Image of Gregory of Nyssa: the life of Moses

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Gregory of Nyssa: the life of Moses

In this work, The Life of Moses, by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, we read in the "Introduction" that "the theme that holds the whole work together [is] the idea of eternal progress." This progress is at the heart of Saint Gregory's spiritual doctrine. Many, including Saint Augustine, a Father of the Western Church, have examined his treatise and have found that his theological framework resembles "that progress" that people strive for, in what has come to be known as "The Spiritual Life." This includes the general points that must be recognized and accepted if one is to make progress spiritually in this world. First of all, we (humankind & individually) were made in the image [the mirror] of God. Secondly, by our fall into sin, this image was tarnished. Thirdly, Christ took upon himself our nature in order to restore us to our original nature. Lastly, through Christ, conversion restores our capacity to reflect the divine nature. The "Introduction" tells us that Saint Gregory sees that, in The Spiritual Life, "There is an incessant transformation into the likeness of God as man stretches out with the divine infinity; there is an ever-greater participation in God." Saint Gregory saw this as evident in the life of Moses. He had already been exposed to similar thoughts about this from the writings of Philo and Origen, who had "described the spiritual life as a succession of steps." In his work, Saint Gregory expresses the idea of infinite progress in the never-completed journey to God towards perfection.

Availability
171111485222.12 NYS gZ. HANDIMANAvailable
Detail Information
Series Title
The classics of Western spirituality
Call Number
222.12 NYS g
Publisher
New York : Paulist Press.,
Collation
xvi, 208p.; 23 cm.
Language
English
ISBN/ISSN
0-8091-2112-3
Classification
222.12
Content Type
-
Media Type
-
Carrier Type
-
Edition
-
Subject(s)
EXODUS (OT) - MOSES
Specific Detail Info
n/v
Statement of Responsibility
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