Christ in the Life and Teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus

Christ in the Life and Teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus is the first full-length book devoted to an overview of the Christology of this fourth-century Father of the Church. Andrew Hofer examines the breadth of Gregory's corpus-orations, letters, and poems (often neglected in doctrinal studies)-to argue that Gregory's writing on Christ can be best understood in tandem with his autobiography.This study begins with an articulation of Gregory's theology of the Word in which words come from the Word who became incarnate. Hofer then offers a close reading of how Gregory writes to or about Christ in the poetry known as 'on himself'. Within a three-part study of 'autobiographical Christology', Hofer explores the philosophical background of Gregory's rhetoric for what he calls the 'mixtures' of Christ and himself. He then elucidates this autobiographical concern in Gregory's famousEp. 101, a landmark text in the Christological controversies. Thirdly, Hofer considers how Gregory celebrates the mysteries of Christ in the festal orations. Before the book's epilogue, a chapter describes how Gregory wrote of Christ for his pastoral ministry. Throughout the work, Hofer demonstrates theimportance in Gregory's writings of the language of blending (such as in the Greek word krasis, rejected by the Council of Chalcedon to describe the Incarnation). This book thus offers a unique perspective on the one known as 'the Theologian' in Chalcedon's acts and in subsequent Christian tradition.

I highly recommend this volume to all students of Gregory the Theologian, of pre-Chalcedonian Christology, and to all interested in exploring the inner quality of the theological, priestly, and pastoral praxis of the Church Fathers, This book is an excellent example of an attempt to read the theology of the fathers in a more holistic way, Hofer has a warm regard for his author, has mastered his extensive uvres, quoting liberally and expounding with detailed commentary several of the Orations and the important letter on Christ. He writes lucidly and un-technically. Beginners and the advanced will learn much ... Hofer has written a good and, it may prove, stimulating book, H.s book provides a provocative contribution to scholarship regarding Gregorys Christology, soteriology and autobiographical writings.

Andrew Hofer, O.P., teaches on the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. There he also serves as the Master of Students for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. Hofer has previously taught at Tangaza College of The Catholic University of Eastern Africa and at the University of Notre Dame, where in 2010 he earned a Ph.D. in Theology.