Athanasius

Historical Theology 1
Professor: The Rev. T. L. Holtzen, Ph.D.

James Brzezinski
14 October 2009

Athanasius

Life: Athanasius, who lived circa 296 – 373 C.E., was the foremost defender of Trinitarian doctrine during the time of the greatest influence of Arius and Eusebius. Athanasius was educated in Alexandria and became a deacon and subsequently secretary to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria in 323. With Bishop Alexander he attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 and was a very vocal participant speaking against Arianism. In 328 after the death of Bishop Alexander, Athanasius was elected Bishop of Alexandria. For the next 46 years he continued his writing against heresy, attending the councils of the church and defending the catholic faith as declared at Nicaea. During his episcopacy he spent a total of 17 years away from Alexandria after he was forced into exile five times while falling in and out of favor with the governmental and ecclesial leaders over his outspoken theological positions. These political and theological controversies which he vehemently fought against did not keep Athanasius from living an ascetic life while defending the orthodox faith.

The Creed of Saint Athanasius: The statement of belief which can be found in the “Historical documents of the Church” section of the Book of Common Prayer 1979 is titled Quicunque Vult, which is Latin for whosoever will be saved. This creed, which is rarely used, has been found to be based on Athanasius’ teachings but not written by him.

Writings: Athanasius’ extant writings are numerous and include; On the Council of Nicaea, Contra Gentes, De Incarnatione Verbi, Orationes contra Arianos, Festal Letters, and Monastic Letters.

Controversies: The main argument that Athanasius had against Arianism was the fact that the Arians claimed that “Christ is the first created,” that Christ wasn’t from the beginning with the Father, that Christ was created by the Father. This is contrary to the Trinitarian doctrine agreed upon at Nicaea. Semi-Arianism or Eusebianism, also being debated at this time, states that Christ is homoiousios, of similar essence, or like substance with the Father and therefore subordinate to the Father. This is contrary to the Council of Nicaea that agreed that Christ is of the same essence with the Father, and that the Father, Son, and Spirit are of the one, or the same substance, homoousios, coeternal, consubstantial, and coequal.

Primary Sources
Athanasius. Athansius De Incarnatione. 3rd Edition. Edited by Archibald Robertson. Translated by Archiblad Robertson. London: David Nutt, 1901.
—————. The Monastic Letters of Saint Athanasius the Great. Translated by Leslie W. Barnard. Oxford: SLG Press, 1994.
—————. The Orations of Saint Athanasius Against the Arians. Edited by William Bright, D.D. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1873.
—————. The Orations of Saint Athanasius Against The Arians. Edited by W. C. L. Translated by W. C. L. London: Griffith Farran Okeden & Welsh, 1889.

Secondary Sources
Anatolios, Khaled. Athanasius - The Coherence of His Thought. New York: Routledge, 1998.
—————. Athanasius. New York: Routledge, 2004.
Barnes, Timothy D. Athanasius and Constantius - Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1993.
Brakke, David. Athanasius and the Politics of Asceticism. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 1995.
The Church Hymnal Corporation. The Book Of Common Prayer. New York: The Church Hymnal Corporation, 1979.
Cross, F. L., and E. A. Livingstone, . The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3rd Edition Revised. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Dragas, George Dion. Athanasius - Essays in the Theology of St. Athanasius. Vol. 1. London: s.n., 1980.
Meijering, E. P. Orthodoxy and Platonism in Athanasius - Synthesis or Antithisis?1974. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1974.
Pettersen, Alvyn. Athanasius. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Morehouse Publishing, 1995.