusion......Page 112
Introduction......Page 121
Celsus......Page 124
The Chaldaean Oracles......Page 125
Plotinus......Page 130
Parallels between Plotinus and Gregory of Nyssa......Page 137
Conclusion......Page 142
Introduction......Page 144
The Gold of Knowledge......Page 145
The Flow of Water......Page 148
A Schema of the Flow of Knowledge......Page 161
Conclusion......Page 165
Introduction......Page 167
Paul and Logophasis......Page 168
The Bride and the Daughters of Jerusalem......Page 177
Conclusion......Page 182
Introduction......Page 187
Preliminary Considerations......Page 188
From Light to Increasing Darkness......Page 190
Light unto Light......Page 194
Light Communing in Light......Page 199
Conclusion......Page 210
Conclusion......Page 218
Bibliography......Page 226
A......Page 242
C......Page 243
D......Page 244
F......Page 246
H......Page 247
K......Page 248
M......Page 249
P......Page 250
T......Page 252
W......Page 253
