The Great Catechism

Saint Gregory of Nyssa · the golden age of the Fathers · 41 parts

Parts

• The Great Catechism — Chapter 1 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 6 paragraphsBut since our system of religion is wont to observe a distinction of persons in the unity of the Nature, to prevent our argument in our contention…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 2 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsAs, then, by the higher mystical ascent from matters that concern ourselves to that transcendent nature we gain a knowledge of the Word, by the same…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 3 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsAnd so one who severely studies the depths of the mystery, receives secretly in his spirit, indeed, a moderate amount of apprehension of the doctrine…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 4 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsBut should it be the Jew who gainsays these arguments, our discussion with him will no longer present equal difficulty, since the truth will be made…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 5 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 7 paragraphsThat there is, then, a Word of God, and a Breath of God, the Greek, with his “innate ideas”, and the Jew, with his Scriptures, will perhaps not deny.…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 6 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 6 paragraphsBut you will perhaps seek to know the cause of this error of judgment; for it is to this point that the train of our discussion tends. Again, then,…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 7 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsYet let no one ask, “How was it that, if God foresaw the misfortune that would happen to man from want of thought, He came to create him, since it…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 8 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 9 paragraphsNevertheless one who regards only the dissolution of the body is greatly disturbed, and makes it a hardship that this life of ours should be…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 9 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsUp to this point, perhaps, one who has followed the course of our argument will agree with it, inasmuch as it does not seem to him that anything has…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 10 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphs“But the nature of man,” it is said, “is narrow and circumscribed, whereas the Deity is infinite. How could the infinite be included in the atom?”…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 11 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsShould you, however, ask in what way Deity is mingled with humanity, you will have occasion for a preliminary inquiry as to what the coalescence is…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 12 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsIf a person requires proofs of God’s having been manifested to us in the flesh, let him look at the Divine activities. For of the existence of the…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 13 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsBut, it is said, to be born and to die are conditions peculiar to the fleshly nature. I admit it. But what went before that Birth and what came after…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 14 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraph“Then why,” it is asked, “did the Deity descend to such humiliation? Our faith is staggered to think that God, that incomprehensible, inconceivable,…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 15 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 4 paragraphsEven to this objection we are not at a loss for an answer consistent with our idea of God. You ask the reason why God was born among men. If you take…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 16 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 5 paragraphs“But,” it is said, “this change in our body by birth is a weakness, and one born under such condition is born in weakness. Now the Deity is free from…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 17 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraphBut it will be said that the objection which has been brought against us has not yet been solved, and that what unbelievers have urged has been…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 18 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsAnd yet it is perhaps straining too far for those who do believe that God sojourned here in life to object to the manner of His appearance, as…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 19 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraphNevertheless, since neither those who take the Greek view, nor yet the leaders of Jewish opinions, are willing to make such things the proofs of that…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 20 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsIt is, then, universally acknowledged that we must believe the Deity to be not only almighty, but just, and good, and wise, and everything else that…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 21 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsWhat, then, is justice? We distinctly remember what in the course of our argument we said in the commencement of this treatise; namely, that man was…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 22 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraphWhat, then, under these circumstances is justice? It is the not exercising any arbitrary sway over him who has us in his power, nor, by tearing us…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 23 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsWhat, then, was it likely that the master of the slave would choose to receive in his stead? It is possible in the way of inference to make a guess…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 24 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 4 paragraphsBut possibly one who has given his attention to the course of the preceding remarks may inquire: “wherein is the power of the Deity, wherein is the…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 25 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraphThat Deity should be born in our nature, ought not reasonably to present any strangeness to the minds of those who do not take too narrow a view of…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 26 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 5 paragraphsStill, in his examination of the amount of justice and wisdom discoverable in this Dispensation a person is, perhaps, induced to entertain the…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 27 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 4 paragraphsIt is, then, completely in keeping with this, that He Who was thus pouring Himself into our nature should accept this commixture in all its…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 28 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsBut they deride our state of nature, and din into our ears the manner of our being born, supposing in this way to make the mystery ridiculous, as if…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 29 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsBut they change their ground and endeavour to vilify our faith in another way. They ask, if what took place was not to the dishonour of 496God or…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 30 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsIf, however, any one thinks to refute our argument on this ground, that even after the application of the remedial process the life of man is still…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 31 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 2 paragraphsYet, even in their reply to this, or the like, they are not at a loss for a contentious rejoinder. For they assert that God, if He had been so…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 32 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 6 paragraphsWhat other objection is alleged by our adversaries? This; that (to take the preferable view) it was altogether needless that that transcendent Being…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 33 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsFor when they have heard from us something to this effect—that when the mortal passes into life it follows necessarily that, as that first birth…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 34 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 3 paragraphsBut they ask for proof of this presence of the Deity when invoked for the sanctification of the baptismal process. Let the person who requires this…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 35 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 7 paragraphsBut the descent into the water, and the trine immersion of the person in it, involves another mystery. For since the method of our salvation was made…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 36 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraphFor common sense as well as the teaching of Scripture shows that it is impossible for one who has not thoroughly cleansed himself from all the stains…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 37 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 6 paragraphsBut since the human being is a twofold creature, compounded of soul and body, it is necessary that the saved should lay hold of the Author of the new…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 38 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 1 paragraphThere is now, I think, wanting in these remarks no answer to inquiries concerning the Gospel mystery, except that on Faith; which we give briefly in…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 39 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 4 paragraphsFor, while all things else that are born are subject to the impulse of those that beget them, the spiritual birth is dependent on the power of him…
• The Great Catechism — Chapter 40 (Gregory of Nyssa) · 5 paragraphsBut, as far as what has been already said, the instruction of this Catechism does not seem to me to be yet complete. For we ought, in my opinion, to…
• The Great Catechism — Summary. (Gregory of Nyssa) · 11 paragraphsThe Great Catechism. ———————————— Prologue and Chapter 1.—The belief in God rests on the art and wisdom displayed in the order of the world: the…