The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus GregoryofNazianzus,knownbestforhisChristologyandTrinitarian 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 oftheimageofGodthroughouthiscorpus.ShearguesthatNazianzen’s vision of the human person as an image of God is understood best in light of biblical and extra-biblical themes. To establish the breadth of hisapproach,ThomasanalysestheimageofGodagainstthebackdrop of Nazianzen’s beliefs about Christology, Pneumatology, creation, sin, spiritualwarfare,ethicsandtheosis.Interpretedaccordingly,Nazianzen offersadynamicandmultifacetedaccountoftheimageofGod,which hasseriousimplicationsbothforCappadocianstudiesandcontempor- arytheologicalanthropology. Gabrielle Thomasisapostdoctoral researchassociateatDurham Uni- versityandapriestintheChurchofEngland,servingasaMinorCanon inDurhamCathedral.HerarticleshaveappearedinScottishJournalof Theology, Studia Patristica, Exchange, and A Forum for Theology in theWorld. The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus GABRIELLE THOMAS DurhamUniversity UniversityPrintingHouse,Cambridgecb28bs,UnitedKingdom OneLibertyPlaza,20thFloor,NewYork,ny10006,USA 477WilliamstownRoad,PortMelbourne,vic3207,Australia 314–321,3rdFloor,Plot3,SplendorForum,JasolaDistrictCentre, NewDelhi–110025,India 79AnsonRoad,#06–04/06,Singapore079906 CambridgeUniversityPressispartoftheUniversityofCambridge. ItfurtherstheUniversity’smissionbydisseminatingknowledgeinthepursuitof education,learning,andresearchatthehighestinternationallevelsofexcellence. www.cambridge.org Informationonthistitle:www.cambridge.org/9781108482196 doi:10.1017/9781108593410 ©CambridgeUniversityPress2019 Thispublicationisincopyright.Subjecttostatutoryexception andtotheprovisionsofrelevantcollectivelicensingagreements, noreproductionofanypartmaytakeplacewithoutthewritten permissionofCambridgeUniversityPress. Firstpublished2019 PrintedintheUnitedKingdombyTJInternationalLtd.PadstowCornwall AcataloguerecordforthispublicationisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary. LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData names:Thomas,Gabrielle,1974-author. title:TheimageofGodinthetheologyofGregoryofNazianzus/GabrielleThomas, UniversityofDurham. description:1[edition].|NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,2019.| Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex. identifiers:lccn2018058432|isbn9781108482196(hardback:alk.paper)| isbn9781108742528(pbk.:alk.paper) subjects:lcsh:Gregory,ofNazianzus,Saint.|ImageofGod–History ofdoctrines–Earlychurch,ca.30-600. classification:lccbr65.g66t462019|ddc233/.5092–dc23 LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2018058432 isbn978-1-108-48219-6Hardback CambridgeUniversityPresshasnoresponsibilityforthepersistenceoraccuracy ofURLsforexternalorthird-partyinternetwebsitesreferredtointhispublication anddoesnotguaranteethatanycontentonsuchwebsitesis,orwillremain, accurateorappropriate. I too am also an eikon of God ... you should worship me Εἰκών εἰμι καὶ αὐτὸς Θεοῦ ... σύ με προσκύνησον GregoryofNazianzus,OnBaptism,Oration40.10 Contents Preface page ix List of Abbreviations xi Introduction 1 1 Beingan Image of God 9 Gregory’s Hermeneutics 11 Christ, the Dynamic Image 14 Imagesand Idols 15 Becoming Divine 25 Ethics and the Image of God 27 TheDevil 29 2 Jesus Christ, the IdenticalImage 35 Theological Context 37 TheIdentical Image of God 40 Image ofGod: Logos or Incarnate Christ? 45 Kenosisand Theosis 51 Conquering Evil 54 3 Creation of the Image of God 58 Creatio ExNihilo 59 Invisible Realm of Angels 61 VisibleRealmof the Image of God 65 Female Images and Idols 77 4 The Image of God and the Devil 87 TheDeviland Demons 88 TheFall 97 vii viii Contents ‘Garmentsof Glory’ 102 The World, the Flesh, and theDevil 105 Resisting the Devil 114 5 Theosis and the Divine Image 118 Speaking of Theosis 119 The Holy Spiritand Theosis 127 Baptism and the Image of God 135 Baptism and the Devil 141 Worshippingthe Image ofGod 147 Conclusion 154 Appendix 159 Bibliography 162 General Index 190 Scripture Index 194 Preface ‘WhychooseGregoryofNazianzus?’IhavelostcountofthetimesIhave beenaskedthisquestion,oftenaccompaniedbyamystifiedexpressionon thefaceoftheenquirer.OnmorethanoneoccasionIhaveaskedmyself, ‘Why have I chosen to spend so many years exploring, translating, and grapplingwiththeworkofthisparticulartheologian?’Likemanybefore me, who have delved into these texts, I resonate with Gregory’s writing. He theologises on Scripture, doctrine, pastoral care, prayer, and faith withinthecontextofhisownexperience.Gregory’sloveofGod,Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, radiates through the pages of his work and is contagious.ThemoretimeIspendinhiscompany,themoreIfindmyself aspiringto be a good theologian. Thisbookrepresentstheculminationofnearlyadecadeofresearch;no readerwouldthankmeforacknowledgingthegenerosityofeveryperson who has contributed to its formation and completion. I am thankful for thefriendsandnear-strangerswhohavegiveninvaluablefeedbackonmy ideas,commentedontranslations,readthroughdrafts,providedencour- agement,and more. Theseedsofthisbookbeganduringmytrainingforordainedministry in the Church of England. Desiring to continue to explore Gregory’s theological anthropology, I pursued doctoral work at the University of Nottingham. During this time, I was funded fully by the Church of EnglandResearchDegreesPanel,theSylvanusLysonsTrust,andStLuke’s Trust. I am grateful for their support, which allowed me the luxury of beingafull-timeresearcher. Mysupervisor,MaryCunningham,wentfarbeyondthecallofdutyat everystageofmyresearchandwriting.Thefellowshipandfriendshipwe ix x Preface shared through reading ancient texts together contributed significantly both to my academic and spiritual formation. My other supervisors, Simon Oliver and Alison Milbank, provided essential, critical feedback whilstdemonstrating what itmeansto be a scholar-priest. Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Ben Fulford, Nick Wilshere, Suzanne Abrams Rebillard, Ian Paul and Mark Cartledge gave particularly helpful advice at various stages of the research. Fr. Andrew Louth, Scot Ray Douglass, Dragoş Giulea, Sophie Cartwright and Alistair McFadyen kindly shared unpublishedworkwithme,whichmadetheresearchrunmoresmoothly. Thanks also to Terry J. Wright, Alex Williams, Carole Schultz, Lavinia Cerioni, and Judy Nesbit. Long conversations with Tarah Van de Wiele prevented me from becoming a curator of the texts. I am grateful to her and her husband Brady for the open door to their home in Nottingham during the two years I was based near London, making trips back andforth. Fr.JohnBehrmadethejourneyfromCrestwood,NewYorktoexam- ine the thesis. I have long been influenced by his work and value his support. Along with Simeon Zahl, my other discerning examiner, he encouraged me to pursue publication; both shared valuable insights that contributed to the revision. I moved from Nottingham to an equally rich and rewarding time at DurhamUniversity,workingasaPostdoctoralResearchAssociatewithin the Centre for Catholic Studies. I am grateful for the funding from the National Board of Catholic Women and The Caulfield Foundation, whichmadethispossible.Duringthisperiod,Ihavecontinuedtodevelop the book, receiving excellent advice from Karen Kilby and Lewis Ayres. EncouragementfromthemensuredthatIsawthemanuscriptthroughto completion(although,isabookeverreallyfinished!?).Mythanksalsoto Beatrice Rehl and the editorial team atCUP. Finally,myfamily.Iamsoverythankfulforamotherandfatherwho raised me to believe that almost anything is possible through prayer and perseverance.Thisbeliefhasservedmewellthroughhittingthetroughsof research, writing, and editing. My sister, whose belief in my abilities far exceeds reality, has refused to collaborate with me when I have doubted my ability to completethis book. Myhusband,Matthew,hasbeenalongsufferingcompanionfromthe dayIfirstenthusedaboutGregory’stheology.Hehasconsistentlycheered meoneverystepoftheway;hehaslistenedtoideas,readcountlessdrafts, and allowed generously Gregory into almost every aspect of our life together.AsanimageofGod, Matthewisindeed‘divine’.Idedicate this book to him.