Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 27:3 (Fall 2023)
Article: Passover And Passion: Atonement In The Thought Of Gregory The Theologian
Author: Brian Keith Wagers II

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Passover And Passion: Atonement In The Thought Of Gregory The Theologian

Brian Keith Wagers II

Brian Keith Wagers II is a PhD student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky studying philosophy and theology. Brian is currently working on a seven-volume series of lay leadership with College and Clayton. He is a member at Parkwood Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky.

Few theologians have been as influential in the history of Christian thought as Gregory of Nazianzus. In 451 he was given the title “theologian” by the council of Chalcedon, a title that at the time was only held by John the Apostle.1 He is most known for his influence on Trinitarian theology and Christology. While these accolades cause him to stand apart from many theologians in church history, modern scholarship has largely ignored Gregory’s view of the atonement. Even when works have focused on salvation as a whole in Gregory’s thought they relegate the atonement to a large degree and have not considered the role of the law in Gregory’s view. While Gregory is from a time period before systematic theology textbooks or in-depth theological treatises based on rigorous logic, his orations provide a clear picture of the atonement. In this paper I will argue that the law plays a critical role in how Gregory sees the atonement, resulting in a view of Christ’s death as a theocentric sacrifice that turns away sin and allows for the deification of believers. I will argue this primarily through Gregory’s second Easter oration as it is his final and most mature reflection on the work of Christ; however, further reference to other works within Gregory’s corpus will be referenced as well. Once Oration 45 is properly examined, I will offer a synthesis of the work, bringing together the themes that pervade it, and finish by interacting with

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the debate in modern scholarship on Gregory’s view as penal substitutionary atonement.

Oration 45

Oration 45 is Gregory’s second oration on the Pascha and has traditionally been placed at the end of his corpus forming an inclusio with his first oration. While Gregory is best known for his theological orations, it is his festival orations that became incorporated into the Byzantine liturgy. As such, they represent a significant mine of theological treasure. The context of Gregory’s treatment is vitally important. He is not giving a treatise to defend the inner logic of the atonement à la Anselm. Nor is he writing a systematic theology in an attempt to dive deeply into every aspect of the Christian faith. Rather, Oration 45 is given to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, the resu...