Synopsis

Athanasius will always be remembered for his role in the theological controversies of the fourth century sparked by the teachings of Arius. Although the details of this debate are beyond the scope of this present study their effect on the doctrine of the church and on its relationship with the emperors was far reaching. Athanasius was taken into the household of Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, who apparently recognised his potential from an early age.[1] His education appears to have concentrated on the scriptures and their exegesis rather than the Greek classics.[2] Athanasius was ordained as a deacon and assisted his protégé at the Council of Nicaea. Following Alexander’s death Athanasius succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria and continued his struggle against the Arians.

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References

Primary Sources

	Athanasius (Christian Classic Ethereal Library)
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	Gregory of Nazianzus, Orations, 21.
	Jerome, Lives of Illustrius Men, 87.

Secondary Sources

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	Duane W.H. Arnold, "Excursus on the Athanasian Use of Sources in De Decretis," Patristic and Byzantine Review 11.1-3 (1992): 33-51.
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	T.C. Campbell, "The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the Theology of Athanasius," Scottish Journal of Theology 27 (1974): 408-40.
	Robert A. Case, "Will the real Athanasius please stand up," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 19.4 (Fall 1976): 283-295. pdf
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	St. Athanasius (Cornelius Clifford)
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	Michael A.G. Haykin, "'The Spirit of God': The Exegesis of 1 Cor. 2:10-12 by Origen and Athanasius," Scottish Journal of Theology 35 (1982): 513-28.
	Michael A.G. Haykin, "'A Sense of Awe in the Presence of the Ineffable': 1 Cor 2:11-12 in the Pneumatomachian Controversy of the Fourth Century," Scottish Journal of Theology 41 (1988): 341-57.
	Michael A.G. Haykin, The Spirit of God: Exegesis of 1 and 2 Corinthians in the Pneumatomachian Controversy of the Fourth Century. Vigiliae Christianae Supplements Series 27. Leiden: Brill, 1993. Hbk. ISBN: 9004099476. pp.350. {Amazon.com}
	Charles Kannengeiser, "Athanasius of Alexandria and the Foundation of Traditional Christology," Theological Studies 34 (1973): 103-13.
	Charles Kannengeiser, "Athanasius of Alexandria and the Holy Spirit Between Nicea and Constantinople 1," Irish Theological Quarterly 48 (1981): 166-80.
	Charles Kannengeiser, "Athanasius of Alexandria: Three Orations Against the Arians: A Reappraisal," Studia Patristica, Vol. 18. (1982): 981-995.
	Charles Kannengeiser, "The Athanasian Decade 1974-84: A Bibliographic Report," Theological Studies, Vol. 46 (1985): 524-541.
	Charles Kannengeiser, Arius and Athanasius: Two Alexandrian Theologians. London: Variorum, 1991. Hbk. ISBN: 0860783146. pp. xiv + 330. {Amazon.com}
	Alan L. Kolp, "Partakers of the Divine Nature: The Use of 2 Peter 1:4 by Athanasius." Studia Patristica 17 (1982): 1018-1023.
	Peter L'Huillier,"Ecclesiology in the Canons of the First Nicene Council," St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly 27.2 (1983): 119-131.
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	Stephen M. Reynolds, "Calvin's View of the Athanasian and Nicene Creeds," Westminster Theological Journal 23.1 (1961): 33-37.
	Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, The Light of the World: a Basic Image in Early Christian Thought. New York: Harper, 1962. pp.128.
	A. Pettersen, "Christ's Death - A Liturgical Event for Athanasius of Alexandria?" Downside Review 102 (1984): 22-31.
	Alvyn Pettersen, "(Mt 26:39) Did Athanasius Deny Christ's Fear?" Scottish Journal of Theology 39 (1986): 327-40.
	Alvyn Pettersen, "The Courage of Christ in the Theology of Athanasius," Scottish Journal of Theology 40 (1987): 363-77.
	C.R.B. Shapland, The Letters of Saint Athanasius Concerning the Holy Spirit. London, 1951.
	G.C. Stead, "Rhetorical Method in Athanasius," Vigiliae Christianae 30 (1976): 121-137.
	G.C. Stead, "The Thalia of Arius and the Testimony of Athanasius," Journal of Theological Studies 29 (1978): 20-52.
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	T.F. Torrance, "Athanasius: A Study in the Foundations of Classical Theology," in Theology in Reconciliation. London, 1975. Reprinted: Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1996. Pbk. ISBN: 1579100236. {Amazon.com}
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Biographies

	W. Bright, "St. Athanasius of Alexandria," W. Smith & H. Wace, editors, Dictionary of Christian Biography, Vol. 1. London: John Murray, 1877. pp.179-203.
	F. A. Forbes, St. Athanasius. Tan Books & Publishers Inc., 1999. Pbk. ISBN: 0895556235. pp.98. {Amazon.com}
	Alvyn Pettersen, Athanasius. Morehouse Publishing, 1996. Pbk. ISBN: 0819216550. pp.224. {Amazon.com}
	Henry Robert Reynolds [1825-1896], Athanasius. His Life and Life-Work. The Church History Series V. London: The Religious Tract Society, 1889. Hbk. pp.192. pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]

Related Subjects

Alexander of Alexandria | Ambrose | Arnobius | Athanasius | Athenagoras | Augustine | Basil | Boethius | John Cassian | Celsus | Clement of Alexandria | Clement of Rome | Constantine | Cyprian | Cyril of Alexandria | Cyril of Jerusalem | Ephraem the Syrian | Epiphanius | Eusebius of Caesarea | Gregory of Nazianzus | Gregory of Nyssa | Gregory Thaumaturgus | Hermas | Hilary of Poitiers | Hippolytus | Ignatius of Antioch | Irenaeus of Lyons | Julius Africanus | Jerome | John Chrysostom | Josephus | Justin Martyr | Justinian I | Lactantius | Marcellus | Melito | Methodius | Minucius Felix | Novatian | Origen | Pachomius | Papias | Philo | Polycarp | Tatian | Tertullian | Theodore of Mopsuestia | Theodoret | Theophilus | Tyconius | Ulfilas | Victorinus | Marius Victorinus

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