“Those who maintain, ‘There was a time when the Son was not’ rob God of his Word, like plunderers.”
Known as “Black Dwarf” by his opponents, Athanasius was a tireless champion of orthodoxy in the 4th century. Best known for his opposition to Arius in the Christological controversies of the 4th century Athanasius made a number of key contributions to Christian theology in his day.
1. Helped formulate the Christian belief in the dual nature of Christ, namely that Jesus was both fully human and fully God. Furthermore, Athanasius provided the internal logic for this doctrine arguing that only by assuming humanity could Jesus save it.
2. Athanasius influenced early Christian monasticism through his recording of the life of St. Antony, the famous desert monk. Athanasius’ work Life of St. Antony was immensely popular and became an influential work on the spiritual life of Christians.
3. Athanasius was influential, albeit incidentally, in the formation of the Protestant canon. In a paschal letter he remarked that “In these [27 writings] alone the teaching of godliness is proclaimed. No one may add to them, and nothing may be taken away from them.”
One other thing should be said regarding the Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and that is his incredible perseverance. Athanasius was exiled five times during the course of his life and spent 17 of his 45 years as bishop in exile. Yet he did not relent either to theological heresy or to political power. For him we are grateful and to him we are indebted.
Suggested Reading: On the Incarnation
Bibliography: See Mark Galli & Ted Olsen eds. 131 Christians Everyone Should Know (Nashville: Christianity Today [Holman Reference]): 17-19.
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