A bishop in a divided fourth century
Athanasius became bishop of Alexandria in 328 and died in 373. He had accompanied Bishop Alexander to the Council of Nicaea in 325 as a deacon. His long episcopate unfolded during continuing disputes over the Son's relationship to the Father, changes of imperial policy and rival claims to episcopal authority.
The ancient Festal Index records journeys, displacements, returns and the sending or interruption of his Easter letters. It traces the changing circumstances of his episcopate and the pastoral work that continued through them.
Sources: Festal Index to the letters of Athanasius
Why Nicaea's language mattered
Athanasius defended the Nicene confession that the Son is of one essence with the Father. The Greek word homoousios protected a claim about who Christ is: the Son belongs fully to the divine being and is not a creature elevated to exceptional honour.
In De Decretis he explains the council’s use of the term homoousios, of one essence. He shows how competing interpretations of scriptural titles led to the need for language affirming the Son’s full divinity. His Discourses Against the Arians develop the argument through sustained biblical interpretation.
Sources: Athanasius, De Decretis (Defence of the Nicene Definition) · Athanasius, First Discourse Against the Arians
On the Incarnation: creation renewed
On the Incarnation begins with creation and humanity's turning away from God. Athanasius presents death, corruption and the loss of true knowledge of God as a connected human predicament. The Word who created humanity is also the one able to restore it.
The Son's becoming human is real. He receives a body of our kind from the Virgin, makes it his own and offers it in death. His resurrection defeats the corruption that held humanity captive. Athanasius also explains how the incarnate Word can remain active throughout creation: taking a body does not confine divine providence to one location.
Athanasius describes salvation as humanity's renewal in the divine image and participation in the life of God through the Word. His argument moves from creation through the Incarnation, Cross and Resurrection, drawing together biblical interpretation and the Church's confession of Christ.
Sources: Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word
Exile and the care of the churches
Athanasius endured five periods of exile or enforced absence, conventionally counted in church histories. These included displacement to Gaul, years away while another bishop occupied Alexandria and periods of concealment or flight in Egypt.
His Apologia Contra Arianos assembles letters and conciliar documents to defend his conduct. Apologia de Fuga answers the accusation that escaping danger was cowardice. He argues that Scripture permits timely flight and describes leaving a church after seeking the congregation's safety.
His accounts of these years describe the doctrinal conflict alongside accusations brought against him, imperial interventions, displacement and the suffering of congregations. They preserve his own testimony to the struggle over the Nicene faith.
Sources: Festal Index to the letters of Athanasius · Athanasius, Apologia Contra Arianos, Part I · Athanasius, Apologia de Fuga
Firm confession and the search for communion
The Tome to the Antiochenes, issued by Athanasius and the Alexandrian bishops in 362, shows another aspect of his work. It seeks to reconcile Christians whose differing theological expressions had raised suspicion.
The bishops examine the meaning intended by those speaking of one or three hypostases. They recognise agreement in the confession of the Trinity, with the full reality of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the unity of the Godhead. The letter also affirms that Christ's humanity includes a rational soul. It seeks communion through a clear expression of the shared faith.
Sources: Athanasius and the Alexandrian bishops, Tomus ad Antiochenos (362)
The Easter letters and the biblical books
Athanasius's Festal Letters belong to his continuing pastoral responsibility for the churches. Letter 39, written for 367, names the twenty-seven books now comprising the New Testament. It also lists Old Testament books and distinguishes canonical Scripture from other works recommended for instruction.
The letter is an important witness to the Church's reception of the biblical books. Athanasius speaks of the writings handed down and accepted among the churches, and recommends other works for the instruction of those beginning to learn the faith. Scripture, catechesis and pastoral responsibility meet in this account.
Sources: Athanasius, Festal Letter 39 (367)
The Life of Antony
In the Life of Antony, Athanasius presents the Egyptian ascetic as a pattern for Christians beyond Egypt. Prayer, discernment, renunciation and perseverance become visible in a narrated life. The book also places Antony within the Church's worship and fellowship.
It is a theological biography written to form readers. Its genre shows how Athanasius links confessing Christ with transformation through faith.
Sources: Athanasius, Life of Antony
Reading Athanasius today
His works range from close biblical argument to documentary defence and pastoral appeal. De Synodis makes the dispute over changing creedal formulas visible, reminding readers how much conversation and conflict followed Nicaea.
For an introduction, begin with On the Incarnation and then read the Tome to the Antiochenes. Together they reveal the breadth of his concern: the saving work of the divine Son, the completeness of Christ's humanity and a Church gathered in a confession it can share.
Sources: Athanasius, De Synodis · Athanasius and the Alexandrian bishops, Tomus ad Antiochenos (362)
Sources and further reading
- Festal Index to the letters of Athanasius
- Athanasius, De Decretis (Defence of the Nicene Definition)
- Athanasius, First Discourse Against the Arians
- Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word
- Athanasius, Apologia Contra Arianos, Part I
- Athanasius, Apologia de Fuga
- Athanasius and the Alexandrian bishops, Tomus ad Antiochenos (362)
- Athanasius, Festal Letter 39 (367)
- Athanasius, Life of Antony
- Athanasius, De Synodis
On the Incarnation of the Word — Sections 1–10, 11–17, 26–32 and 54 · Creation, embodiment, the divine image, death and resurrection.
De Decretis / Defence of the Nicene Definition — Sections 19–24 and 31 · Why precise theological terms were used to defend the biblical confession.
First Discourse Against the Arians — Sections 8–10 and 19–22 · The Son's eternal relation to the Father and the distinction between divine sonship and created participation.
Apologia Contra Arianos — Part I, sections 1–6 and 37–50 · A documentary defence assembled by the bishop whose conduct is in dispute.
Apologia de Fuga / Defence of His Flight — Sections 8, 12, 17 and 24–25 · His scriptural reasoning about escape from danger and his own account of a threatened congregation.
Tome to the Antiochenes — Sections 3 and 5–8 · Reconciliation, the meaning of theological terms and the completeness of Christ's humanity.
Festal Letter 39 (367) — Sections 3–7 · Canonical biblical books and other writings appointed for instruction.
Life of Antony — Prologue; sections 2–4, 16–43, 67–71 and 93–94 · The spiritual and ecclesial purpose of Athanasius's monastic portrait.
Festal Index — Opening and entries VIII–XVIII, XXVIII–XXXVII · Ancient chronological testimony; compare the translator's notes where dates are uncertain.