Athanasius against the world

On Life & Scripture

Athanasius. His name alone carries the weight of church history. Known as Athanasius contra mundum ("Athanasius against the world"), this 4th-century bishop from Alexandria stood firm in defending a single theological point that came down to one letter in Greek. That letter, however, was the dividing line between believing that Jesus is fully God or a mere creation of God.

At the center of the controversy was Arius, a popular teacher who claimed that Jesus, as the Son of God, must have been created by the Father, therefore, not eternal and not fully God. This teaching, Arianism, quickly spread, threatening the church’s understanding of Christ’s divinity. Athanasius saw the danger. If Jesus wasn’t fully God, then how could he save sinners? Only God could atone for sin.

In 325 AD, Emperor Constantine, seeking to resolve the growing theological divide, called the Council of Nicea. Over 300 bishops gathered to settle the debate, with Athanasius, though a young deacon, playing a crucial role in defending the doctrine of Christ’s full deity. The result was the Nicene Creed, affirming that Jesus is “of one substance (homoousios) with the Father.” Victory seemed won.

But it wasn’t. Arianism persisted, gaining even more influence, especially as political power and church authority collided. Athanasius was exiled five times, accused of everything from heresy to treason. He fled into hiding, lived in isolation, and endured relentless opposition. Yet, through it all, Athanasius stood firm, refusing to compromise on the truth of Christ’s deity.

His opponents slandered him, attacked his character, and even sent soldiers to capture him, but he remained unshaken. Why? Because for Athanasius, this wasn’t just about winning a theological debate. It was about the very essence of the gospel. If Jesus was not fully God, then the salvation he offered was worthless. Athanasius believed this was a hill worth dying on, and he was prepared to face exile, persecution, and slander to protect the truth.

Athanasius’s perseverance has earned him a place in that “great cloud of witnesses” we read about in Hebrews 12:1. He understood that truth mattered more than popularity, more than comfort, and more than the approval of the world. Athanasius stood firm when others caved to pressure or sought a middle ground. In many ways, he was the lone voice in his time willing to say, “No, this is not negotiable.”

What can we take from Athanasius’s example? We learn that standing for truth often comes at a cost, but it’s worth paying. In Athanasius’s day, it was Christ’s deity that was under attack. Today, other doctrines may be threatened, but the call to stand firm remains the same. We must be willing to hold fast to the truth, even when it’s unpopular, even when we feel alone.

As we look back on Athanasius’s life, we’re encouraged to endure the race of faith. “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:1, 2). Like Athanasius, we are not running alone. We are surrounded by witnesses who, like him, have contended for the faith with unwavering courage.

Athanasius stood against the world for the truth of Christ. May we do the same.

Recommended reading

Trinitarian Controversy edited by William G. Rusch

Athanasius by Simonetta Carr

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All glory be to Christ.

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