Apologetics
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 60, No. 2 – Spring 2018
Managing Editor: W. Madison Grace II
By Brian Matz. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. 208 pages. Paperback, $27.00.
I was already intrigued by Gregory of Nazianzus before I read this book, and reading it has only increased my interest in him. The organization of the book is simple and clear. The introduction provides a brief biographical sketch of Gregory’s life. Matz states the topic of the book as “Gregory’s pastoral theology of purification and the extent to which it played a role in shaping his selection and use of Scripture” (5). Chapter one looks at Gregory’s work as pastor and theologian. Here, Matz addresses Gregory’s baptism, his move from Athens to Nazianzus, his Constantinople ministry, and the theological issues revolving around the Council of Constantinople in 381.
Chapter two focuses on the theme of purification in Gregory’s preaching and writing. In this chapter, Matz discusses what Gregory means by purification and the different areas in which this theme permeates his ministry. Chapters three through six focus on four Orations of Nazianzus: 2, 45, 40, and 14.
Throughout the work, Matz proves to be thorough in his understanding of Gregory and has shown the themes of pastoring, contemplation, baptism, and concern for the poor throughout Gregory’s works. The work is documented well in the endnotes. At times, I would have liked more direct citations from Gregory, but I finished the book confident that Matz has represented him well.
Readers will be intrigued by the stories of Gregory’s shipwreck (16–17), the influence of both of his parents on his life and ministry (17), his habit of running to and away from home at several points in his ministry (4, 20), his theological departure from his father (21), and his lifelong tension between desiring a contemplative life and obedience to the ministry to which the Lord called him (15, 18). Matz referred to this struggle as his extroverted self vs. his introverted self (36, 53).
Gregory made prolific use of Scripture in his writings. Matz describes his “almost stupefying concoctions of countless biblical citations and ideas” (22) as weaving “the language of Scripture into his text in such a way that it does most of the talking for him” (73). Often, Gregory will start with a topic and find multiple verses that share a common word or theme. Thus, according to Matz, “His own voice is really only found in the passages connecting one biblical quotation, reference, or allusion to another” (128). However, at times, this practice led Gregory into allegorical interpretations and multiple meanings of the text, thereby advocating that the spiritual meaning of the text was more important than the historical meaning (24, 32, 85–86, 98, 128).
Gregory’s impact as a theologian was profound. He was the first to call the Spirit “God” (1, 22, 47). His teaching on the Trinity influenced much of his writing (22, 26, 107–08). He passionately (even against his own father) defended homoousios against the replacement theory of homoiousios (21), argued against apollinarianism (33), and battled the political factions vying for power at the Council of Constantinople (34). As a result, Gregory was elected Bishop of Constantinople, a position that he retained only briefly before returning to Nazianzus because of the continuing political squabbles (35).
Gregory had a high view of the office of a pastor, whose role he equated to that of a physician (128). He struggled to understand questions of theodicy (120, 124), but passionately defended caring for those in need. Matz highlights the theme of purification throughout the book as a conviction for Gregory as well as a theme of his ministry. For Gregory, this purification was to be modeled and taught by pastors (49) and insisted of them by the congregation (68).
This work honestly assesses the person and work of Gregory of Nazianzus. True to his intention, Matz has focused on the theme of purification throughout the work, but also highlighted the impact of this pastor-theologian in ways that ignite an interest in him and an appreciation for how God used him at a pivotal time in the life of the church.
