Athanasius
Athanasius, “Father of Orthodoxy”, viewed as one of the Great Doctors of the Church in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Athanasius venerated as a great saint within the Western Christianity, Coptic Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches, the Lutherans, and the Anglican Communion. His theology was instrumental in establishing the meaning of salvation, the Trinity and the Godhead within the Christian Faith.
Athanasius grew up in a wealthy family who could afford to keep him instructed with as esteemed secular education. He often quoted Plato and used definitions from Aristotle, as well. His knowledge of different philosophical schools and their theories led him to understand and quote from Homer and Neo-Platonism. He also knew Greek and admits of not knowing the Hebrew language. From memory, he knew the Old Testament passages through the Septuagint Greek translation. The Alexandrian School well known for instructing their students to memorize the scriptures and become fluent in Greek. Therefore, could justify why he was able to develop a well-rounded and disciplined theology from the Alexandrians, mainly Clement and Origen. He also received instruction from St. Alexander of Alexandria, Bishop of Alexandria, who was an Origenist himself.
Athanasius’s parents died and left him in charge of raising his sister. He sold most of his inheritance and left his sister in the care of the nuns. Athanasius intensely committed to the Christian faith from an early age. He engaged in debates against members of the church, most notably Arius and his followers. He did not compromise his position; therefore, exiled not once but five times from Alexandria by four different Roman Emperors. His theology was one where the Son begotten from the Father. The Son born unto the Father, therefore, establishing the Godhead of the divine. His theology established the doctrine approved at the Nicaea Council. His theology shifted from that of former
Athanasius grew up in a wealthy family who could afford to keep him instructed with as esteemed secular education. He often quoted Plato and used definitions from Aristotle, as well. His knowledge of different philosophical schools and their theories led him to understand and quote from Homer and Neo-Platonism. He also knew Greek and admits of not knowing the Hebrew language. From memory, he knew the Old Testament passages through the Septuagint Greek translation. The Alexandrian School well known for instructing their students to memorize the scriptures and become fluent in Greek. Therefore, could justify why he was able to develop a well-rounded and disciplined theology from the Alexandrians, mainly Clement and Origen. He also received instruction from St. Alexander of Alexandria, Bishop of Alexandria, who was an Origenist himself.
Athanasius’s parents died and left him in charge of raising his sister. He sold most of his inheritance and left his sister in the care of the nuns. Athanasius intensely committed to the Christian faith from an early age. He engaged in debates against members of the church, most notably Arius and his followers. He did not compromise his position; therefore, exiled not once but five times from Alexandria by four different Roman Emperors. His theology was one where the Son begotten from the Father. The Son born unto the Father, therefore, establishing the Godhead of the divine. His theology established the doctrine approved at the Nicaea Council. His theology shifted from that of former
Bibliography: Clebsch, Robert C. Gregg and William A. Athanasius, The Life of Antony and The Letter to Marcellinus. New Yoyk: Paulist Press, 1980. Davis, Glen. 2010. http://www.ntcanon.org/Athanasius.shtml (accessed October 2, 2012). Keifer, James. n.d. http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/152.html (accessed October 2, 2012). Knight, Kevin. October 2009. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02035a.htm (accessed October 2, 2012). unknown. August 2008. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/theologians/athanasius.html (accessed October 2, 2012). —. n.d. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/athanasius (accessed October 2, 2012). Wikipedia. April 2012. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria (accessed October 2, 2012). Wikipedia. n.d. http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=336 (accessed October 2, 2012).