Abstract

The article analyzes the teachings of St. Gregory the Great contained in the commentary on the Book of Job or Morals regarding the reasons for allowing man to be tempted by God. It indicates that the thought of this church father is multilayered and depending on various internal states of man and external circumstances, God can use temptations for different purposes. The primary goal is to fulfill God’s justice: the afflictions associated with internal suffering aim to purify the soul from small sins and defects. Although in formulating this thought the author seems to express the doctrine of predestination, the article points to other places of commentary that contradict such interpretations. Another significant task of temptation is to purify man from pride, which is the greatest threat to spiritual growth. Besides these two, there are numerous, less significant goals that this work briefly discusses. The entirety of the work indicates that Gregory the Great sees temptations as a tool that God uses in a planned and orderly manner for the spiritual perfection of believers.