A Brief Summary Of Nyssa's On The Baptism Of Christ

In his introduction of On the Baptism of Christ , Gregory of Nyssa indicates that the Feast of Epiphany was a tremendously popular liturgical festival in the fourth century. It is apparent that large numbers were at church: “…when the multitude that can find no place within fills the space outside in the precincts like bees.” Perhaps capitalizing on such a large crowd, it is on this occasion that Gregory decidedly preaches on the significance of the sacrament of baptism. Between the introduction and conclusion Gregory seemingly develops three main themes. Namely these include the efficacious blessings of baptism with a particular consideration of how material objects may be utilized as the means for spiritual blessings; the Old Testament

He offers this list of what can be hoped for from the grace of baptism: forgiveness of sins, a release from bondage of original sin, a close relationship to God himself, and the confidence to speak boldly of the faith. Regeneration is seemingly Gregory’s favorite description of baptism is this sermon because Gregory quotes as his key text the most important baptismal text in the ancient Church, John 3:5: “Except one be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This fundamental text introduces the theme of the use of material means and actions for accomplishing spiritual purposes. In what is an effective homiletical strategy, Gregory rhetorically asks his congregation “…Why does God require water? Is not the Spirit alone sufficient?” Gregory has a well-thought out response when he asserts for the assembly that that humanity is a compound of both body and soul, ergo the combination of the sensible and the invisible is indeed not only appropriate, but sensible. His main goal seems to be to safeguard against the notion wherein one would object to the use of water simply because it is merely a common thing. Gregory emphatically affirms that ordinary things, when they duly receive