As a result of a long-term privilege of the historical-philological approach that frequently predisposes scholars to question theological texts chiefly within the Christian theological framework and to make little of other relevant contexts, investigation of the epistemological theories of the Christian authors is seldom a topic of the patristic studies. For instance, the epistemological teaching of such a prominent Christian authors as Origen, Basil of Caesarea, Eunomius and Gregory Nazianzen, has not been sufficiently investigated. I problematize this status quo and I suggest that it is necessary to study the heritage of the mentioned authors with regard to the institutional and socio-cultural trends of Late Antiquity as well as relevant historical events and scientific and philosophical discussions.
In such a way, I found it beneficial to inspect an impact of the contemporary philosophical and scientific discussions on Gregory’s thought as well as of the educational trends and the socio-cultural controversies pushed forward by the legalization of Christianity and the social policy of Julian the Emperor. Viewed in the light of epistemological discussions the theological orations show a new anthropological and cognitive strand of Gregory’s teaching and also reveal a remarkable Peripatetic aspect of his doctrine.
My study comprises two major parts. The first part provides an introduction to those aspects of Hellenic social life and culture (libraries, schools, scriptoria) which are relevant to the formation of the Christian paideia and biblical exegesis. It also surveys the notions of Peripatetic and Stoic logic, linguistics and grammar and shows how these terms and conceptions were adopted by Origen, Eunomius, Basil and Gregory in their theological argumentation. On the whole, the purpose of the first part is to sketch a comprehensive background for the discussions about knowledge, language and intellection, which featured in the doctrines of the mentioned authors and occasioned the composition by Gregory Nazianzen of his theological orations.
The second part of the monograph illuminates the crucial clusters of epistemological, linguistic and ontological puzzles which resound throughout the theological orations of Gregory Nazianzen (written in reaction to Eunomian teaching); it also shows in what way the epistemological and cognitive theories that had emerged in Hellenic philosophy penetrated Gregory’s theological discourse and shaped his anthropological, Christological and Trinitarian teaching.
A principal methodological challenge introduced into theology by Origen and the Cappadocian fathers was that they ventured exploration and explication of the topical theological matters in the terms of contemporary science and philosophy instead of merely teaching ex cathedra some unexplainable divine doctrines. They took advantage of the logical, linguistic, cognitive and philosophical discourses and applied the relevant notions and terms to the interpretation of the biblical narrative and formulation of the theological doctrines. I hope that the results of my investigation that soon will be published in my book and articles will provoke further questioning and investigation of the epistemological theories of the patristic authors within their relevant multidimensional contexts.
