thesis

Les petits traites trinitaires de gregoire de nysse temoins d'un itineraire theologique (379-383)

Defense date:

Jan. 1, 1987

Edit

Disciplines:

Directors:

Abstract EN:

Gregory of nyssa has used numerous pages about the question of trinity as it was straight after the death of basil of cesarea (1st january 379). Among these works the little treatises on the trinity form a special group centered on the problematical unity of trinity: how to formulate the doctrine to neither fall into the jewish henotheism nor into tritheism wich is parent to the greek polytheism? further on than the polemics aspect, always in the background, these texts possess a definate speculative research character , particularily in what concerns the theological method (limits of reason, mediation of scriptures). For the first time they are the object of an overall study, which is founded not on historical or dogmatical prejudices but on a detailed analysis of each of the treatises. The date of composition corresponds with the years 379-383 and the chronological order proposed is the following: de differentia usiae et hypostaseos (= ep. 38 of basil); ex communibus notionibus (ad graecos); ad eustathium de sancta trinitate; ad ablabium quod non sint tres dii; ad simplicium de fide sancta. The evolution of the theological thought made clear as such enlightens different aspects of gregory's works, in particular the order of composition of his books against eunomius. The first part briefly retraces the history of problematical trinity before and after nicea (325). The last part offers a french translation of the treatises ex communibus notionibus, ad ablabium and ad simplicium, as well as of two fragments of ad eustathium; a biblical index; the index of basil's and gregory's texts noted or mentioned.

Abstract FR:

Gregoire a consacre de nombreuses pages a la question trinitire, telle qu'elle se trouvait posee au lendemain de la mort de basile de cesaree (1er janvier 379). Parmi ces travaux, les petits traites trinitaires forment un groupe a part, centre sur la problematique de l'unite de la trinite: comment formuler cette doctrine pour ne tomber ni dans l'henotheisme juif, ni dans un tritheisme qui s'apparenterait au polytheisme grec? au-dela de l'aspect proprement polemique, toujours a l'arriere-plan, ces textes possedent un net caractere de recherche speculative, notamment concernant la methode theologique (limites de la raison, mediation de l'ecriture). Pour la premiere fois ils font l'objet d'une etude d'ensemble, qui ne s'appuie pas sur des prejuges historico-dogmatiques mais sur l'analyse detaillee de chacun des traites. La date de composition correspond aux annees 379-383, et l'on propose l'ordre chronologique suivant: de differentia usiae et hypostaseos (=ep. 38 de basile); ex communibus notionibus (ad graecos); ad eustathium de sancta trinitate; ad ablabium quod non sint tres dii; ad simplicium de fide sancta. L'evolution de la pensee theologique ainsi mise en lumiere eclaire divers aspects de l'oeuvre nysseenne, notamment l'ordre de composition des livres contre eunome. La premiere partie retrace sommairement l'histoire de la problematique trinitaire avant et apres nicee (325). La derniere partie offre une traduction francaise des traites ex communibus notionibus, ad ablabium, et ad simplicium, ainsi que de deux fragments de l'ad eustathium; un index biblique; l'index des passages de basile et de gregoire cites ou evoques.