Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Gregory of Nazianzus: on Christ's two natures (III)


... he needed flesh for the sake of the flesh which had incurred condemnation, and soul for the sake of our soul, so, too, he needed mind for the sake of mind, which not only fell in Adam, but was the first to be affected... For that which received the command was that which failed to keep the command, and that which failed to keep it was that also which dared to transgress; and that which transgressed was that which stood most in need of salvation; and that which needed salvation was that which also he took upon him.

[Gregory of Nazianzus, Epistle 101]
To read more from Gregory, start with his letters on the Apollinarian controversy. His opponents denied the full humanity of Christ by saying that, while Jesus had a human body and soul, he did not have a human mind.

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