Andrew Purves commenting on Gregory of Nazianzus’ view of pastoral ministry. This quote is packed with wisdom. Note especially the last sentence.
Gregory of Nazianzus does not separate theological and pastoral work. He is aware of the distinction between them, of course, for one is the study of God, and especially the Trinity, while the other is the service of God through the pastor’s care for God’s people; nevertheless, the first implies or calls for the second and the second is possible only on the basis of the first. One cannot be a pastor without being a theologian, in the sense of being a faithful and disciplined student of the Word of God. Gregory’s view prevailed for a long time in the church, and probably only in recent times has pastoral work come to have such an ambiguous connection to the church’s theological heritage that psychology and counseling methods rather than the church’s doctrine have come to dominate.
<>
