Gregory of Nazianzus Quotes on Knowledge
Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390), one of the three Cappadocian Fathers and known in the Eastern tradition as "the Theologian," gave fourth-century trinitarian doctrine its most influential philosophical formulation in the Five Theological Orations delivered at Constantinople in 380. The framework defends an explicitly apophatic conception of the knowledge of God: the divine essence is incomprehensible to created intellect, and the trinitarian relations are accessible only through the analogical categories that revelation supplies and that the Cappadocian ousia/hypostasis distinction systematizes.
Quotes
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Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus:
“Better to think rightly of God in silence than wrongly in speech.”
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Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus:
“Theology is impossible without prayer.”
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Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus:
“Beware of giving names to God, for he is above all names.”
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Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus:
“The mind that has been illumined by God speaks rightly of God.”
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“Concerning his literary gift, "St. Gregory the Theologian the Archbishop of Constantinople”
I offer this gift to my God, I dedicate this gift to Him. Only this remains to me as my treasure. I gave up everything else at the command of the Spirit. I gave all that I had to obtain the pearl of great price. Only in words do I master it, as a servant of the Word. I would never intentionally wish to disdain this wealth. I esteem it, I set value by it, I am comforted by it more than others are c -
“I am an organ of the Lord, and sweetly... do I glorify the King, all atremble before Him.”
St. Gregory the Theologian the Archbishop of Constantinople -
“St. Gregory the Theologian the Archbishop of Constantinople”
I am an organ of the Lord, and sweetly... do I glorify the King, all atremble before Him. -
“Concerning his resignment from his office as Patriarch of Constantinople, "St. Gregory the Theologian the Archbishop of Constantinople”
Let me be as the Prophet Jonah! I was responsible for the storm, but I would sacrifice myself for the salvation of the ship. Seize me and throw me... I was not happy when I ascended the throne, and gladly would I descend it. -
“First Theological Oration (Oration 27) , IX.”
Philosophize about the world or worlds; about matter ; about soul ; about natures endowed with reason , good or bad; about resurrection , about judgment , about reward, or the Sufferings of Christ. For in these subjects to hit the mark is not useless, and to miss it is not dangerous.