A

Small Man with a Loud Life

Athanasius of Alexandria



George Velazco
Calvary Chapel Bible College
Church History Fall 2015
Character Study
Larry Powers

The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, is still the religion of

Protestants: and the self-same truth which moved the lips of Chrysostom, the old
doctrine that ravished the heart of Augustine, the old faith which Athanasius
declared, the good old doctrine that Calvin preached, is our gospel now, and God
helping us, we will stand by it till we die. - C. H. Spurgeon, May 27, 1855

From Inerrancy to Heresy

In the fourth century, amongst the early church heroes of the Christian faith,

there lived an African man from Alexandria, Egypt, named Athanasius. Athanasius is
a very important figure in church history because he took a stand for the truth of
who Jesus is - the Word incarnate. Amongst the list of accomplishments Athanasius
was the Bishop of Alexandria for over 40 years, he stood before governors and
heretics proclaiming the truth, he was exiled 6 times, and he wrote several notable
books and letters that are recorded in history.
Athanasius was born between 295-299 AD and died on the 2nd of May, 373
AD. Ethnically he was Coptic, meaning Egyptian, but lived culturally as a Greek. It is
said that he was raised in wealthy Christian family and was passionate about the
inerrant and holy scriptures growing up. It is also believed he went to a famous
Alexandrian school influenced by Origen and earlier church fathers. He studied the
Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, he was fluent in Greek, but he was
unlearned in the Hebrew language.

Under the leadership of Bishop Alexander of Alexandria Athanasius learned

about the scriptures, the ministry, and tenants of the faith. He succeeded Alexander
as Bishop in 328 AD. Alexanders assistant Rufinus is believed to have written an
account of how one day Alexander saw boys playing by the seashore but reenacting
the rite of Christian baptism. He found that young Athanasius had been acting as
lead Bishop performing the baptisms. Rufinus records that Alexander rebuked them
and ordered the young men to be trained properly in the ministry. Whether the
story is true is subject to question, but there is no doubt God had a special calling on
young Athanasius.
Between 319-325 AD a presbyter in Alexandria named Arius began to teach
heresy and gather men to himself. Arianism was birthed which believed that Jesus,
being a Son, must have had a beginning, and thus was created by God the Father and
not eternal. Arius was influenced by the heretical teaching of Lucian of Antioch and
Paul of Samosata. Alexander and others Bishops condemned Ariuss heresy and
excommunicated him from the Church. Persistent in his doctrine Arius still
circulated his heresy amongst the people.
Seven emperors governed Rome through out Athanasiuss life span. During
the time Athanasius was born the Roman emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD) was
persecuting the Church heavily. It was the famous emperor Constantine who
Athanasius opposed on the issue of Arius and the Arian heresy. To mock Athanasius
he was given the nickname Black Dwarf because of his short stature and dark skin.
The Emperor Julian the Apostate even went so far as to call him hardly a man, only
a little manikin. Despite the opposition from his enemies he is known in history as

Athanasius contra mundum meaning against the world in Latin. He is quoted as

saying if it is the world against Athanasius, then it is Athanasius against the world.

The Council of Nicea

In 325 AD, three hundred overseers and deacons gathered together in Nicea

where the empire Constantine had called a meeting concerning Arius and the
division in the church. The Nicene council tested Arius doctrine against scripture
and in deliberating found Arius to be theologically wrong. Eusebius of Cesarea
proposed a creed, taken from his own church, and it was reformatted by the leaders
to become what is known in church history as the Nicean Creed.
The Nicene Creed essentially affirmed that there is One God, that Jesus is God,
the only begotten of the Father, not made or created, and of the same substance,
homoousian, as the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the end, all but two church
leaders signed the creed condemning the Arian heresy. The emperor Constantine
approved the creed and ordered the banishment of Arius. By this time Athanasius
was in his late 20s and serving as a Deacon under Alexander. He had already
written two notable works Against the Heathen, and On the Incarnation
affirming the deity of Christ.
A short time later Alexander died and Athanasius became the new Bishop.
Historians record that while on his deathbed Alexander called for Athanasius saying,
You think to escape, but it cannot be (earlychurch.org). Athanasius had been away
from Alexandria at that time and it is believed that Athanasius didnt want the

position of Bishop. The leaders and people of the Alexandrian church insisted that
Athanasius take up the mantle.

Athanasius as Bishop

Athanasius began his episcopate in 328 AD and with the exception of his time
in exile and the attempts of Roman government to replace him, he ended his
ministry as Bishop of Alexandria in 366 AD. As Bishop, one part of his job was to
write a letter each year to announce the date of Easter. This is known as the Festal
letters and his 39th letter in 367 AD he records all 27 books of the New Testament
canon of scripture referring to them as the fountains of salvation
(earlychurch.org).
In this amazing letter he lists all the 39 books of the Old Testament and refers
to the Apocrypha as not being part of the canon of scripture. He affirms the New
Testament books as divinely inspired and concludes that though there were other
books read to the congregation for instruction and wisdom, the New Testament
books were to be regarded as holy scripture. This letter is the first and earliest
document we have in church history that lists all the books of the New Testament,
adding to the validity and historical credibility of the Bible.
Over the course of his ministry Athanasius had periods of peace, and then
periods of turmoil. Much like the Christian life, we have wonderful seasons of
mountains tops, but then times of valleys where death and tribulation afflict the
soul. During Athanasius first seven years as Bishop it was a relatively peaceful time.

However, Arians like Eusebius of Nicodemia and Meletius were conspiring in the
background. Their goal was to bring Arius back to fellowship in Alexandria, and oust
Athanasius. Three Meletian Bishops had made accusations against Athanasius
saying he used violence and magic, consequently resulting in him being summoned
by Constantine. He was momentarily cleared of all charges.
Constantine had mandated that all who desire it should be admitted back in
to fellowship with the Church. Athanasius strongly opposed bringing back Arius into
fellowship, or any heretical teaching into the church. In the time following
Athanasius had two more cases of false accusations made against him. Ischyras and
Arsenius being amongst the perpetrators, their plot secretly fostered by John
Arcaph the new Meltian leader.

History records that between 335-337 AD a Council of Tyre took place,

where more accusations were made against Athanasius similar to before. The case
came before Constantine along with an accusation against Athanasius purporting
that he was stopping grain to Constantines capitol. The emperor seeking to quiet
any noise in the land banished Athanasius to the city of Trevari in 336 AD. During
this time Arius died suddenly, just prior to being restored to fellowship with the
Church. Some believed it was Gods judgment, others just an unfortunate
circumstance.
Shortly after the emperor Constantine died his son, Constantius, took his
place. After a year Athanasius was restored as Bishop of Alexandria by Constantius.
This was a second peaceful period for Athanasius until 339 AD when more
accusations prevailed against him led by the Eusebians, followers of the Arian

heresy. Constantius ordered the placement of a new Bishop of Alexandria, Gregory

of Cappadocian. Athanasius would return to exile for the next seven years but return
in 346 AD.
Around this time Bishop Gregory became sick and died. After deliberations
on behalf of those who had been exiled, the emperor Constantius ordered that
Athanasius no longer be persecuted in the city of Auileia where he was staying. In
346 AD Athanasius received an invitation from Julius, the Bishop of Rome, where he
hurried to go be officially re-instated. The next ten years is known as the golden
decade where at 48 years of age, Athanasius led as the Bishop of Alexandria in
peace.
In 356 AD Constantius banded with the Arians conspiring against Athanasius
yet again. History records that one night during a Church service soldiers burst in to
take Athanasius. He calmly proceeded with ordering the Deacon to read Psalm 136
while congregation would reply to each verse with His mercy endures forever
(earlychurch.org). Not wanting to leave until his congregation was safe his
clergymen got him out just in time.
Athanasius was exiled a third time from 356-362 AD. During this time he
wrote Against the Arians in which directly opposes the Arian heresy denying the
divinity of Christ. It wasnt until later that the new emperor Julian ordered the
restoration of all banished Bishops during Constantius reign.
In 362 AD we have what is known as the Council of Alexandria. This synod,
ordered by Athanasius was to clear up any problems in the Church. This peaceful
period was short-lived however, as Athanasius would have to go into exile again just

8 months later under the emperor Valens. In 365 AD Valens ordered that all the
Bishops who had been previously banished under Constantius, be re-banished.
Athanasius would later return to Alexandria as Bishop for the last time
where he chose a presbyter named Peter as his successor. It is important to note
that during all of his time in exile Athanasius still wrote his Easter letters to the
congregation in Alexandria. He never let diversion or opposition stop him from
ministry. During the last years of his life from 366-373 AD he established a
memorial church and at the age of 75, after 46 years of his episcopate, Athanasius
died.

Theology of Athanasius

Athanasius believed and preached Christ as Lord. The emphasis of his
teaching can clearly be seen in his literature. He wrote about the truth of Creation
and the divinity of the Holy Spirit. In writing about creation, ex-nihilo, he argues
for the truth that world was created and there was a Mind behind it, not something
from Greek and Roman mythology that believed that all matter was eternal.
His notable works include De Incarnatione (On the Incarnation, 326-328 AD)
Four orations against the Arians (337-345), Letters concerning the decrees of the
counsel of Nicea (350-356), and Life of Antony (356-362), which is a biography of the
famous 4th century monk who is known for his faith in Christ. Some of his other
works include the Festal Letters, Contra Gentes (Against the Heathen), First Letters to
Serapion, and On the Holy Spirit.

In On the Incarnation Athanasius writes There were thus two things which
the Savior did for us by becoming Man. He banished death from us and made us
anew; and, invisible and imperceptible as in Himself He is, He became visible
through His works and revealed Himself as the Word of the Father, the Ruler and
King of the whole creation (earlychurch.org). Athanasius wrote this letter to a
presbyter named Macarius expounding on the deity of Christ and affirming the
triune Godhead. C. S. Lewis comments by saying When I first opened his De
Incarnatione I soon discovered by a very simple test that I was reading a
masterpiece (Spurgeon.org).
Athanasius belabored the point that God had a dilemma in the case of His
own creation sinning and being separated from Him. He emphasizes that Jesus
becoming Man was the only solution and God would not let man die in this world
without knowing Him which is the purpose for mans existence.
In chapter one of On the Incarnation Athanasius points out the need for the
Word to become Man because of mankinds transgression in the garden. He
writes, it was our sorry case that caused the Word to come down, our transgression
that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among
us (earlychurch.org). He goes on in chapters two and three to explain in depth how
Jesus needed to take on a human body and die so that all could be saved.
Athanasius quotes again and again from scripture, he uses 2 Corinthians
5:14, and 1 Corinthians 15:21 to point out the new life in Christ, and mentions Paul
the Apostle by name regarding him as that true servant of Christ. He also quotes
from Hebrew 2:9, and ends chapter 2 by stating For by the sacrifice of His own

body He did two things: He put an end to the law of death which barred our way;
and He made a new beginning of life for us, by giving us the hope of resurrection.

Legacy and Influence

Athanasius had tremendous influence not only in the Church through out

history, but on those who succeeded him like the Cappadocian Bishops such as Basil
of Cesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa. Athanasius was not only an
amazing writer and communicator, he is known in church history as being a pillar
for the truth. There is a plethora of historical writings and letters that he wrote
during his life, exhorting the leaders of the Church to stand fast in the truth of the
scriptures. One historian says There is no passage in his writings which recognises
tradition as supplementing Scripture, i.e., as sanctioning articles of faith not
contained in Scripture (earlychurch.org).
Sir Robert Anderson, while discussing the vitality of the Deity of Christ and
the opposition to that truth, mentions Athanasius by quoting Dr. Moule,It was an
insight into that vitality which made Athanasius strong contra mundum. He saw that
no compromise was possible. His opponents were prepared to say practically
anything of the greatness of the Christ short of this that without reserve, without
compromise, sans phrase, He is GOD (The Word software). Athanasius insisted that
if Jesus were not God, then He could not be our Savior.
In one translation of On the Incarnation by Sister Penelope Lawson, C. S.
Lewis comments on Athanasius. In the introduction Lewis writes He stood for the
Trinitarian doctrine, "whole and undefiled," when it looked as if all the civilised

world was slipping back from Christianity into the religion of Ariusinto one of
those "sensible" synthetic religions which are so strongly recommended today and
which, then as now, included among their devotees many highly cultivated
clergymen. It is his glory that he did not move with the times; it is his reward that he
now remains when those times, as all times do, have moved away.
Many people today carry on in the heretical sprit of Arius rejecting the truth
about God and clinging to lies. Thank God for Athanasius and those who through the
halls of church history have stood for the truth that is found in Christ. Once more,
then, it was the Word of God, Who sees all that is in man and moves all things in
creation, Who alone could meet the needs of the situation. It was His part and His
alone, Whose ordering of the universe reveals the FatherAthanasius writes
concerning Jesus sacrifice for us in On the Incarnation.

Personal Reflection
There is so much to be applied from Athanasiuss writings, his life, his

ministry, and what God did with him and through him. God had a calling on
Athanasius life from his youth. I too, have had a call on my life since I was 15 years
old. But as Athanasius was hesitant to be the Bishop of Alexandria, I too have
dodged my calling for too long. For many years I was like Jonah running in the
opposite direction, but in recent years have become serious about the call of God.

Who is Jesus? This is the paramount question to every person on this planet.

C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity that Jesus was a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. Jesus is
God, He is Word made flesh, the third person of the trinity, equal with the Father

and the Holy Spirit, and it is only in His name that a person can be saved. There is no
other way. Athanasius stood for this truth. In a world where the Arian heresy still
flows through the veins of false religions and blasphemous doctrine, will I stand for
Jesus Christ?
Athanasius was influenced by the Lord Jesus Christ, by the scriptures, by the
Apostles, and by Bishop Alexander. He then influenced the Church and other leaders
in history. The question I now ask myself is who am I influencing? Do I have a
Timothy like Paul did? Am I taking a stand for Christ and if so, will others be
impacted and encouraged to do the same? Jesus could come back today or in 30
years and by then will my life have been for something. God has called me to
minister to Him by ministering to others. Pastor Chuck Smith often said Soon this
life will be past, only what Ive done for Christ will last.


But everything depends upon the Deity of Christ: and, therefore as Athanasius
said long ago, in contending for that great truth we are contending for our all.
-Sir Robert Anderson

References

Paul Jones, Timothy. Christian History Made Easy. Rose Publishing, 2009
Athanasius of Alexandria, retrieved on 9/24/15 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasian_Creed
Athanasius: On the Incarnation, retrieved on 9/24/15 from
http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/ath-inc.htm
Early Church History, Chadwick Henry
Fourth Century Christianity, retrieved from
http://www.fourthcentury.com/athanasius-chart/
The Eternal Name (Spurgeons Sermons Volume 1: 1855) retrieved from The
Word School of Ministry version software (www.ccsom.org)
Controversies in the Church, Larry Powers, CCGS Bible College/Lesson 7,
09/21/2015
Author, Teacher and Defender of Faith, Works of Sir Robert Anderson,
retrieved from The Word School of Ministry version software
(www.ccsom.org)
Athanasius: On the Incarnation,
http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/ath-inc.htm
The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Hindson, Ed, Caner, Ergun,
published by Harvest House Publishers, 2008
Athanasius, someone from nothing, Paul Henderson, 2013, Ebook version
retrieved from https://play.google.com/books
Christian Classics Etheral Library, Philip Schaff, retrieved 10/12/15 from
Earlychurch.org