Digital Logos Edition
Athanasius of Alexandria stands as a pillar of the Christian faith—a hero of Christianity during a time of widespread heresy and political fear. From a time even before Arianism spread until the end of his days, Athanasius fought tooth-and-nail to preserve the teachings of the Trinity and the Incarnation. As Arianism grew, he found himself among a minority of those defending these doctrines, causing him to be publicly anathematized in his own hometown and exiled on six separate occasions.
Athanasius’ involvement at the Council of Nicaea and his writings on the Trinity—particularly on the nature of Christ—eventually won the day. In the light of Athanasius’ arguments and historical references, “the world was thunderstruck with astonishment at suddenly finding itself Arian,” Jerome explained. This collection provides scholarly translations of his writings, biographies of his life and his trials, and dissertations on the historical difficulties of the subject.
The Logos Bible Software edition of the Life and Works of Athanasius the Great is designed to enhance and accelerate your study. The Logos editions are fully searchable and easily accessible. Scripture passages link directly to your preferred English translation and to the original-language texts, and important concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. In addition, you can perform powerful searches by topic and find what other authors, scholars, and theologians have to say about the Incarnation, the Trinity, Arianism, and much more.
Athanasius of Alexandria (ca. 296–373) was the twentieth bishop of Alexandria. Also known as Athanasius the Great, Athanasius is considered a renowned Christian theologian, a Church Father, and a noted Egyptian leader of the fourth century. Venerated by the Roman Catholic Church, the Oriental and Eastern Churches, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion, he is celebrated with various high-level honorifics across all of these Christian traditions, including “Father of Orthodoxy” in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Doctor of the Church in the Catholic tradition, and “Father of the Canon” among Protestants. He is remembered primarily for his conflict with Arianism—a theological conflict which he spent the majority of his life fighting.
Well educated, Athanasius was familiar with classical Greek philosophy, citing Plato, Aristotle, Homer, and others, and drawing his exegesis primarily from the Septuagint. His main writings, Against the Heathen and The Incarnation of the Word of God, constitute the first developed Orthodox theology. He had an affection toward the monastic lifestyle, demonstrated by his writings (especially his biography of Anthony the Great).
Of Athanasius of Alexandra, it has been said, “To commend him is to commend virtue itself; he was the pattern for bishops, and his doctrine the rule of orthodoxy; he was an eye and a light to the world, the pillar of the faith, and a second John the Baptist.” (Gregory Nazianzen)
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