The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus

by Gabrielle Thomas

Gregory of Nazianzus, known best for his Christology and Trinitarian doctrine, presents an incomparable vision of the image of God. In this book, Gabrielle Thomas offers a close analysis of his writings and demonstrates how Nazianzen depicts both the nature and experience of the image of God throughout his corpus. She argues that Nazianzen's vision of the human person as an image of God is best understood in light of biblical and extra-biblical themes. To establish the breadth of his approach, Thomas analyzes the image of God against the backdrop of Nazianzen's beliefs about Christology, Pneumatology, creation, sin, spiritual warfare, ethics, and theosis. Interpreted accordingly, Nazianzen offers a dynamic and multifaceted account of the image of God, which has serious implications both for Cappadocian studies and contemporary theological anthropology.

208 pages, Hardcover

Published July 18, 2019

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book on both Jesus as the exact Image of God, and humans as the image of God. Image as ontological reality and a calling to define our actions.

The book contains translations of Gregory's work by the author, and also especially relevant or difficult portions repeated in his original Greek. Gregory Nazianzus was am eloquent writer on the hypostatic union (Christology), the Holy Spirit, and becoming (like/one with) God. He also takes seriously the physical and spiritual world in which we live, including the Devil. All of these themes come to play in Gabrielle Thomas's well-composed exploration of this church father.