Saved by the God above Every Name: Salvation in the Theology of Gregory of Nyssa

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the multiplicity of patristic soteriology, that is, early Christian authors’ use of many different images to describe salvation. The existing studies of this topic, however, tend to be both brief and general.

This dissertation contributes to the history of Christian soteriology by offering a detailed examination of the soteriological multiplicity in the writings of Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 335 – ca. 395 C.E.). The dissertation argues that Gregory does not restrict himself to a single image of salvation (such as the ransoming of a slave) but instead employs a wide variety of soteriological images. The dissertation also argues that this style of discourse is an application and extension of Gregory’s theological method of using many names (polla onomata) for the God who is above every name (hyper pan onoma) (cf. Phil 2:9).

Chapter 1 introduces the reader to prior scholarship on the multiplicity of patristic soteriology, highlighting the need for a detailed investigation of this phenomenon in the works of a single author. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the Eunomian controversy and of Gregory’s understanding of theological language. Special attention is paid to Gregory’s method of using many names to speak about the incomprehensible and ineffable God, and it is suggested that this method is best understood as an attempt to imitate the variegated style of Scripture itself. Chapters 3–5 show how the method of naming God with many names is applied and extended in Gregory’s discourse about salvation. Chapter 3 focuses on salvation as a past event, Chapter 4 on salvation as a present event, and Chapter 5 on salvation as a future event. Chapter 6 offers a brief conclusion, recapitulating the main findings of the previous chapters.