An exploration into the life and thought of Gregory of Nazianzus through exposition regarding his orations on purification.

The author has done much work in terms of understanding Gregory and his discussions of purification, etc., and that emphasis is seen strongly in this work. Perhaps a bit too strongly; I recognize that this series, having different authors, will have different emphases, but in comparison with the volume on Basil of Caesarea, this volume is very light on information regarding Gregory of Nazianzus. The first chapter covers his life in general and some of his relationships; the rest of the text is devoted to the discussions of orations on purification.

It is interesting to read this in tandem with Hans von Campenhausen's take on Gregory. Von Campenhausen speaks terribly ill of Gregory, seeing him as irresponsible and more of a Greek philosopher. Matz can't escape the facts regarding Gregory's tendency to run away from pastoral responsibility, and certainly allows the man to give himself the benefit of the doubt in terms of one of his orations on purity, that he is not sufficiently pure to handle the work. Matz certainly brings out the Platonic, nearly if not Gnostic hostility toward the flesh and desire to yearn unto divinity as pure spirit seen in these purification orations, yet without the necessary Christian judgment on them.

If you want to learn more about purification as theme in Gregory of Nazianzus, this is your book. About Gregory himself? Not nearly enough present.