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Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.
Gregory Theologian Bilingual Anthology, Resources Online and in Print
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14 Pages
Page 6
IX. Fifthly, let it be alleged that it is said of Him that He receives life, [3628] judgment, [3629] inheritance of the Gentiles, [3630] or power over all flesh, [3631] or glory, [3632] or disciples, or whatever else is mentioned. This also belongs to the Manhood; and yet if you were to ascribe it to the Godhead, it would be no absurdity. For you would not so ascribe it as if it were newly acquired, but as belonging to Him from the beginning by reason of nature, and not as an act of favour.
X. Sixthly, let it be asserted that it is written, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do. [3633] The solution of this is as follows:—Can and Cannot are not words with only one meaning, but have many meanings. On the one hand they are used sometimes in respect of deficiency of strength, sometimes in respect of time, and sometimes relatively to a certain object; as for instance, A Child cannot be an Athlete, or, A Puppy cannot see, or fight with so and so. Perhaps some day the child will be an athlete, the puppy will see, will fight with that other, though it may still be unable to fight with Any other. Or again, they may be used of that which is Generally true. For instance,—A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid; [3634] while yet it might possibly be hidden by another higher hill being in a line with it. Or in another sense they are used of a thing which is not reasonable; as, Can the Children of the Bridechamber fast while the Bridegroom is with them; [3635] whether He be considered as visible in bodily form (for the time of His sojourning among us was not one of mourning, but of gladness), or, as the Word. For why should they keep a bodily fast who are cleansed by the Word? [3636] Or, again, they are used of that which is contrary to the will; as in, He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief, [3637] —i.e. of those who should receive them. For since in order to healing there is need of both faith in the patient and power in the Healer, [3638] when one of the two failed the other was impossible. But probably this sense also is to be referred to the head of the unreasonable. For healing is not reasonable in the case of those who would afterwards be injured by unbelief. The sentence The world cannot hate you, [3639] comes under the same head, as does also How can ye, being evil, speak good things? [3640] For in what sense is either impossible, except that it is contrary to the will? There is a somewhat similar meaning in the expressions which imply that a thing impossible by nature is possible to God if He so wills; [3641] as that a man cannot be born a second time, [3642] or that a needle will not let a camel through it. [3643] For what could prevent either of these things happening, if God so willed?
[3628] John viii. 54.
[3629] John v. 22.
[3630] Ps. ii. 8.
[3631] John xvii. 2.
[3632] 2 Pet. i. 17, etc.
[3633] John v. 19.
[3634] Matt. v. 14.
[3635] Mark ii. 19.
[3636] John xv. 3.
[3637] Mark vi. 5.
[3638] Note with the Benedictines that S. Gregory is here speaking of our Lord alone, not of ordinary Physicians; hence he uses the singular.
[3639] John vii. 7.
[3640] Matt. xii. 34.
[3641] Matt. xix. 26.
[3642] John iii. 4.
[3643] Matt. xix. 24.
Reference address : https://elpenor.org/gregory-nazianzen/fourth-theological.asp?pg=6
