|
HOME | GREEK LANGUAGE |
LIBRARIES |
BLOG | HELP | SEARCH | BOOKSTORE | FREEWARE |
|
|
Translated by W. Moore and H. A. Wilson
St Gregory of Nyssa Resources Online and in Print
|
This Part: 128 Pages
Page 27
§2. He then once more excellently, appropriately, and clearly examines and expounds the passage, "The Lord Created Me."
Perhaps that passage in the Proverbs might be brought forward against us which the champions of heresy are wont to cite as a testimony that the Lord was created--the passage, "The Lord created me in the beginning of His ways, for His works [534] ." For because these words are spoken by Wisdom, and the Lord is called Wisdom by the great Paul [535] , they allege this passage as though the Only-begotten God Himself, under the name of Wisdom, acknowledges that He was created by the Maker of all things. I imagine, however, that the godly sense of this utterance is clear to moderately attentive and painstaking persons, so that, in the case of those who are instructed in the dark sayings of the Proverbs, no injury is done to the doctrine of the faith. Yet I think it well briefly to discuss what is to be said on this subject, that when the intention of this passage is more clearly explained, the heretical doctrine may have no room for boldness of speech on the ground that it has evidence in the writing of the inspired author. It is universally admitted that the name of "proverb," in its scriptural use, is not applied with regard to the evident sense, but is used with a view to some hidden meaning, as the Gospel thus gives the name of "proverbs [536] " to dark and obscure sayings; so that the "proverb," if one were to set forth the interpretation of the name by a definition, is a form of speech which, by means of one set of ideas immediately presented, points to something else which is hidden, or a form of speech which does not point out the aim of the thought directly, but gives its instruction by an indirect signification. Now to this book such a name is especially attached as a title, and the force of the appellation is at once interpreted in the preface by the wise Solomon. For he does not call the sayings in this book "maxims," or "counsels," or "clear instruction," but "proverbs," and proceeds to add an explanation. What is the force of the signification of this word? "To know," he tells us, "wisdom and instruction [537] "; not setting before us the course of instruction in wisdom according to the method common in other kinds of learning; he bids a man, on the other hand [538] , first to become wise by previous training, and then so to receive the instruction conveyed by proverb. For he tells us that there are "words of wisdom" which reveal their aim "by a turn [539] ."
[534] Prov. viii. 22 (LXX.). On this passage see also Book II. §10.
[535] 1 Cor. i. 24.
[536] E. g.S. John xvii. 25.
[537] Prov. i. 2.
[538] The hiatus in the Paris editions ends here.
[539] Cf. Prov. i. 3 (LXX.).
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/nyssa/against-eunomius-2.asp?pg=27
