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Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow. Cf. An Introduction to the Theological Orations of St Gregory
Gregory Theologian Bilingual Anthology, Resources Online and in Print
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20 Pages
Page 11
XVII. What God is in nature and essence, no man ever yet has discovered or can discover. Whether it will ever be discovered is a question which he who will may examine and decide. In my opinion it will be discovered when that within us which is godlike and divine, I mean our mind and reason, shall have mingled with its Like, and the image shall have ascended to the Archetype, of which it has now the desire. And this I think is the solution of that vexed problem as to "We shall know even as we are known." [3460] But in our present life all that comes to us is but a little effluence, and as it were a small effulgence from a great Light. So that if anyone has known God, or has had the testimony of Scripture to his knowledge of God, we are to understand such an one to have possessed a degree of knowledge which gave him the appearance of being more fully enlightened than another who did not enjoy the same degree of illumination; and this relative superiority is spoken of as if it were absolute knowledge, not because it is really such, but by comparison with the power of that other.
XVIII. Thus Enos "hoped to call upon the Name of the Lord." [3461] Hope was that for which he is commended; and that, not that he should know God, but that he should call upon him. And Enoch was translated, [3462] but it is not yet clear whether it was because he already comprehended the Divine Nature, or in order that he might comprehend it. And Noah's [3463] glory was that he was pleasing to God; he who was entrusted with the saving of the whole world from the waters, or rather of the Seeds of the world, escaped the Deluge in a small Ark. And Abraham, great Patriarch though he was, was justified by faith, [3464] and offered a strange victim, [3465] the type of the Great Sacrifice. Yet he saw not God as God, but gave Him food as a man. [3466] He was approved because he worshipped as far as he comprehended. [3467] And Jacob dreamed of a lofty ladder and stair of Angels, and in a mystery anointed a pillar [3468] —perhaps to signify the Rock that was anointed for our sake—and gave to a place the name of The House of God [3469] in honour of Him whom he saw; and wrestled with God in human form; whatever this wrestling of God with man may mean...possibly it refers to the comparison of man's virtue with God's; and he bore on his body the marks of the wrestling, setting forth the defeat of the created nature; and for a reward of his reverence he received a change of his name; being named, instead of Jacob, Israel—that great and honourable name. Yet neither he nor any one on his behalf, unto this day, of all the Twelve Tribes who were his children, could boast that he comprehended the whole nature or the pure sight of God.
[3460] 1 Cor. xiii. 12, but with a reading epignosesthe, which is not in the New Testament.
[3461] Gen. iv. 26. The verb has by some been taken as passive, and not middle, "hoped that the Name of the Lord would be called upon."
[3462] Ib. v. 24, Ecclus. xlix. 14.
[3463] Gen. vi. 8.
[3464] Ib. xviii. 18.
[3465] Ib. xxviii. 2.
[3466] Gen. xviii. 2. Elias Cretensis sees in this occurrence a foreshadowing of the Incarnation; and also with many others, a revelation of the Trinity, in that Abraham saw Three and conversed with One.
[3467] Gen. xxxii. 28.
[3468] Ib. ver. 28.
[3469] v. l. The Form of God, which would refer to the occasion cited below. The reading is grammatically easier, as an accusative is required; but in that case we might have expected the wrestling with the Angel to have been mentioned first, as the name Penuel was given by Jacob on the day following the night in which he wrestled, and received his own change of name. The Benedictines, while retaining House in text and version, express a preference for Form, because the subject of the argument is the Vision of God.
Reference address : https://elpenor.org/gregory-nazianzen/second-theological.asp?pg=11
