ThisbookpresentsthefirstmoderncriticaleditionoftheworkofGregoryofNyssa,OntheHumanImageofGod(formerlyknownasOntheMakingofMan,Dehominisopificio)andthefirstEnglishtranslationsincethenineteenthcentury.ThistreatiseisoneofthemostimportantofGregory’stexts.ParallelingthestructureofPlato’sTimaeus,Gregory’sworkbeginsbyofferingtwoanalysesofthehumanbeing.Thefirstpresentsthehumanbeingastheculminationoftheascentmadebynaturethroughthevariouslevelsoflife,andasmade,bodyandsoul,intheimageofGod.Thesecondconsiderswhythisisnotimmediatelyapparent,theneedfortimetobeabletogrow,individuallyandcollectively,tothisstatus,asthebodyofChrist,theimageofGod,andtheroleofsexualitywithinthisgrowth.Thethirdpartoftheworkbringsbothanalysestogether,toseethesamemovementinthelife-spanofeachperson.TheextensiveintroductionprovidedinthisvolumeexaminesthephilosophicalandtheologicalbackgroundofGregory’stext,beginningwithAnaxagoras,Plato(theTimaeus),Philo,andOrigen,andalsocomparesaspectsofGregory’sworkwiththatofIrenaeusofLyonsandMaximostheConfessor.
