PREFACE.

Discussion regarding the "Two Natures" Referring to the divine and human natures of Christ. has persisted and will likely continue. Before we address the "communication of attributes," A theological term describing how the properties of Christ's divinity and humanity are attributed to His single person. we must remember that Christ’s mere humanity—as has been recently pointed out Original: Christus Comprobator, p. 99, sq.—is, from the beginning, sinless. He was perfect man. It is not possible to know the attributes of a "perfect" humanity as contrasted with a "fallen" one except by inference; however, no Church Father has discussed this nature of Adam more thoroughly than Gregory in his treatise On the Making of Man.

The reasons for classifying the Great Catechism as an apologetic work are provided in the Prolegomena. Throughout this text, Gregory shows himself to be a genuine student of Origen. A significant early Christian scholar and theologian. He frames the plan of Revelation upon the foundation of human free will; every objection raised against it is answered by the reality of that free will. This plan is unfolded to encompass all of human history; in his exposition, the beginning, middle, and end are indissolubly linked. The Incarnation The doctrine that God became man in Jesus Christ. is the turning point of history, and yet its effects extend to all of Creation. Who created this theology? Origen, undoubtedly; his philosophy of Scripture, based on a few leading texts, became the property of the Church—with one exception. The Church finally possessed a Théodicée (a defense of God's justice) that borrowed nothing from Greek pagan ideas. Thus, everyone who used it was an Origenist, and yet Gregory alone has suffered from this accusation. In using this Théodicée, he surpassed his master in certain points, particularly in detailing the wisdom (sophia) that achieved the true "touching" of humanity, and how the "touched" soul and body shall follow in the path of the Redeemer’s Resurrection.

To the many points of modern interest in this volume, one must add his eschatology The part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and humankind., which occupies a large portion of his thoughts. His work On Infants' Early Deaths is evidence of this. In fact, when he is not occupied with defending the Baptismal Formula on one side or another, he is absorbed in eschatology. He dwells continually on the agonizing and refining processes of Purgatory. However, it is hardly possible to claim him as a proponent of "Universal Hope" The belief that all souls will eventually be saved. in a universal sense, when we consider the passage in On the Soul and the Resurrection where he speaks of a Last Judgment occurring after the Resurrection and Purgatory.

This much has been said in a Preface to show that this volume is at least a step toward restoring a most interesting writer to his true position—a man who was undoubtedly one of the most highly educated of his time, and, let it be noted, a canonized saint (for, unlike his works, he was never branded a heretic).

In this first English translation of treatises and letters—most of which (notably the books against Eunomius) have never been illustrated by a single translator's note and only a handful of scholia—a few passages remain unexplained due to the obscurity of their local or historical allusions. In others, the finest shades of meaning in a Greek word, emphasized in an argument but which the best English equivalent fails to capture, create an appearance of obscurity. Throughout, however, the utmost clarity—without unduly straining the literal meaning—has been aimed at. In passages too numerous to list, I acknowledge with great gratitude the invaluable suggestions of the Rev. J. H. Lupton.

It is hoped that the Index of Subjects will be useful in place of an analysis, where one has not been provided. The Index of Texts, all of which have been strictly verified, proves Gregory’s thorough knowledge of Scripture (notwithstanding his somewhat classical training). It does not attempt to distinguish between direct citation and mere reminiscence; however, care has been taken to ensure that every listed reminiscence is undoubted.

The Index of Greek words (as well as the quotations of striking sentences in the footnotes) has been provided for those interested in the study of later Greek.

W. M.

July, 1892.