On God and Man: The Theological Poetry of St. Gregory of Nazianzus

Popular Patristics Series #21

by Gregory of Nazianzus, Peter Gilbert (Translator)

St. Gregory of Nazianzus is one of the most open and self-revealing of the Fathers of the Church, and his poetry is remarkable for its personal character. In these poems, he speaks of the joys and frustrations of his own life; he reveals his inner questioning about the purpose and values of life in the face of sin and mortality, and his ultimate faith in Christ as redeeming and reconciling all things. St. Gregory's poetry has often been compared with St. Augustine's Confessions, as showing a peculiarly modern interest in the self. The translations here presented allow the reader to see that self-reflection in its theological context.

While St. Gregory of Nazianzus' poetry has recently begun to appear in English translations, this is the first book to provide an affordable translation of his major doctrinal poems. Included are poems on the Trinity, Creation and Providence, Angels and the Soul, the Person of Christ, Human Nature and poems debating the Christian understanding of marriage and virginity.

Genres: Poetry, Theology, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Philosophy, Spirituality

175 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2001

About the author

Gregory of Nazianzus (Greek: Γρηγόριος ὁ Ναζιανζηνός Grēgorios ho Nazianzēnos; c. 329–25 January 390), also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen, was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople, and theologian. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age. As a classically trained orator and philosopher he infused Hellenism into the early church, establishing the paradigm of Byzantine theologians and church officials.

Gregory made a significant impact on the shape of Trinitarian theology among both Greek- and Latin-speaking theologians, and he is remembered as the "Trinitarian Theologian". Much of his theological work continues to influence modern theologians, especially in regard to the relationship among the three Persons of the Trinity. Along with the brothers Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.

Gregory is a saint in both Eastern and Western Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church he is numbered among the Doctors of the Church; in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches he is revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Basil the Great and John Chrysostom.

He is also one of only three men in the life of the Orthodox Church who have been officially designated "Theologian" by epithet, the other two being St. John the Theologian (the Evangelist), and St. Symeon the New Theologian.

Reviews

[Abigail Burdett]

This book was such a trip 😆the first half I was like wow this is the best most encouraging thing I’ve ever read, St Gregory is my new favorite saint! And then we hit the 30 page poem about virginity and it was all a whirlwind of depression and self loathing from there to the end of the book!
I could write a very long review about this book. I could probably write a big ole paper on it. But even thought it was infuriatingly existential and dismal at times, I still liked it. There were some real Reddit-tier moments in there too, honestly, like when he referred to his brain as a newly molded cheese, to married people as cattle who pant and rage hotly for each other, and to the evil beings on the earth being as such: “demons, minions to the murderous king of evil, languors, shades, ill-boding phantasms of the night, liars, revilers, instructors of sin, bamboozlers, souses, seducers, PARTY ANIMALS, soothsayers, riddlers, warmongers, the bloody, the hellish, the lurking, the shameless, the high imposters…etc etc”
Great book, overall. I read it for my book club and we had a really fun time discussing it.

[CK]

The flavor of these poems is pretty distinct in a way I appreciate. His attitude is deeply self-aware and often brooding, amounting to a Solomon-ish hope in God as man’s only hope in a very bleak world of sin and death. But for all of their focus on man’s quality of being dust, I don’t read any self-contempt or despair in them. In fact, it seems like St. Gregory is actually very hopeful in heaven despite the majority of his words here probably being of lament.

I loved how he described his vision of the wise women inspiring him to a life of loving the Good and also his view of poetry as making hard truths easier to digest, as in medicine for the soul

[Jacob Aitken]

{1} Some have compared this work to Augustine’s Confessions, but that’s misleading. True, Gregory does open his soul to outsiders, and the literary skill is magnificent, but it isn’t nearly as introspective as Augustine’s work. But echoes certainly remain. One theme in this book, similar to that of Ecclesiastes, is the evanescence of life. Gregory ties this with our materiality. Yes, matter is good and created good, but matter’s fallen mode is one of change and flux.

{2} Only eternal things remain.

{3} Of particular importance are Gregory’s stirring accounts of the human soul. The soul has mind and reason (Gregory 82). It is superior to flesh (96). Indeed, it is the very breath of God (lit. “the efflux of the divine Mind, 103 passim).

{4} As we would expect with St Gregory, he displays a high and holy view of God. The Father is “Mind” and the Son is the Father’s intellect (53, 38). The Son is the archetype’s image. Echoing some Neo-Platonic themes, man, indeed creation, proceeds from God and returns to God (157). While he rejects the eternality of creation, nonetheless creation was an idea in the mind of God--and God’s ideas are eternal per the doctrine of simplicity.

{5} Gregory combats pagan ontologies, Paganism is agonistic. If two forces struggle (light/dark; God/chaos), then who/what is the third term that brings harmony (49ff)?

{6} This work ends with one of Gregory’s most famous poems, including the prophetic dream he had of the Two Virgins. (Incidentally, if you are a cessationist then you will have problems with Gregory).

Conclusion:

This work is magnificent. In many ways it is better than “On God and Christ.” Because it is poetry, it is more accessible (if occasionally incomplete in thought). Some lines, even in translation, are simply sublime.

[Dakota]

This book will stimulate meditation, causing you to continually pause and chew on the words of St. Gregory. His theological poetry invites the reader to reflect on the Trinity, Christ, human nature, demonic battles and more. It’s definitely not the kind of poetry grandma Smith will quote in a confirmation card. However, for the reader, this poetry will serve as little notes tucked away in one’s heart. It’s not sappy, but it is sticky. Always sticking to the mind and calling the reader to ponder with Gregory the mysteries of the Faith.

[Leonardo]

This is a difficult set of poetry, but it is very worth reading and contemplating. I find it has a good marriage of the Christian teachings and the Platonic concepts. I can see where the ideas at play for St. Gregory go in the later Medieval era.

[G Sutherland]

Gregory is one of the few Late Antique thinkers who wrote with a profound awareness of self. These poems reflect both his acute grasp of the poetic form and his ability to synthesize complex theological concepts and arguments into persuasive but personal verse. In these poems, Gregory gives us a window into his peculiar character and his love for the things of God and disdain for the things of the flesh.

[Brandon Whitaker]

It is always frustrating to read a poet of a language I cannot read, to know that there is so much extra beauty hiding out of reach. If ever I can be bothered to learn ancient Greek, I'm sure that would be of some real benefit in reading Gregory. Still, what is there to be found in English is rich and beautiful. With so many writers in the early church, I find myself longing to hear a voice like theirs in the modern day; Gregory of Nazianzus is no exception. He is an insightful expositor of Christian theology, but he is also deeply personal, ridden with anguish and struggle which points him invariably to hope in God. When reading his poetry, one gradually uncovers a rich portrait of a man living in a fading, tumultuous, and strenuous world, longing for the permanence and purity of the light of God. His relationship with God, and his understanding of his own spiritual warfare, is powerful and compelling. The melody playing over the whole of his work is a weary hand reaching towards the light, and it is a melody that is both viscerally human and infused with the wisdom of Christ.

[Catherine]

“The sum of it is this: worship the Trinity.”

Shout out to Peter Gilbert for making such distinctive and charming translation choices. In his intro he mentions that St. Gregory wrote poetry precisely because he wanted non-specialists to hear it, and a stodgier or fancier form would have lost that entirely. I loved what he did with these.

[Kyle Ronchetto]

Poetry in translation is always a bit sticky. It often felt as though I were reading versified prose rather than proper poetry, in large part—I believe—due to the translation. As a result, I am sure that much of the strength of these works is lost.

That said, Gregoria reflections on human nature and the soul had some truly stirring moments.

[Tom]

Lovely and difficult. I chose this as bedtime reading, which led to many passages needing to be revisited when I was more awake. This is certainly not St. Gregory’s fault, but it does remind me to choose lighter fare for the evenings.

[Cbarrett]

Favorites:
- On the Two Covenants, and the Appearing of Christ
Line - "man of a virgin mother, so that the whole of him might save the whole of me"
- On Providence
Line - "For, take away Providence, and you take up arms against God"

[Chandler]

A beautiful work of theological expression through the arts. I love Gregory’s ability to reflect on the incomprehensibility of God and God’s work in any topic Gregory discusses.

Interesting takeaways:
Salvation as deliverance from the passions
A dual appreciation for both marriage and virginity

[Caleb Doxsey]

Some of this poetry really spoke to me. As someone who struggles with depression there's a surprising honesty here from one of history's finest theologians that I found very helpful.

[Ephrem Arcement]

Nothing overly remarkable about this collection of theological poetry by this Cappadocian but certainly enough interesting ideas to ponder.

[Guenther]

Deep poetry in the second half. You can see the struggles with depression from a great saint such as Gregory, who had done great things in his life. Humbling.

[cadfael]

Succinct and beautifully written. Doesn't hold back and is not confusing.

[Mina]

wordy and terse poetry. although laden with imagery, metaphors, and other devices, it often reads as a speech rather than poetry. i must admit that I am both aware that precedes the eras I rather appreciate (Blake, Yeats, Dickinson) and that I am biased to the former. However, there are nuggets of pithy beauty - curiously located at the end of most of poems. A few of them struck chords and nerves, but most struck duds and suffered many swift page turns.

Nevertheless, a second read as theology may yield more interest and insight to me. i blame Western poetry for me not otherwise enjoying this anthology.

[John]

Gregory writes poetry as a form of discipline. He recognizes the care that needs to be taken with each word. He realizes that paying attention to meter means that he will write less. But he feels this discipline to be an important outflow of his faith, a means of deeper reflection on God, the human person, the world, and the various trials that come into our lives. As a result, Gregory's poetry reminds me of the need for parameters in my thinking, parameters that encourage contemplation rather than stifle it.

[Charles]

Profound and eloquent theological poetry. The work has an excellent introduction to his poetry as well as probably the best English collection of his poetry. The topic range from poems on the Trinity to poems about his souls journey. Another reviewer wrote if You haven't read saint Gregory's poetry you haven't read him, I wholeheartedly agree.

[G Walker]

I'm not a huge fan of poetry... Much of it I just do not get... but reading this volume was incredibly helpful for me... very doxological and theologically sound... very edifying and personal... Good stuff... a very helpful compliment to his classic Orations... Good stuff, even for a non artistic, uncultured simpleton like myself.