The Fate of the Unrepentant.
Gregory has written little that deals with eschatology. He
frequently speaks of man's call to "deification," and preaches the necessity of
ascetic discipline. He summons sinners to repentance but mentions the fate of
the unrepentant only in passing. Their greatest punishment will be rejection by
God, and this will be a torment and a "shame to the conscience" that will have
no end. For just men God is light but for the unjust He is fire, and "this most
terrible fire is eternal for the wicked." Possibly Gregory admits that
purification can be achieved after death because he writes that sinners "may
there be baptized by fire. This is the last baptism, the most difficult and
prolonged, which eats up matter as if it were hay and consumes the weight of
each sin." It is probable that he had in mind only the fate of unrepentant
Christians because he also writes: "I know a fire which is not purifying, but
avenging. The Lord sends it down like rain on every sinner, adding to it
brimstone and storms. It was prepared for the devil and his angels and for
everyone who does not submit to the Lord, and it burns up the enemies around
Him." However, Gregory adds that "some may prefer to think that this fire is
more merciful and worthy of Him who punishes." Gregory does not agree with the
extreme position of the Origenists.
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