Gregory of Nyssa: Homilies on the Song of Songs

Writings from the Greco-Roman World #13

by Gregory of Nyssa, Richard A. Norris Jr. (translator)

Gregory of Nyssa’s fifteen homilies on the Song of Songs offer an important resource for the history of Christian biblical exegesis, as well as for the history of Christian ascetical and spiritual teaching, and stand alongside Origen’s commentary on the Song as a source for the later interpretative tradition. In addition to offering the original text and first English translation of all fifteen homilies, Norris provides an analysis of the characteristic themes of Gregory’s ascetical teaching, emphasizes its connection in his mind with the institution of baptism, and stresses the degree to which Gregory sees the teaching of the Song as addressed not to a special class of believers but to any and all Christians.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity, Christian

517 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1986

About the author

Gregory of Nyssa was a Christian bishop and saint. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great and a good friend of Gregory Nazianzus. His significance has long been recognized in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity.

Gregory along with his brother Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzus are known as the Cappadocian Fathers. They attempted to establish Christian philosophy as superior to Greek philosophy.

Reviews

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Not only does Gregory inspire worship with his contemplations on the beatific vision and the Church's fitting adoration for Christ, he also (thereby) offers a powerful defense of spiritual exegesis.

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very important sections in these fifteen homilies which bear a significant weight on the subsequent mystical tradition of Christian spirituality.

[Wyatt Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and brilliant in every way.

[Aaron White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic and epic allegorical understanding of Song of Solomon, considered by many of the early Theologians as the pinnacle of Biblical wisdom. Song of Solomon represents the Union of theosis, the end goal of all Christian life, and Gregory goes through the book symbol by symbol showing how they all lead to that conclusion.

[w gall · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Gregory of Nyssa uses typology to interpret this book. Some of his efforts seemed a stretch to me. He rules out the literal meaning altogether, setting at odds flesh and soul, material and immaterial to a degree beyond that of most of the Church Fathers. Its all about the Church and Christ and the struggle for virtue and death to evil.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

St Gregory's commentary on the Song of Songs is important because it shows how Patristic writers tried to makes sense of the Old Testament and use it as Christian documents. The monastically oriented Patristic writers were confounded by this erotic poem in Scripture. They were arguing that the Old Testament was authored in some fashion by God, yet here was this tantalizing love song and how do you rescue it for Christian use? They allegorized it into a description of the soul's journey to God. We learn how these writers made sense of a writing that was awkward for people touting virginity and celibacy. The book's footnotes are valuable as they show how different Patristic writers allegorized the Song of Songs - they don't agree on the details and sometimes come to contradictory conclusions about specific passages. Yet, they hold to the principle that the text means something, it is a text whose author is God, and they spiritualize it to conform to Christian monastic ideals. Gregory admits that he has a framework or perspective for interpretation and he is trying to show that the Song can fit his interpretation (which is what all the Patristic writers did with the text). He was willing to use alternate translations when it fit his needs, and even willing to admit that sometimes the text is so obscure that one has to alter the text a bit to fit the interpretation. It gives good insight into how the Patristic writers viewed the Scriptures and understood their role as interpreters. The Song forced them to move beyond literalism and fundamentalism and to think mystically, spiritually and allegorically. One can see the problems with allegory as well as it does allow you to make the Scriptures very malleable and to be shaped to fit one's interpretation - the fact that Patristic writers disagree on the details of interpretation does show how allegorizing quickly becomes eisegesis (reading a meaning into a text) rather than exegesis (drawing the meaning out of the text). Gregory also is well aware that the text is erotic and chastises his listeners to grow up and get their minds out of the gutter when reading these texts - they can't mean sexually erotic things as that is beneath God's dignity. Sometimes he sounds like a middle school sex ed instructor navigating through tittering teenagers. There are some profound thoughts in Gregory's interpretation as well, but overall it is about his trying to force this text to fit his interpretation. It is his treatment of the Scriptures and a possible way of interpretataion that makes his text important.

[Eric Daryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best translation; but the best translation available.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for understanding how the early church understood the song of songs. it also is a good resource to read the Greek side by side with the English.