The Relationship Between the Holy Spirit and Human Perfection in the Baptismal Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus: Examined with Reference to Christian Arabic Literature

Gregory of Nazianzus (ca. 329-390) is one of the church fathers who played a significant role in the formulation of the Christian faith and the development of Christian theology. He was also one of the theoreticians and practitioners of Christian ascetic life. He was a Late Antique writer who not only expressed his views on Christian education and culture but also took active part in matters relating to these areas. It is possible to say that despite his Theological Orations by which he became the second person after John the Evangelist who was given the title “Theologian” and his active role especially against the Arians during his archbishopric of Constantinople, Gregory has been neglected and seen by Western Christianity only as a Byzantine literary figure. It is interesting to learn that in the 10th century Antiochene Melkite Church, a need arose to introduce or remind the Melkite community of Gregory in Arabic. The texts chosen by the Arabic speaking translators of the Melkite Church to be translated from Greek into Arabic were mainly ethical and intellectual in character. It is important to note that intellect and spirit (and heart) are given equal attention in the emphasis of these texts on human perfection and salvation. As the father of the doctrine of theosis or human perfection, Gregory teaches that the Holy Spirit is the power that leads and even unites with both intellect and spirit. This paper examines the role attributed to the Holy Spirit by the Arabic translations of Gregory’s orations –particularly his Oration on Baptism – on human perfection in the context of Christian Arabic theology and literature