Seeking Is Its Own Reward

Gregory of Nyssa, along with his brother Basil the Great and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus, together comprised the 4th-century church leaders known to us as the Cappadocian Fathers. They are credited with defending orthodox Christianity from various heretical challenges as they fought to formulate the definitive Nicene Creed. Fourth-century Asia Minor was a tumultuous place during a tumultuous time in church history when all of the doctrines we take now for granted were then up for grabs. The nature of the Trinity, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the contents of the Bible, the role of the Holy Spirit—all of these were debated publicly in the streets with even fiercer fervor than states now debate gay marriage, fiscal policy, and road construction combined.