Christ, the spirit, and human transformation in Gregory of Nyssa's In Canticum Canticorum / Alexander L. Abecina.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Abecina, Alexander L., author.

Series:

Oxford studies in historical theology.

Oxford scholarship online.

Oxford studies in historical theology

Oxford scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Theology, Doctrinal--History--Early church, ca. 30-600.

Theology, Doctrinal.

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

Gregory.

Gregory, of Nyssa, Saint, approximately 335-approximately 394. Commentarius in Canticum canticorum.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (289 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2023.

Summary:

This work investigates the writings of Gregory of Nyssa, one of the most important figures in Christian history. Gregory wrote in two different genres - doctrinal and spiritual - but how these two genres are related has been little explored by scholars. Alexander Abecina addresses this issue by showing how Gregory's early doctrinal thought underpins his spiritual interpretation of the 'Song of Songs' in his final written work, 'In Canticum Canticorum'. The author discusses such topics as baptismal theology, trinitarian theology, Christology, pneumatology, and allegorical exegesis. He also engages with the latest contemporary scholarship on Gregory of Nyssa.

Contents:

Cover

Series

Christ, the Spirit, and Human Transformation in Gregory of Nyssa's In Canticum Canticorum

Copyright

Contents

Abbreviations

Introduction

PART I: TRINITY, CHRISTOLOGY, AND PNEUMATOLOGY: GREGORY OF NYSSA'S DOCTRINALACCOUNT OF HUMAN TRANSFORMATION ANDUNION WITH GOD (c. 370- 385)

1. Spiritual Marriage with Christ in De Virginitate

Virginity in Trinitarian Perspective: Chapters I-​II

Worldly Marriage, Heavenly Virginity: Chapters III-​VI

The Holy Spirit, Demons, and Extreme Virginity: Chapter VII

Weak Virgins and the Power of the Spirit: Chapters VIII-​XI

The Power of Death and the Power of the Spirit: Chapters XII-​XIII

Spiritual Childbearing: Chapters XIIIb-​XIV

Pneumatology in Chapters XIV-​XXII

Conclusion

2. Baptism and Trinitarian Theology

Ep. 5, Ep. 24, and Adversus Macedonianos

Adversus eos qui baptismum differunt and In baptismum Christi

3. Human Transformation and Christology in Contra Eunomium III

The Economy and Restoration of Humanity: Interpreting Proverbs 8

Son(s) of God

The Firstborn and the First-​fruit

Christology of Transformation

4. Spirit-​based Christology in Antirrheticus Adversus Apolinarium

Apolinarius of Laodicea on the 'Spirit' and the Unity of Christ

Anointing in Eternity and the Exegesis of Psalm 44 (45):6-​7

Anointing after the Passion and the Exegesis of Acts 2:36/​John 17:5

Anointing at Conception and the Exegesis of Luke 1:35

Beyond the Antirrheticus adversus Apolinarium: The Unity of Christ, the Spirit, and the Church

5. Tracing the Spirit: Christology in Contra Eunomium III Reconsidered

Spirit-​based Christology in ad Eustathium, de sancta trinitate?.

Tracing the Spirit in Contra Eunomium III

PART II: ANALYSIS OF IN CANTICUM CANTICORUM (c. 391)

6. The Baptismal Exegesis of the Song of Songs

Homily 1 (Song 1:1-​4)

Baptismal Exegesis

Pneumatic Language, Pneumatology, and Purified Desire

The Baptismal 'Kiss'

Power, Activity, and the Spiritual Senses

Post-​baptismal Virtue and the Unified Activity of Christ and the Spirit

Homily 2 (Song 1:5-​8)

Baptismal Illumination

Illumination by Christ and the Spirit

Baptism, Pneumatology, and the Restoration of Humanity

The Spirit as 'Drink' Poured from Christ's Side

Homily 3 (Song 1:9-​14)

Transformation through Baptismal Waters

The Spiritual Senses and the Unified Activity of Christ and the Spirit

Baptismal Exegesis of Christ's Anointing by 'Spikenard'

Unified Activity of Christ and the Spirit

7. Advancement and Ascent: The Unified Activity of Christ and the Spirit

Homily 4 (Song 1:15-​27)

Purification and Advancement to Christ via the Spirit

Seeing the Beauty of God in Christ with the Eyes of the Spirit

Excursus: Sarah Coakley on Romans 8 and the 'Incorporative' Model of the Trinity

Homily 5 (Song 2:8-​17)

The Spirit and the Coming of the Incarnate Christ

Epektasis and Pneumatology

Nourished by Christ and the Spirit

Homilies 8 and 9 (Song 4:8-​15)

Burial and Resurrection with Christ through the Spirit

Baptism and Transformation in Trinitarian Glory

Homily 10 (Song 4:16-​5:2a)

The Mind Ruled by the Spirit

Transformation by the Spirit of Pentecost

Homily 12 (Song 5:5-​7)

The Choice to Be 'Buried with Christ'

Choice, Faith, and Works

Mortification and Vivification as Unified Activity of Christ and the Spirit

Excursus: Baptismal Exegesis in the 'Middle Homilies'

Conclusion.

8. Christ's Pneumatic Body in the Glory of the Trinity

Homily 7 (Song 3:9-​4:7a)

Christ's Pneumatic Body

The Post-​resurrection Glorification of Christ's Body

Excursus: Christ's Pneumatic Body in Hom. in 1 Cor. 15:28

Homilies 13, 14, and 15 (Song 5:8-​6:9)

Christ's Pneumatic Body in Trinitarian Glory

Acknowledgements

Bibliography of Primary Sources

Bibliography of Secondary Sources

Scripture Index

Index.

Notes:

Also issued in print: 2024.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from home page (viewed on September 1, 2023).

Other Format:

Print version: Abecina, Alexander L. Christ, the Spirit, and Human Transformation in Gregory of Nyssa's in Canticum Canticorum

ISBN:

0-19-774596-2

0-19-774597-0

0-19-774595-4