Theological Term of the Week: Cappadocian Fathers

Cappadocian fathers
“The great 4th Century fathers Basil of Caesarea (330-79), Gregory of Nyssa (335-94) and Gregory of Nasianzus (330-90).All three were native of the province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor. They were the key figures in the final defeat of Arianism in the Church..”1 

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 220: 

The Cappadocian father rank alongside Athanasius as the outstanding Eastern theologians of the 4th Century. Their writings and personal influence brought about a final union between the Nicene and Origenist parties. The Cappadocians achieved this by persuading both sides to use a new theological language. The problem centred on two Greek words, hypostasis and ousia. Up till then, these two words had meant much the same thing in the Greek language. This caused great theological confusion, because when the Nicenes said that the Father and Son had one divine nature or essence, they expressed it by saying that Father and Son have one hypostasis. and one ousia. However, when the Origenists said that the Father and Son were two distinct persons, they used exactly the same words, and said that Father and Son were two hypostases and two ousiai.

To get rid of this divisive confusion, the Cappadocians (led by Basil) made two proposals: (i) The word ousia should from now on refer specifically to the one divine nature or essence, as the Nicenes said; but (ii) the word hypostasis should refer specifically to the two distinct persons of Father and Son, as the origenists said.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who were the Cappadocian Fathers?
2. 5 Minutes in Church History: The Three Cappadocians
3. The Center for Baptist Renewal: Meet the Cappadocian Fathers

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Athanasius
• Basil of Caesarea
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Justin Martyr
• Origen
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Theological Term of the Week: Gregory of Nyssa

Gregory of Nyssa
One of the Cappadocian fathers, brother of Basil of Caesarea, bishop of Nyssa, and one of the Eastern Church’s “outstanding theologians and teachers on the spiritual live.”1 He lived from 335-394. 

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham:

Among Gregory’s anti-Arian writings were his Against Eunomius, his Sermons on the Holy Spirit against the Spirit-fighting Macedonians, and his Letter to Ablabius that there are not Three Gods. The Eastern Church soon came to recognise him as on of their outstanding theologians and teachers on the spiritual life. His fame as an opponent of Arianism was so great that the assembled father of the Council of Constantinople asked Gregory to deliver the opening address. Gregory’s overflowing admiration for Origen led him to accept Origen’s doctrine of universal salvation; later theologians tried to rescue Gregory’s orthodoxy by arguing that other followers of Origen had inserted into Gregory’s writings the passages which teach universalism, but there is no evidence for this, and the passages are too numerous. The more realistic attitude taken by others was that Gregory of Nyssa was a holy man and a great theologian who had sadly erred on this particular point.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Gregory of Nyssa? and Who were the Cappadocian Fathers?
2. Theopedia: Gregory of Nyssa
3. Credo Magazine: Gregory of Nyssa

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Athanasius
• Basil of Caesarea
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Justin Martyr
• Origen
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Theological Term: Gregory of Nazianzus

Gregory of Nasianzus
One of the Cappadocian fathers, best friend of Basil of Caesarea, presbyter in his home church of Nanzianzus, bishop of Constantanople, and one of the Eastern Church’s “most eloquent preacher[s] in the age of the early Church fathers.”1 He lived from 330-390. Also known as Gregory the Theologian.

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham:

Active church live, however, was not really to Gregory’s liking; he was a sensitive, inward-looking person, who preferred writing poetry in solitude to the vicious cut-and-thrust of fighting Arians in the public arena of Church politics and theological debate. Despite, this, in 379-81 Gregory was briefly bishop of the little Catholic congregation in the Eastern capital, Constantinople, where Arianism reigned supreme. Here Gregory’s Five Theological Orations brilliantly summed up the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity, refuted Arianism, and attracted large numbers to Gregory’s church, winning them over to the Nicene faith.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Gregory of Nanziansus? and Who were the Cappadocian Fathers?
2. Theopedia: Gregory of Nanzianzus
3. Credo Magazine: Gregory of Nanzianzus

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Athanasius
• Basil of Caesarea
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Justin Martyr
• Origen
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.