THEOSISGregory of Nyssa
Thus, when he shed the fear of the people as a heavy burden, he regained his senses and bravely ventured into the depths of darkness, remaining hidden from those who sought to perceive him. By entering into the profound mystery of the Divine, he became imperceptible to others, while simultaneously coexisting with the Unseen. His actions impart a crucial lesson: anyone aspiring for communion with God must detach from all that is visible, directing their thoughts toward the Invisible and Incomprehensible, much like ascending a lofty mountain to believe that the Divine essence resides where human thought cannot reach. It was in such a state that Moses received the commandments from God.
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What does it mean that Moses dwelled in darkness yet was able to perceive God? The narrative seems somewhat at odds with the initial theophany in which the Divine was witnessed in radiant light, while now it is discovered within darkness. This is not beyond the scope of what our elevated understanding can encompass. The scripture suggests that the initial knowledge of godliness is light for those who receive it. Conversely, the antithesis of godliness in the mind is darkness, and turning away from this darkness enables one to experience communion with the light. As the mind ventures deeper with increasing attention, aiming for a clearer understanding of what is truly knowable, it begins to recognize the ineffability of the Divine nature. By abandoning all that is visible—both what is sensed and what is deemed visible by the intellect—one continuously seeks the more profound realities until, through the curiosity of the mind, they penetrate the invisible and incomprehensible, ultimately beholding God. Here lies the authentic comprehension of the sought-after truths; in this realization, we understand that true knowledge eludes us, as the realities we seek transcend all understanding, shrouded in an all-encompassing incomprehensibility. Thus, even the esteemed John, enveloped in this luminous darkness, affirms, “But no one has ever seen God” (John 1:18), emphatically stating that not just humanity but all rational beings are incapable of perceiving the essence of God. Consequently, when Moses ascended to a higher state of knowledge, he acknowledges seeing God in darkness, thereby recognizing that the Divine essence is fundamentally beyond all understanding and comprehension. As it is recorded, Moses witnessed “in the darkness of God” (Ex. 20:21). Who is God? The One who “put His covering over the darkness” (Ps. 17:12), as David declares. In this obscurity, he was initiated into sacred mysteries. For one who has experienced this, the teachings previously delivered in darkness are reiterated, ensuring that, as I believe, this doctrine, affirmed by the voice of God, may be solidified for us. The Word of God first instructs humankind not to equate the Divine with anything that is comprehensible (Exodus 20:4); for any conception based on human understanding and interpretation merely constructs an idol and fails to reveal the true God. Virtue, in the context of piety, is divided into two categories: one pertaining to the Divine nature and the other concerning moral excellence, as purity of conduct is also a dimension of piety. Therefore, once Moses acquired the essential knowledge of God—understanding that one should not presume to know anything about God that can be comprehended by the human mind—he subsequently learns the second aspect of virtue, which involves the practices through which one can attain excellence in a virtuous life.