Embodiment and virtue in Gregory of Nyssa : an anagogical approach / Hans Boersma.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Boersma, Hans, 1961-

Series:

Oxford early Christian studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gregory, of Nyssa, Saint, approximately 335-approximately 394.

Gregory.

Human body--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Human body.

Virtue.

Physical Description:

xviii, 284 pages ; 25 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2013.

Summary:

Embodiment in the theology of Gregory of Nyssa is a much-debated topic. Hans Boersma argues that this-worldly realities of time and space, which include embodiment, are not the focus of Gregory's theology. Instead, embodiment plays a distinctly subordinate role. The key to his theology, Boersma suggests, is anagogy, going upward in order to participate in the life of God. This book looks at a variety of topics connected to embodiment in Gregory's thought: time and space; allegory; gender, sexuality, and virginity; death and mourning; slavery, homelessness, and poverty; and the church as the body of Christ. In each instance, Boersma maintains, Gregory values embodiment only inasmuch as it enables us to go upward in the intellectual realm of the heavenly future. Boersma suggests that for Gregory embodiment and virtue serve the anagogical pursuit of otherworldly realities. Countering recent trends in scholarship that highlight Gregory's appreciation of the goodness of creation, this hook argues that Gregory looks at embodiment as a means for human beings to grow in virtue` and so to participate in the divine life. It is true that, as a Christian thinker, Gregory regards the creator-creature distinction as basic. But he also works with the distinction between spirit and matter. And Nyssen is convinced that in the hereafter the categories of time and space will disappear-while the human body will undergo an inconceivable transformation. This book, then, serves as a reminder of the profoundly otherworldly cast of Gregory's theology. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Measured Body 19

Measuring the Creature Only: Contra Eunomium 24

Virtuous Progression in Time: In Ecclesiasten homiliae 27

Christological Realignment of Time: De tridui spatio 33

The Eighth Day as Upward Future: In sextum Psalmum 38

Heavenly Paradise: Diastemic Space and Time? 44

Conclusion 50

2 Textual Body 53

Faith as Anagogical Guide 54

The "Turn" of Proverbs 8 in Contra Eunomium III.i 59

The Defense of Anagogy in the Preface to In Canticum canticorum 66

Joining the Angelic Choir: In inscriptiones Psalmorum 70

Interpretation and Anagogy in In Canticum canticorum 77

3 Gendered Body 85

Tunics of Christ in In Canticum canticorum 87

Bodily and Spiritual Senses in In Canticum canticorum 93

Sex in the Garden? De hominis opficio 100

Neither Male nor Female: Macrina's Angelic Overcoming of Gender 109

4 Dead Body 117

The Paradoxes of Virginity in De virginitate 117

Virginity as the End of Death in De virginitate 123

Death and Mourning in De mortuis oratio 128

Death and Mourning in Pastoral Context 137

Conclusion 144

5 Oppressed Body 146

Manumission in Annisa 147

Slavery and the Image of God 152

Slavery and the Resurrection 157

Preaching on Homeless Bodies 163

Preaching on Homeless Souls 170

Conclusion 175

6 Ecclesial Body 178

Ascension into the Church: In ascensionem Christi oratio 179

Baptism and the Body: In diem luminum 182

Eucharistic Transpositions: Oratio catechetica magna 186

Submission of the Body of Christ: Tunc et ipse 188

Into the Inner Bridal Chamber: In Canticum canticorum 197

Conclusion 209

7 Virtuous Body 211

Alleged Moralism in Nyssen's Theology 215

Virtue as Participation in Christ: De professione Christiana and De perfectione 221

Assistance of the Spirit: De instituto Christiano 228

De vita Moysis: Modeling Virtue 231

De vita Moysis: Anagogical Participation in Christ 240

Conclusion 245

Epilogue 247.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [251]-271) and index.

ISBN:

9780199641123

0199641129

OCLC:

812686073