Athanasius

By Owlorey the Owl, LMD

Into the room came the man, known to his opponents as the black dwarf. He was accused of murder and witchcraft, and of killing a man and cutting off his hand for magical purposes. The dwarf brought with him another man who was hooded and cloaked in black. The dwarf first ascertained that everyone present knew the victim that he supposedly murdered. He then uncovered the face of the hooded man. And everyone saw that he was indeed the man who was supposedly murdered by the black dwarf. Someone in the crowd said, “he didn’t kill him, he just cut his hand off.” The black dwarf uncovered the man’s right hand… It was there. The crowd shouted; “it is his other hand!” The black dwarf uncovered the man’s other hand. It was still there. The Dwarf asked. “What do you think he is, a monster with three hands?” Everyone laughed (González).

Athanasius, the “black dwarf” to whom I just referred, was one of the greatest heroes of faith in the fourth century A.D. He defended the full deity of Christ in the face of the Arian heresy. As a result, Athanasius was banished five times by different emperors. He was chased far by imperial soldiers. He hid with desert monks to escape imprisonment, and he was accused of serious charges that included murder and witchcraft (González). Yet, Athanasius stood his ground and declared “If the world is against truth, then I am against the world” (Bible Portal)

I will attempt to summarize Athanasius’ life and influence through three points. My first point will be the background of the Arian heresy that Athanasius fought against. The second point will be a brief summary of Athanasius’ life through the next few emperors. The third point will discuss his influence and legacy. Most of the historical content in this speech is taken from The Story Of Christianity by Justo González.

For my first point, the Arian heresy. In the early centuries of Christianity, questions of theology were addressed through lengthy debate and discussion. Opponents argued and discussed, and eventually reached a consensus through convincing arguments. Things changed when the Roman Empire embraced Christianity as its formal religion. The state had the power to force its position on theological debates. People became more interested in convincing the emperor of their theology, rather than convincing their opponents, and using the power of the state to force the majority to agree. The Arian heresy was a grand example, in which a theological disagreement turned into a political movement that sought to destroy the very heart of Christian theology. Arians attacked the full deity of Christ and had powerful influence over the emperors of their time. (González)

In 325 A.D., a group of bishops from all over Christendom met together to discuss the relationship of God the Son to God the Father. One party, headed by Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, believed in the full deity of Christ. The other party, headed by a heretic presbyter named Arius, believed, contrary to Scriptures, that the Son was a created being and thus inferior to the Father. Eventually, truth prevailed, Alexander’s party won, and a creed was written, known as the Nicene creed, to affirm that Jesus was not a created being, but coequal and coeternal with the Father. A young deacon named Athanasius was present in Alexander’s party. Little did he know that he would soon become the leading voice in defending the full equality of God the Son to God the Father as taught in Scripture. (González)

Now I will discuss Athanasius’ life through the next few emperors. After Alexander died, Athanasius succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria. Supporters of the Arian party continued to oppose him. They apparently were better politicians than theologians. They soon convinced Emperor Constantine to banish Athanasius. This was the first of five banishments during Athanasius’ time as a bishop. After the death of Constantine, the empire was split between Constantine’s three sons, who agreed to bring Athanasius back. When Athanasius had some trouble in the city of Alexandria, he fled to Rome. Emperor Constantius, a son of Constantine who ruled the east, allowed Athanasius to come back to Alexandria. Athanasius returned to Alexandria as a hero. But eventually, when Constantius became the ruler of the entire empire, he decided to banish Athanasius because Constantius embraced Arianism. Athanasius managed to escape with the help of desert monks. Throughout the next few years Athanasius was banished, called back, and banished again and again and again. Eventually, Arianism was defeated, and the biblical teaching of the deity of Christ triumphed victoriously against heresy. (González)

Now I will discuss Athanasius’ influence and legacy. Athanasius insisted that Arianism was in fact a heresy and affirmed that “Those who maintain ‘There was a time when the Son was not’ rob God of his Word, like plunderers” (History of World Christianity). He also contended that “those who follow Arius commit blasphemy in two ways: they worship a creature as God and labeled the incarnate God a mere creature” (History of World Christianity). Athanasius also insisted that “The essence of oneness of the Father and the Son is that whatever is predicated of the Father must be predicated of the Son, except the title ‘Father.’ So, if the Father is Lord, then the Son is also Lord. If the Father is light, then the Son is also light” (Kelly). Though many historians believe that Athanasius did not actually write the Athanasian Creed, Athanasius’ theology influenced this creed, which affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity, as well as the deity and humanity of Christ.

C. S. Lewis wrote the following about Athanasius: “He stood for the Trinitarian doctrine, ‘whole and undefiled,’ when it looked as if all the civilized world was slipping back from Christianity into the religion of Arius.” (C.S. Lewis.) According to R. C. Sproul, on Athanasius’ tombstone was engraved the words “Athanasius contra mundum” which meant “Athanasius against the world.”

John Piper explains, “Athanasius contra mundum should inspire every pastor to stand his ground meekly and humbly and courageously whenever a biblical truth is at stake. But be sure that you always out-rejoice your adversaries. If something is worth fighting for, it is worth rejoicing over. And the joy is essential in the battle, for nothing is worth fighting for that will not increase our everlasting joy in God.”  Piper explains further that, “Athanasius would have us learn from his life and the life of his heroes this lesson: even if at times it may feel as though we are alone contra mundum, let us stand courageous and out-rejoice our adversaries.” Piper quotes Athanasius saying, “Let us be courageous and rejoice always. . .  Let us consider and lay to heart that while the Lord is with us, our foes can do us no hurt. . . But if they see us rejoicing in the Lord, contemplating the bliss of the future, mindful of the Lord, deeming all things in His hand . . . — they are discomfited and turned backwards” (Piper).

Athanasius, this supposedly black dwarf. was willing to pay an extremely high price for the truth. He never gave up despite fierce opposition. He knew that he was not fighting this battle alone, but God was with him. Romans 8:31 says “if God is for us who can be against us?” (ESV). Sometimes, God calls us to fight a battle alone for the truth. If you find yourself standing alone in the battlefield in the fight for the truth, remember that God is with you, just like he was with Athanasius in his fight against heresy. Are we willing to stand for the truth no matter what? Are we willing to defend the gospel no matter the cost? In Jeremiah 1:19, God says to Jeremiah, "They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” (ESV). In the end, the truth will always prevail.

This speech by Owlorey first appeared on the Eriliniland Chronicle.