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Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series #4
Saint Athanasius: Selected Works and Letters
This series contains the chief works of the Fathers from Eusebius to John of Damascus, and from Ambrose to Gregory the Great.
606 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1842
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125 people want to read
About the author
Athanasius of Alexandria
353 books322 followersborn perhaps 293
Greek patriarch Saint Athanasius, known as "the Great," of Alexandria led defenders of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism.
An Athanasian follows him, especially in opposition to Arianism.
Christians attributed Athanasian Creed, which dates probably from the fifth century, but people now consider its unknown origin.
People also refer to Athanasius (Arabic: البابا أثناسيوس الرسولي, as the Confessor and the Apostolic, primarily in the Coptic Church; he served as the twentieth bishop. From 8 June 328, his episcopate lasted, but four different Roman emperors ordered him to spend five exiles for 17 years. People consider this renowned theologian, a Father of the Church, the chief of Trinitarianism, and a noted Egyptian of the fourth century.
People remember his role in the conflict. In 325, Athanasius at the age of 27 years played a role in the first council of Nicaea. At the time, he served as a deacon and personal secretary of Alexander, the nineteenth bishop. Constantine I convoked Nicaea in May–August 325 to address the position of Jesus of Nazareth of a distinct substance from the Father.
Three years after Nicæa and upon the repose of Alexander, bishop, he served in June 328 at the age of 30 years as archbishop. He continued to the conflict for the rest of his life, and theological and political struggles engaged him against Constantine and Constantius II, the emperors, and against Eusebius of Nicomedia and other powerful and influential churchmen. He stood as "Athanasius contra Mundum," against the world. Within a few years of his departure, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus called him the "pillar of the Church." All fathers of the Church followed and well regarded his writings in the west and the east. His writings show a rich devotion to the Word, the Son of Man, great pastoral concern, and profound interest in monasticism.
The Roman Catholic Church counts Athanasius and three other doctors, and east labels him the "father." Many Protestants also celebrate him and label him "father of the canon." People venerate Athanasius on feast day, 2 May in west, 15 May in Coptic, and 18 January in the other eastern churches. The Roman Catholic Church, Orient, east, Lutherans, and Anglican communion venerate him.
Greek patriarch Saint Athanasius, known as "the Great," of Alexandria led defenders of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism.
An Athanasian follows him, especially in opposition to Arianism.
Christians attributed Athanasian Creed, which dates probably from the fifth century, but people now consider its unknown origin.
People also refer to Athanasius (Arabic: البابا أثناسيوس الرسولي, as the Confessor and the Apostolic, primarily in the Coptic Church; he served as the twentieth bishop. From 8 June 328, his episcopate lasted, but four different Roman emperors ordered him to spend five exiles for 17 years. People consider this renowned theologian, a Father of the Church, the chief of Trinitarianism, and a noted Egyptian of the fourth century.
People remember his role in the conflict. In 325, Athanasius at the age of 27 years played a role in the first council of Nicaea. At the time, he served as a deacon and personal secretary of Alexander, the nineteenth bishop. Constantine I convoked Nicaea in May–August 325 to address the position of Jesus of Nazareth of a distinct substance from the Father.
Three years after Nicæa and upon the repose of Alexander, bishop, he served in June 328 at the age of 30 years as archbishop. He continued to the conflict for the rest of his life, and theological and political struggles engaged him against Constantine and Constantius II, the emperors, and against Eusebius of Nicomedia and other powerful and influential churchmen. He stood as "Athanasius contra Mundum," against the world. Within a few years of his departure, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus called him the "pillar of the Church." All fathers of the Church followed and well regarded his writings in the west and the east. His writings show a rich devotion to the Word, the Son of Man, great pastoral concern, and profound interest in monasticism.
The Roman Catholic Church counts Athanasius and three other doctors, and east labels him the "father." Many Protestants also celebrate him and label him "father of the canon." People venerate Athanasius on feast day, 2 May in west, 15 May in Coptic, and 18 January in the other eastern churches. The Roman Catholic Church, Orient, east, Lutherans, and Anglican communion venerate him.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 15, 2018
While probably not well known by many Christians, St. Athanasius is probably the single most influential Christian theologian and thinker who contested the Arian heresy. Had he not done so, it is quite likely that Christianity today would look much different than it does. Arianism was a slow creep back to the polytheism that Christianity was superseding, and St. Athanasius recognized it as such, combatting it doggedly in a series of books, dissertations, and letters contained in this book. I’d love to say that this is a gripping read, but it is not. To be honest, much of it is a plod to get through. Similar to St Ambrose’s writings, there is a tendency either to repeat key points over and over again, or just rephrase them slightly differently. This, along with long run on sentences and paragraphs running on more than half a page, make this a difficult book to get through. However, if you are trying to reach the source code for present day Christian doctrine, then this may be of value to you.
Of all St. Athanasius’ writings, the one in this book I found most enjoyable is his “Life of St. Anthony”. Anthony, through ascetism, prayer, fasting, study, and meditation, emerges as an ordinary man who is transformed by complete submission to God and total abnegation into a sort of Christian Jedi master —- total in tune with a higher spiritual power and holiness that give him the ability to do amazing service and feats in the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. It’s an amazing story that all Christians will find inspiring.
Of all St. Athanasius’ writings, the one in this book I found most enjoyable is his “Life of St. Anthony”. Anthony, through ascetism, prayer, fasting, study, and meditation, emerges as an ordinary man who is transformed by complete submission to God and total abnegation into a sort of Christian Jedi master —- total in tune with a higher spiritual power and holiness that give him the ability to do amazing service and feats in the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. It’s an amazing story that all Christians will find inspiring.
August 22, 2015
Athanasius was a bulldog when it came to Jesus, utterly refusing to let go of Christ's divinity. His was a life spent in struggle and exile that yielded great treasure for the church.
July 8, 2021
St. Athanasius is one of the most important figures in church history. During the fourth century, he was the foremost champion of the Council of Nicea's affirmation of the full Divinity of Christ against the Arian heresy. Most of this collection of his writings is concerned with the Arian controversy, and is full of rich theological reflections on Christology and the doctrine of the Incarnation. Some of the historical works in the collection may be less interesting to many modern Christians, but they do provide an important window into the historical context in which St. Athanasius wrote, showing the high-stakes nature of the ecclesial and political situation at the time. A collection of letters at the end rounds out the works of Athanasius, showing that these intense theological debates were not abstract speculation; they took place within the context of the bishop's genuine pastoral concern to see his flock daily love and serve Jesus in their thoughts, words, and deeds. This volume is a valuable collection of theological and historical writings, much of which is still quite relevant to the church today.
February 3, 2023
Cette sélection de Saint Athanase est très complète, bien faite et édifiante. Vous trouverez entre autres:
- De l'Incarnation, un de ses traités les plus pertinents et vifs, écrit avant même la querelle arienne.
-Différents petites oeuvres apologétiques anti-ariennes, qui datent du début de "la lutte"
-Vie de Saint Antoine, un petit bijou d'hagiographie.
- Défense de sa fuite, un petit traité sur la possibilité de fuir la persécution. Edifiant et percutant.
-Apologie contre les ariens, soit son traité anti-arien le plus complet et le plus technique.
-Sa correspondance, dont les lettres festales contenant la première liste de canon semblable à la nôtre.
J'ai découvert un père de l'église digne d'admiration et qui m'a passionné. Merci au Seigneur et à Philipp Schaff d'avoir édité cela.
- De l'Incarnation, un de ses traités les plus pertinents et vifs, écrit avant même la querelle arienne.
-Différents petites oeuvres apologétiques anti-ariennes, qui datent du début de "la lutte"
-Vie de Saint Antoine, un petit bijou d'hagiographie.
- Défense de sa fuite, un petit traité sur la possibilité de fuir la persécution. Edifiant et percutant.
-Apologie contre les ariens, soit son traité anti-arien le plus complet et le plus technique.
-Sa correspondance, dont les lettres festales contenant la première liste de canon semblable à la nôtre.
J'ai découvert un père de l'église digne d'admiration et qui m'a passionné. Merci au Seigneur et à Philipp Schaff d'avoir édité cela.
September 20, 2019
Very handy compilation of select Works and letters of Athanasius the Great. Robertson decided to organize the material in a generally chronology way, which is quite helpful inasmuch as one agreed with him on the chronology. At times the chronological settings led him to separate documents that were appended with some works.
My main gripe against this volume was the setting of the text itself. The very small fonts and the columns made for a very slow reading. It is time for a new edition.
My main gripe against this volume was the setting of the text itself. The very small fonts and the columns made for a very slow reading. It is time for a new edition.
September 28, 2010
This is a collection of, pretty much all, the works and letters of Athanasius, the great theologian and defender of the Trinity in the early church. Confession: I did not read the entire book word for word. I read a few treatises closely while skimming others. Perhaps I should review the specific treatises individually...but I just thought this was easier.
Two works stand out: On the Incarnation of the Word and The Life of Antony. Each of these is five star, must reads for anyone interested in the history and theology of Christianity. On the Incarnation is a clearly written explaining of God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. The Life of Antony tells the exciting story of Antony, one of the first monks.
Most of the treatises deal with the Arian controversy. The most important treatise here is Against the Arians, a very long work that point-by-point refutes the Arian heresy with scripture. It gives a good glimpse of how the early church interpreted scripture.
The letters are also pretty cool, as they shed light on the more pastoral, less academic, side of Athanasius.
Two works stand out: On the Incarnation of the Word and The Life of Antony. Each of these is five star, must reads for anyone interested in the history and theology of Christianity. On the Incarnation is a clearly written explaining of God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. The Life of Antony tells the exciting story of Antony, one of the first monks.
Most of the treatises deal with the Arian controversy. The most important treatise here is Against the Arians, a very long work that point-by-point refutes the Arian heresy with scripture. It gives a good glimpse of how the early church interpreted scripture.
The letters are also pretty cool, as they shed light on the more pastoral, less academic, side of Athanasius.
June 18, 2013
Every Christian who wants to be informed about Christology ought to read this monumental compilation.
The health of our theology would improved just by making reference, sermons, and adding to our teaching what he wrote about the Divinity of Jesus Christ including the exaltation of mankind because of His incarnation and ascension.
The health of our theology would improved just by making reference, sermons, and adding to our teaching what he wrote about the Divinity of Jesus Christ including the exaltation of mankind because of His incarnation and ascension.
August 23, 2015
I come once again to those books where I am not nearly qualified to review nor spend enough time in detailed reading to review. These free PDFs available online and are excellent resources for those interested in the church fathers and definitely an excellent resource for those studying anything to do with the period. These few words will have to suffice.
February 25, 2018
really enlightening to learn more on the arian controversy and better understand either the arians arguments as well as the eternal generation of the Sons.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews