GREGORY NAZIANZEN, ORATION 27: THE FIRST THOLOGICAL ORATION

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GREGORY NAZIANZEN, ORATION 27: THE FIRST THOLOGICAL ORATION

Gregory explicitly directed this oration to the sophists of his time. He clearly called them “those who take pride in their own eloquence”[1]. Gregory with adequate biblical verse refuted not just their method of teaching but also their manner of listening and understanding of things. Gregory in this first oration described the sophists of his time as a group of people that are good only in their bid to exploit people with their deceptive dialectics. They want all their exploits to be spoken about and they have penetrated the annals of their society.
These persons are not fit to philosophize about God for they are not capable. Gregory draws attention to the fact that philosophizing about God is not for everybody who wills. It is to be done by people who are purified in the body and spirit for nothing unclean should tough something clean. The philosophy of God unlike the unguided talks of the sophists of his time is to be done by people who have been prepared for it. As such it has to be done under certain places and limits. Ordinary persons should be audience of it. It should be done in this manner in other to preserve its sacredness.


[1] Stephen Reynolds (transl.) “Gregory of Nazianzus Five Theological Orations” (Estate of Stephen Reynolds 2011)p. 1

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