Gregory of Nazianzus: Animality and Ascent

Chapter 1 examines the theological anthropology embedded in two of Gregory of Nazianzus’ renowned sermons—Oration 28 and Oration 39. Oration 39 takes up the language of the prologue to John’s gospel, but subtly shifts the vocabulary so that the “life” common to all creatures is replaced by a “knowledge” that belongs to humanity alone. Oration 28 narrates two different contemplative ascents to God; one in which animality must be sacrificed and one in which animality is humanity’s point of connection to the divine. Both orations demonstrate that human animality is fundamentally unstable in Gregory’s theological anthropology—both the scapegoat for human separation from God and, although it goes unacknowledged, the model for contemplative union with God.