Gregory of Nyssa

This volume of edited papers is the fruit of a seminar on Gregory of Nyssa convened in Oxford in 2016.Aside from the introductory chapter, there are eleven papers from scholars known for their research in early Christianity, particularly of this Cappadocian Bishop of the late fourth century.As the editors point out in their introduction, there is not a common thread joining these papers together save for the shared focus on Gregory of Nyssa.Instead, a group of scholars variously concerned with Gregory's historical, philosophical, and theological setting have been given latitude to present their own research interests.As such, the editors have rightly decided to forego a concluding chapter, as it would prove futile to try to draw these disparate papers together.Readers hoping for a cohesive monograph on some aspect of Gregory of Nyssa's life and work will be rightly disappointed.The trade-off for this disappointment is a collection of engaging papers from recognized scholars in Nyssen studies.The volume opens with some historical chapters.The first essay by John Anthony McGuckin is largely contextual.In his engaging and laconic prose, McGuckin situates Gregory as a hierarch, philosopher, exegete, and theologian.Although Gregory's biographical details (his family, his participation in councils, his travels) are known in broad strokes, the details of various aspects of his life are gleaned in a tentative manner from his own writings

Theology · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Philosophy