Deity of the Holy Spirit Gregory of Nazianzus

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the pneumatology of Gregory of Nazianzus which aims particularly to discover the grounds in his thinking for his strong and forthright assertion of the deity of the Holy Spirit.

Three areas of his pneumatology are considered. First, from the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian, it is Gregory's conviction that only if he is God can the Holy Spirit bring Christians to that true knowledge of God which transforms them. Secondly, from his work in the intelligent creation, In the prophets, with Christ, and in the disciples and the Church, the Holy Spirit is seen to be the Creator and the one who re-creates and perfects intelligent life. His distinction from the Father and the Son is known from his coming, sent by the Father, at Pentecost, so that in the unfolding of the divine economy the Trinity is gradually revealed. Thirdly, Gregory's understanding of the Spirit is seen within the context of his doctrine of the Trinity. For Gregory, Christian devotion is centred on the Trinity, whose threefold Light illuminates the mind. The truth of the Trinity can only be expressed in the paradox of the Three-yet- One. Since God the Holy Trinity is one Being, the Holy Spirit is not merely one who shares divine nature. Rather he is God Himself. But on the other hand he is distinct from the Father and the Son with his own personal identity. As a way of expressing and safeguarding this distinction which has been revealed in the economy we say that whereas the Father is the Unbegotten and the Son is the Begotten, the Spirit is the Proceeding One. Gregory believed that the Spirit's deity should be openly confessed. The study therefore shows that Gregory's belief in the deity of the Holy Spirit Is rooted in each of these major areas of his theology. It is integral to his whole Christian faith.