Gregory Nazianzen the Theologian Second Theological Oration (XXVIII), Complete

Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow. Cf. An Introduction to the Theological Orations of St Gregory

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Page 13

XX. If it had been permitted to Paul to utter what the Third Heaven [3478] contained, and his own advance, or ascension, or assumption thither, perhaps we should know something more about God's Nature, if this was the mystery of the rapture. But since it was ineffable, we too will honour it by silence. Thus much we will hear Paul say about it, that we know in part and we prophesy in part. [3479] This and the like to this are the confessions of one who is not rude in knowledge, [3480] who threatens to give proof of Christ speaking in him, the great doctor and champion of the truth. Wherefore he estimates all knowledge on earth only as through a glass darkly, [3481] as taking its stand upon little images of the truth. Now, unless I appear to anyone too careful, and over anxious about the examination of this matter, perhaps it was of this and nothing else that the Word Himself intimated that there were things which could not now be borne, but which should be borne and cleared up hereafter, [3482] and which John the Forerunner of the Word and great Voice of the Truth declared even the whole world could not contain. [3483]

XXI. The truth then, and the whole Word is full of difficulty and obscurity; and as it were with a small instrument we are undertaking a great work, when with merely human wisdom we pursue the knowledge of the Self-existent, and in company with, or not apart from, the senses, by which we are borne hither and thither, and led into error, we apply ourselves to the search after things which are only to be grasped by the mind, and we are unable by meeting bare realities with bare intellect to approximate somewhat more closely to the truth, and to mould the mind by its concepts.

[3478] 2 Cor. xii. 2.

[3479] 1 Cor. xiii. 9.

[3480] 2 Cor. xi. 6.

[3481] 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

[3482] John xvi. 12.

[3483] S. John xxi. 25. By a curious slip of the tongue S. Gregory here attributes to the Baptist words of the Evangelist.

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