Platonism and Mystical Theology: The Spiritual Doctrine of St Gregory of Nyssa

Platonism and Mystical Theology: The Spiritual Doctrine of St Gregory of Nyssa
Jean Daniélou

In this seminal and classic work, Jean Daniélou examines the spiritual or mystical theology of St Gregory of Nyssa and its relationship to non-Christian, especially Platonic, thought. He strikes a balanced view, asserting that Gregory’s vision is fundamentally Christian, though he articulates himself in Platonic terminology and categories. In fact, Nyssen turns many classical Greek notions on their head, and posits a dynamic and inspiring vision of the spiritual life as an infinite pursuit of the infinite God.

Jean Daniélou (1905–1974) was a world-renowned patristics scholar, theologian, and historian. Platonism and Mystical Theology was his first published book, a reworking of his doctoral dissertation. He is the founder of the Sources Chrétiennes series, which today numbers over four hundred volumes.