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Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.
Gregory Theologian Bilingual Anthology, Resources Online and in Print
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13 Pages
Page 11
XIV. This Spirit shares with the Son in working both the Creation and the Resurrection, as you may be shewn by this Scripture; By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the power of them by the breath of His Mouth; [4261] and this, The Spirit of God that made me, and the Breath of the Almighty that teacheth me; [4262] and again, Thou shalt send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. [4263] And He is the Author of spiritual regeneration. Here is your proof:—None can see or enter into the Kingdom, except he be born again of the Spirit, [4264] and be cleansed from the first birth, which is a mystery of the night, by a remoulding of the day and of the Light, by which every one singly is created anew. This Spirit, for He is most wise and most loving, [4265] if He takes possession of a shepherd makes him a Psalmist, subduing evil spirits by his song, [4266] and proclaims him King; if he possess a goatherd and scraper [4267] of sycamore fruit, [4268] He makes him a Prophet. Call to mind David and Amos. If He possess a goodly youth, He makes him a Judge of Elders, [4269] even beyond his years, as Daniel testifies, who conquered the lions in their den. [4270] If He takes possession of Fishermen, He makes them catch the whole world in the nets of Christ, taking them up in the meshes of the Word. Look at Peter and Andrew and the Sons of Thunder, thundering the things of the Spirit. If of Publicans, He makes gain of them for discipleship, and makes them merchants of souls; witness Matthew, yesterday a Publican, today an Evangelist. If of zealous persecutors, He changes the current of their zeal, and makes them Pauls instead of Sauls, and as full of piety as He found them of wickedness. And He is the Spirit of Meekness, and yet is provoked by those who sin. Let us therefore make proof of Him as gentle, not as wrathful, by confessing His Dignity; and let us not desire to see Him implacably wrathful. He too it is who has made me today a bold herald to you;—if without rest to myself, God be thanked; but if with risk, thanks to Him nevertheless; in the one case, that He may spare those that hate us; in the other, that He may consecrate us, in receiving this reward of our preaching of the Gospel, to be made perfect by blood.
[4261] Ps. xxxiii. 6.
[4262] Job xxxiii. 4.
[4263] Ps. civ. 30.
[4264] John iii. 3.
[4265] Wisd. i. 6.
[4266] 1 Sam. xvi. 23.
[4267] The Hebrew word means "a cultivator of sycamores." The LXX. rendering is due to the process of maturing the fruit, which grows on the stem of the trunk, and is made to mature by puncturing it with an iron instrument, when after three days the fruit is fit to eat. The Hebrew word occurs only this once in the Bible; Aquila renders it by "Looking for;" Symmachus by "propping with stakes."
[4268] Amos vii. 14.
[4269] Susannah.
[4270] Dan. vi. 22.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/gregory-nazianzen/pentecost.asp?pg=11
