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The two sermons discussed in this précis were written by Gregory of Nyssa. Both sermons provide an analysis of the power and majesty of the resurrection of Christ.
The first sermon focuses on the event in a very visual manner. Nyssa begins the sermon by discussing the implausibility of the resurrection of all of humanity. He refers to this as the time when “fallen and dead ones” will be brought back to life. There is an overriding theme to this sermon which seems to imply that Nyssa felt that to doubt such prophecy was arrogant. He accuses those who doubt God’s power of being “really dead and past feeling in their minds.” Nyssa does not necessarily expect us to accept these prophecies on blind faith he just believes that sometimes the explanation is beyond us. However, as the sermon comes to a close Nyssa reminds us that if we open our minds and hearts we can see proofs of God’s power everyday. Nyssa writes “For he does not merely promise, but he clearly teaches also by the works which he daily performs that he is omnipotent.”
In the second sermon Nyssa approaches the resurrection from a much more tangible perspective by focusing on the three day period that included the death and resurrection of Christ. Nyssa theorizes that the sacrifice had taken place before Christ was put on the cross. He writes “So when he made his disciples share in eating his body and drinking his blood, already in secret…..his body had been ineffably and invisibly sacrificed…”
With the first sermon he establishes a connection to the opening of the Apostle’s Creed by defending belief in the power of God. On the other hand, the second sermon can be linked to the middle of the Apostle’s Creed because of its emphasis on resurrection.