On the Making of Man, On the Making of Man

On the Making of Man

• On the Making of Man On the.1 — Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, to his brother Peter, the servant of God. If we had to honour with rewards of money those who excel in virtue, the whole world of money, as Solomon says, would seem but small to be made…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.2 — Wherein is a partial inquiry into the nature of the world, and a more minute exposition of the things which preceded the genesis of man. I. Wherein is a partial inquiry into the nature of the world, and a more minute…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.3 — Why man appeared last, after the creation. 1. For not as yet had that great and precious thing, man, come into the world of being; it was not to be looked for that the ruler should appear before the subjects of his…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.4 — That the nature of man is more precious than all the visible creation. 1. But it is right that we should not leave this point without consideration, that while the world, great as it is, and its parts, are laid as an…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.5 — That the construction of man throughout signifies his ruling power. 1. For as in our own life artificers fashion a tool in the way suitable to its use, so the best Artificer made our nature as it were a formation fit…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.6 — That man is a likeness of the Divine sovereignty. 1. It is true, indeed, that the Divine beauty is not adorned with any shape or endowment of form, by any beauty of colour, but is contemplated as excellence in…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.7 — An examination of the kindred of mind to nature: wherein, by way of digression, is refuted the doctrine of the Anomœans. VI. An examination of the kindred of mind to nature: wherein, by way of digression, is refuted…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.8 — Why man is destitute of natural weapons and covering. 1. But what means the uprightness of his figure? and why is it that those powers which aid life do not naturally belong to his body? but man is brought into life…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.9 — Why man's form is upright; and that hands were given him because of reason; wherein also is a speculation on the difference of souls. VIII. Why man’s form is upright; and that hands were given him because of reason;…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.10 — That the form of man was framed to serve as an instrument for the use of reason. 1. Now since our Maker has bestowed upon our formation a certain Godlike grace, by implanting in His image the likeness of His own…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.11 — That the mind works by means of the senses. 1. As the mind then produces the music of reason by means of our instrumental construction, we are born rational, while, as I think, we should not have had the gift of…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.12 — That the nature of mind is invisible. 1. What then is, in its own nature, this mind that distributes itself into faculties of sensation, and duly receives, by means of each, the knowledge of things? That it is…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.13 — XII. An examination of the question where the ruling principle is to be considered to reside; wherein also is a discussion of tears and laughter, and a physiological speculation as to the inter-relation of matter,…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.14 — A Rationale of sleep, of yawning, and of dreams. 1. This life of our bodies, material and subject to flux, always advancing by way of motion, finds the power of its being in this, that it never rests from its motion:…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.15 — That the mind is not in a part of the body; wherein also is a distinction of the movements of the body and of the soul. XIV. That the mind is not in a part of the body; wherein also is a distinction of the movements…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.16 — XV. That the soul proper, in fact and name, is the rational soul, while the others are called so equivocally; wherein also is this statement, that the power of the mind extends throughout the whole body in fitting…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.17 — XVI. A contemplation of the Divine utterance which said—“Let us make man after our image and likeness”; wherein is examined what is the definition of the image, and how the passible and mortal is like to the Blessed…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.18 — XVII. What we must answer to those who raise the question—“If procreation is after sin, how would souls have come into being if the first of mankind had remained sinless?” 1. It is better for us however, perhaps,…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.19 — That our irrational passions have their rise from kindred with irrational nature. 1. For I think that from this beginning all our passions issue as from a spring, and pour their flood over man’s life; and an evidence…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.20 — XIX. To those who say that the enjoyment of the good things we look for will again consist in meat and drink, because it is written that by these means man at first lived in Paradise. 1. But some one perhaps will say…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.21 — What was the life in Paradise, and what was the forbidden tree?. 1. What then is that which includes the knowledge of good and evil blended together, and is decked with the pleasures of sense? I think I am not aiming…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.22 — That the resurrection is looked for as a consequence, not so much from the declaration of Scripture as from the very necessity of things. XXI. That the resurrection is looked for as a consequence, not so much from…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.23 — XXII. To those who say, “If the resurrection is a thing excellent and good, how is it that it has not happened already, but is hoped for in some periods of time?” 1. Let us give our attention, however, to the next…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.24 — That he who confesses the beginning of the world's existence must necessarily also agree as to its end. XXIII. That he who confesses the beginning of the world’s existence must necessarily also agree as to its end.…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.25 — An argument against those who say that matter is co-eternal with God. 1. For after all that opinion on the subject of matter does not turn out to be beyond what appears consistent, which declares that it has its…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.26 — How one even of those who are without may be brought to believe the Scripture when teaching of the resurrection. XXV. How one even of those who are without may be brought to believe the Scripture when teaching of the…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.27 — That the resurrection is not beyond probability. 1. There are, however, some who, owing to the feebleness of human reasoning, judging the Divine power by the compass of our own, maintain that what is beyond our…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.28 — XXVII. That it is possible, when the human body is dissolved into the elements of the universe, that each should have his own body restored from the common source. 1. Yet it may be thou thinkest, having regard to the…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.29 — XXVIII. To those who say that souls existed before bodies, or that bodies were formed before souls; wherein there is also a refutation of the fables concerning transmigration of souls. 1. For it is perhaps not beyond…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.30 — An establishment of the doctrine that the cause of the existence of soul and body is one and the same. XXIX. An establishment of the doctrine that the cause of the existence of soul and body is one and the same. 1.…vatican.va
• On the Making of Man On the.31 — A brief examination of the construction of our bodies from a medical point of view. 1. Now the exact structure of our body each man teaches himself by his experiences of sight and light and perception, having his own…vatican.va