The Bible In Athanasius Of Alexandria

Originally published: Boston: Brill Academic Publishers, 2004.

This study of uses of Scripture in the writings of Athanasius of Alexandria draws upon detailed textual observations to construct a coherent description of interpretive practices across the several genres in which this prominent fourth-century bishop wrote.

The text-critical study of the Apostolos (all of the New Testament apart from the Gospels) of the fourth-century Greek Father Athanasius of Alexandria has two aims in view: one analytical and one methodological. An initial review of Athanasius' life and writings and a survey of the Alexandrian text-type precede an analysis of Athanasius' text to determine its classification within the major New Testament text-types, and particularly its suspected Alexandrian character. The book also compares the results of methods traditionally used on the texts of the Fathers with the use of an alternative and advanced method, multivariate analysis. Unlike quantitative and group profile analyses, multivariate analysis utilizes not just a single dimension but the full dimensionality of the source data.

Athanasius (c. 295-373) Bishop of Alexandria, spiritual master and theologian, was a major figure of 4th-century Christendom. The Life of Antony is one of the foremost classics of asceticism. The Letter to Marcellinus is an introduction to the spiritual sense of the Psalms.

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This book provides information from Church history concerning the recognition of the canonical status of the several books of the New Testament. Canonization was a long and gradual process of sifting among scores of gospels, epistles, and other books that enjoyed local and temporary authority - some of which have only recently come to light among the discoveries of Nag Hammadi. After discussing the external pressures that led to the fixing of the limits of the canon, the author gives sustained attention to Patristic evidence that bears on the development of the canon not only in the West but also among the Eastern Churches, including the Syrian, Armenian, Georgian, Coptic, and Ethiopian. Besides considering differences as to the sequence of the books in the New Testament, Dr Metzger takes up such questions as which form of text is to be regarded as canonical; whether the canon is open or closed; to what extent a canon should be sought within the canon; and whether the canon is a collection of authoritative books or an authoritative collection of books.

As the Patriarch of Alexandria in the critical 4th century, Athanasius' significance was without doubt profound both as a pastor and theologian. With resolute conviction and powerful personality he became the ardent champion of the Council of Nicea's affirmation of the full divinity of the Son, and in so doing he became the most resourceful and innovative theologian of his day. His Christology provided significant theological clarifications that would become decisive for Cyril of Alexandria and the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon. Athanasius is a theologian of great importance and relevance today when many of his concerns are still our own.This book offers a fresh scholarly introduction to the theology of Athanasius that will benefit not only the student but the educated lay reader as well. Weinandy explores, in a lucid and insightful manner, all of the key theological controversies, questions and themes that appear within Athanasius's thought: Revelation, Scripture and Tradition; Creation and the Fall; The Nicene Crisis; The Incarnation and salvation; the divinity of the Holy Spirit; the Church and Sacraments; and the Christian Life and Monasticism.