Baptism and Trinitarian Theology

Abstract This chapter delves deeper into Gregory’s understanding of baptism, and his use of baptismal exegesis to articulate his trinitarian theology. First, this chapter investigates ep. 5, ep. 24, and Adversus Macedonianos, where it analyse Gregory’s arguments for the unity of the trinitarian persons, derived from his exegesis of the baptismal formula. This uncovers what is termed Gregory’s ‘linear’ and ‘circular’ models of trinitarian unity of activity. Second, this chapter investigates two of Gregory’s Epiphany sermons, Adversus eos qui baptismum differunt and In diem luminum, which focus upon the baptism Christ’s as the ‘first-fruit’ of the ‘common lump’ of restored humanity. These sermons, which view Christ as the prototypical recipient of the unified activity of the Father, Son, and Spirit through baptism, help to construct an emerging picture of the underlying structure of Gregory’s doctrine of human transformation and union with God.