Both Gregory of Nyssa and Athanasius saw the problem of how can God continue to be all he is with humanity covered in sin. If God sat ideally by as humanity continued to fall then how could he be good? Yet if he saved humanity, then he would not be truthful because he said that humans would be subject to the power of death. And still He would have to decide whether or not his actions are just. So how could He help humanity and still keep his promise? Both Gregory and Athanasius believe that Jesus was the answer but how Jesus is the answer differs between the two.
Gregory of Nyssa believed that Christ was used as somewhat of a ransom. He believed that the devil had a hold on humanity, since humanity willingly put themselves under the devil’s control through our sinning. Being that God is all that is good, he would try to redeem us. He made a deal with the devil, who was the owner of man, He offered Jesus. The devil accepting this offer was tricked because Jesus was merely covered in flesh but was still Christ. And this was justly done because the devil reaped what he sowed and it was in all good because it was for redemption of humanity. Thus God continues to be all that is good and just.
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He believed that the only Word could help save humanity. Jesus being the human word, and since the Word is not able to be tainted or killed was able to take that away from the body. The body died, which was promised by God, taking sin and corruption with it (or getting rid of it) and then risen because the Word is holy and cannot die. Attributing that to humanity, humans are now closely tied to the Word which allows them that same right to rise after death for life ever after. In having this happen, God is still able to remain truthful because what he said actually happens but he also remains good because he saved his