The Defense of Nicaea in Evagrius of Pontus’ "Letter on Faith": Observations following the Critical Edition and Translation by Paul Géhin

Abstract

This article analyzes Evagrius of Pontus’ Letter on Faith, a pre-381 defense of the Nicene homoousios written during his service to Gregory Nazianzen. Employing Aristotelian and Platonic metaphysics to refute Arianism, Evagrius distinguishes between theologia and oikonomia to explain scriptural passages suggesting the Son’s inferiority. Preserved pseudonymously to avoid condemnation, the text demonstrates that Evagrian concepts of gnosis and theologia were integrated with Nicene dogma prior to his Egyptian period. Ultimately, the letter bridges Cappadocian theology and Evagrian mysticism, highlighting the philosophical structuring of fourth-century orthodoxy.
This study argues for reintegrating the Letter on Faith into histories of the Nicene reception, revealing how philosophical rationalization structured fourth-century Trinitarian orthodoxy.