Gregory Nazianzen the Theologian In Defence of His Flight to Pontus and His Return, After His Ordination to the Priesthood, with an Exposition of the Character of the Priestly Office (Oration II), Complete

Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.

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Page 12

24. This is why the new was substituted for the old, [2598] why He Who suffered was for suffering recalled to life, why each property of His, Who was above us, was interchanged with each of ours, why the new mystery took place of the dispensation, due to loving kindness which deals with him who fell through disobedience. This is the reason for the generation and the virgin, for the manger and Bethlehem; the generation on behalf of the creation, [2599] the virgin on behalf of the woman, [2600] Bethlehem [2601] because of Eden, the manger because of the garden, small and visible things on behalf of great and hidden things. This is why the angels [2602] glorified first the heavenly, then the earthly, [2603] why the shepherds saw the glory over the Lamb and the Shepherd, why the star led the Magi to worship and offer gifts, [2604] in order that idolatry might be destroyed. This is why Jesus was baptized, [2605] and received testimony from above, and fasted, [2606] and was tempted, and overcame him who had overcome. This is why devils were cast out, [2607] and diseases healed, and the mighty preaching was entrusted to, and successfully proclaimed by men of low estate.

25. This is why the heathen rage and the peoples imagine vain things; [2608] why tree [2609] is set over against tree, [2610] hands against hand, the one stretched out in self indulgence, [2611] the others in generosity; the one unrestrained, the others fixed by nails, [2612] the one expelling Adam, the other reconciling the ends of the earth. This is the reason of the lifting up to atone for the fall, and of the gall for the tasting, and of the thorny crown for the dominion of evil, and of death for death, and of darkness for the sake of light, and of burial for the return to the ground, and of resurrection for the sake of resurrection. [2613] All these are a training from God for us, and a healing for our weakness, restoring the old Adam to the place whence he fell, and conducting us to the tree of life, [2614] from which the tree of knowledge estranged us, when partaken of unseasonably, and improperly.

[2598] Heb. viii. 8-13.

[2599] Lit. "of the formation"—the substantive here corresponds to the verb in Gen. ii. 7 (LXX.).

[2600] Gen. ii. 7.

[2601] S. Luke ii. 7.

[2602] S. Luke ii. 14.

[2603] 1 Cor. xv. 49.

[2604] S. Matt. ii. 9, 11.

[2605] S. Matt. iii. 13, 17.

[2606] S. Matt. iv. 2.

[2607] S. Matt. x. 7, 8.

[2608] Ps. ii. 1.

[2609] Gen. iii. 3. Why tree, &c. A striking contrast of the means of Redemption by the Cross of Christ with the circumstances of the Fall.

[2610] S. John xix. 17.

[2611] Gen. iii. 6-23.

[2612] S. Matt. xxvii. 35.

[2613] For the sake of resurrection. One translator carries on the contrast, and renders "to atone for the insurrection," sc. of Adam. The preposition huper seems decisive against this.

[2614] Rev. ii. 7; xxii. 14.

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