Kirsten Anderson: Christ’s Subjection and Human Salvation in Gregory of Nyssa’s Tunc et Ipse

In his Tunc et Ipse,Gregory of Nyssa addresses the concept of “subjection” (ὑποταγή) as used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:28: at the end, when all things are subjected to Christ, then Christ himself will be subjected to God. This short communication will treat Gregory’s interpretation of Christ’s “subjection,” with a specific view to the relationship he sees between Christ’s subjection and that “subjection” which the Psalms portray as salvation for human beings. Eager to ward off a “heretical” interpretation that would see in this passage confirmation of Christ’s ontological subordination to the Father, Gregory interprets “subjection” in terms of the complete freedom from evil that is found in perfect union with God. He insists that “subjection” does not here mean what it does in ordinary human speech, with its implications of abject servility, constraint, or youthful deference. The correct interpretation of Christ’s “subjection,” as Gregory’s treatment bears out, has both ontological and moral dimensions: not only is ontological inferiority rejected in the case of Christ, but also a subservient manner of relating to the Father. Since Paul puts Christ forward as the “first fruits” of our salvation, Gregory draws conclusions from Christ’s subjection for the "subjection" to God that is proper to, and salvific for, human beings. My communication will focus on these ramifications for human relatedness to God that Gregory sees in Christ’s "subjection."