Athanasius of Alexandria: A Champion for Christ and His Word
By: George Moore
One of the greatest figures in church history was Athanasius of Alexandria. Born in 293 and given the nickname “Black Dwarf” by his enemies, [1] he served as the bishop of Alexandria (Egypt) for over 40 years and his dedication to biblical and doctrinal truth inspired a generation to stand on the truth of the Scriptures. He is most known for defending of the Deity of Christ (the belief that Jesus was God in the Flesh and One with the Father) and he was the first to list all 27 books of the New Testament. My hope is that what is shared in the following paragraphs encourages you in your faith and equips to engage with others. Let’s dive in!
Deity of Christ
Christ’s identity has been attacked since the 1st century. One of the earliest attacks came in the form of Gnosticism, a belief that only the “enlightened” could receive a special knowledge from God. In other words, anyone could have a belief in Christ but only a select few would receive “higher” understanding. [2] It also taught that all matter was evil, and as a result, Jesus couldn’t be human.
No wonder New Testament writers had to address this dangerous belief (1 & 2 John, Jude)! The only revelation one needs to be saved is the belief that Christ, fully God/fully man, was crucified and rose from the grave to atone for our sin debt. For He took on the full weight of our sin and gave us the life and favor we didn’t deserve. As we receive this truth and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we officially become adopted sons and daughters to our Heavenly Father. That is the only “special” revelation one needs to be saved.
The fight for Christ’s Deity would continue into the 4th century when Athanasius and others had to address another false doctrine, known as the Arian controversy. The controversy began in 318 when Arius, a pastor near modern-day Libya, boldly challenged and denied the Deity of Christ. He believed that “God being one and only one, could never share his being with anyone or anything else…God created a Son; thus, the Son is a created being.” [3] In other words, Jesus was not God and was made like everything else in creation. The implications of these beliefs threatened the very core of the Christian faith. If Christ was a created being and not God, then the atonement for sins is lost. Athanasius, and those in agreement, believed “Christ has achieved our salvation because in him God has entered human history.” [4] Because of this conflict from two schools of thought, the Council of Nicaea convenes in 325.
These leaders came to together to answer, once and for all, the nature of who Christ is. The council concludes with most of the bishops condemning Arius’ beliefs and reaffirming that Jesus was One with The Father and came in the Flesh, as the Scriptures attest. [5] It is from this stance that the early church creates the famous Nicene Creed. [6] In the aftermath of Nicaea, Arius is exiled and Athanasius takes over as Bishop of Alexandria.
However, the victory is short lived. Due to Emperor Constantine sympathizing with Arius, [7] he’s released from exile and Athanasius finds himself at odds with the political leaders of his time. Athanasius is soon exiled by Constantine, the first of many for the renowned Bishop. History records that Athanasius was “exiled five times by four Roman emperors, spending 17 of the 45 years he served as bishop…in exile.” [8] Despite the persecution he endured, Athanasius devoted his life to fighting for the truth of who Christ is. Though he never saw the fruit of his fight, eight years after he died, another council convened in 381, the Council of Constantinople. During this council, the Nicene Creed was reaffirmed. [9] The creed stated,
“We…believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens, and sat down on the right hand of the Father, and will come again with glory to judge living and dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end.” [10]
With this victory, Arianism is defeated. [11]
The New Testament Scriptures
Athanasius was also a champion of our New Testament canon. In one of his annual Easter letters (AD 367), [12] he became the first person to name the 27 books of the New Testament we still use today. [13] The books are:
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Acts of the Apostles
Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1st & 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st & 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and & 2nd Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
Other Epistles: Hebrews, James; 1st & 2nd Peter; 1st, 2nd, & 3rd John; and Jude
Revelation of John [14]
As he lists these books, he also defends their integrity, claiming them to be the “fountains of salvation…the doctrine of godliness.” Furthermore, he condemns the Gnostic writings (Gospel of Thomas, etc.) by saying, “they are an invention of heretics, who write them when they choose, bestowing upon them their approbation, and assigning to them a date, that so, using them as ancient writings, they may find an occasion to lead astray the simple.” [15]
We praise God for this great bishop, whose understanding proved to be ahead of his time. [15]
Why This Matters
Though Arianism isn’t around today (Jehovah’s Witnesses are the closest group with this belief), many groups in our communities go to great lengths to minimize the Deity of Christ. As we engage apologetically, it is vital for believers to know our biblical, theological, and faith history. We must know why the Council of Nicaea convened and who did/didn’t fight for the truth of Christ. Furthermore, as we share how people of color contributed to the Christian faith, Athanasius is one of the best examples we can give. Not only was he African, but he championed the truth of the Gospel no matter what it would cost him.
Even in our present age, some will try to discredit the Scriptures by referencing extracanonical writings. As we encounter those with these beliefs, we must be ready and capable of sharing why they aren’t authoritative or accepted as canon. Furthermore, to accept these books (i.e. Gnostic Gospels) [16] would challenge the very thing Athanasius and the apostles fought for.
In closing, the Scriptures encourage us to “contend for the faith entrusted to [us].” [17] I believe God is looking for and raising up a group of “Athanasius’s” who will leave a mark on this generation. Go forth! And as we champion God’s Word and the saving message of Christ…as we remember a “cloud of witnesses” like Athanasius, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us.” [18] And may God get the glory, the honor, and the praise!
Be blessed, family!!
Notes:
1. https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/theologians/athanasius.html
2. Millard Erickson. (The Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Crossway Publishers, 2001), pg. 77.
3. Gregg R. Allison. (Historical Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2011), pg. 368.
4. Justo L. Gonzalez. (The Story of Early Christianity Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. Broadway, New York: Harper Collins, 2010), pg. 185.
5. John 1:1, 3:16, 10:30, 14:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 7:2 (NIV)
6. Thomas C. Oden. (How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), pg. 173.
7. See Gonzalez, pg. 190-191.
8. See https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/theologians/athanasius.html
9. See Allison, pg. 372.
10. See Allison, pg. 372.
11. See Allison, pg. 372.
12. Athanasius of Alexandria. (“Easter Letter 39”, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series: Vol. 4, ed. Philip Schaff & Rev. Henry Wallace. New York, New York: Cosimo Books, 2007), pg. 552.
13. See Allison, pg. 45.
14. See Schaff and Wallace, pg. 552.
15. See Schaff and Wallace, pg. 552.
16. Tony Evans. (Oneness Embraced: A Fresh Look at Reconciliation, The Kingdom, and Justice. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2011), pg. 123.
17. See Allison, pg. 367.
18. Jude 3 (NIV)
19. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
George Moore currently serves as Research Intern for the Jude 3 Project. He is from Memphis, TN and is pursuing his Masters of Divinity at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. For the past decade, he has served in various forms of leadership, including: non-profit, pastoral/urban ministry, and civic engagement. Due to his work with families in the Memphis community, he was nominated for the Benjamin L. Hooks Award for Social Change in 2015. In addition to ministry, he promotes the board game Black Progress (created by his father), which celebrates the historical achievements of African-Americans. He is married to his wife, Ashley, and they recently welcomed their first child, George E. Moore IV.