Cloud of Witnesses
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Athanasius · c. 296 – 373

Four Discourses Against the Arians; Festal Letters; Life of Antony

c. 339–367 · NPNF 2nd series vol. 4 (1892) · translated from the Greek

67pages
24 h 41 minreading time
682passages linked to Scripture
3,325links to verses
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Contents

  1. Against the Heathen.1
  2. The deeds of heathen deities, and particularly of Zeus.1
  3. The folly of image worship and its dishonour to art.2
  4. Image worship condemned by Scripture.2
  5. The so-called gods of one place are used as victims in another.2
  6. Human sacrifice. Its absurdity. Its prevalence. Its calamitous results.2
  7. Part II.3
  8. Part III.4
  9. The same subject continued.4
  10. The Unity of God shewn by the Harmony of the order of Nature.4
  11. Impossibility of a plurality of Gods.4
  12. This function of the Word described at length.4
  13. Three similes to illustrate the Word's relation to the Universe.4
  14. The similes applied to the whole Universe, seen and unseen.4
  15. Conclusion. Doctrine of Scripture on the subject of Part I.4
  16. Doctrine of Scripture on the subject of Part 3.4
  17. Statement of Faith.5
  18. On Luke X. 22 (Matt. XI. 27).5
  19. This text refers not to the eternal Word but to the Incarnate.5
  20. By all things' is meant the redemptive attributes and power of Christ.5
  21. The same text further explained.5
  22. The Trisagion wrongly explained by Arians. Its true significance.5
  23. Circular Letter.6
  24. The whole Church affected by what has occurred.6
  25. Violent and Uncanonical Intrusion of Gregory.6
  26. Outrages which took place at the time of Gregory's arrival.6
  27. Outrages on Good Friday and Easter Day, 339.6
  28. Retirement of Athanasius, and tyranny of Gregory and Philagrius.6
  29. Appeal to the bishops of the whole Church to unite against Gregory.6
  30. Defence Against the Arians.7
  31. Introduction.7
  32. Chapter II.—Letter of Julius to the Eusebians at Antioch.8
  33. Chapter III.—Letters of the Council of Sardica to the Churches of Egypt and of Alexandria, and to all Churches.9
  34. Chapter IV.—Imperial and Ecclesiastical Acts in Consequence of the Decision of the Council of Sardica.10
  35. Part II.11
  36. Chapter V.—Documents connected with the charges of the Meletians against S. Athanasius.11
  37. Chapter VI.—Documents connected with the Council of Tyre.11
  38. De Decretis or Defence of the Nicene Definition12
  39. Chapter I.—Introduction. The complaint of the Arians against the Nicene Council; their fickleness; they are like Jews;12
  40. Chapter II.—Conduct of the Arians towards the Nicene Council. Ignorant as well as irreligious to attempt to reverse an12
  41. Chapter III.—Two senses of the word Son, 1. adoptive; 2. essential; attempts of Arians to find a third meaning between12
  42. Chapter IV.—Proof of the Catholic Sense of the Word Son. Power, Word or Reason, and Wisdom, the names of the Son, imply13
  43. Chapter V.—Defence of the Council's Phrases, "from the essence," And "one in essence." Objection that the phrases are n13
  44. Chapter VI.—Authorities in Support of the Council. Theognostus; Dionysius of Alexandria; Dionysius of Rome; Origen.13
  45. Chapter VII.—On the Arian Symbol "Unoriginate." This term afterwards adopted by them; and why; three senses of it. A fo14
  46. On the Opinion of Dionysius.15
  47. Life of Antony.16
  48. To the Bishops of Egypt.18
  49. Chapter I.18
  50. Chapter II.18
  51. Defence Before Constantius.19
  52. Defence of His Flight.20
  53. Part I.21
  54. Arian Persecution Under Constantine.21
  55. Part II.21
  56. First Arian Persecution under Constantius.21
  57. Part III.22
  58. Part IV.23
  59. Second Arian Persecution under Constantius23
  60. Part V.24
  61. Persecution and Lapse of Liberius24
  62. Part VI.25
  63. Persecution and Lapse of Hosius25
  64. Part VII.26
  65. Persecution at Alexandria26
  66. Part VIII.27
  67. Discourse I.28
  68. Chapter I.—Introduction. Reason for writing; certain persons indifferent about Arianism; Arians not Christians, because28
  69. Chapter II.—Extracts from the Thalia of Arius. Arius maintains that God became a Father, and the Son was not always; th28
  70. Chapter III.—The Importance of the Subject. The Arians affect Scripture language, but their doctrine new, as well as un28
  71. Chapter IV.—That the Son is Eternal and Increate. These attributes, being the points in dispute, are first proved by di28
  72. Chapter V.—Subject Continued. Objection, that the Son's eternity makes Him coordinate with the Father, introduces the s29
  73. Chapter VI.—Subject Continued. Third proof of the Son's eternity, viz. from other titles indicative of His coessentiali29
  74. Chapter VII.—Objections to the Foregoing Proof. Whether, in the generation of the Son, God made One that was already, o29
  75. Chapter VIII.—Objections Continued. Whether we may decide the question by the parallel of human sons, which are born la29
  76. Chapter IX.—Objections Continued. Whether is the Unoriginate one or two? Inconsistent in Arians to use an unscriptural30
  77. Chapter X.—Objections Continued. How the Word has free will, yet without being alterable. He is unalterable because the30
  78. Chapter XI.—Texts Explained; And First, Phil. II. 9, 10 Various texts which are alleged against the Catholic doctrine:30
  79. Chapter XII.—Texts Explained; Secondly, Psalm xlv. 7, 8. Whether the words therefore,' anointed,' &c., imply that the W31
  80. Chapter XIII.—Texts Explained; Thirdly, Hebrews i. 4. Additional texts brought as objections; e.g. Heb. i. 4; vii. 22.31
  81. Discourse II.32
  82. Chapter XIV.—Texts explained; Fourthly, Hebrews iii. 2 Introduction; the Regula Fidei counter to an Arian sense of the32
  83. Chapter XV.—Texts explained; Fifthly, Acts ii. 36. The Regula Fidei must be observed; madeapplies to our Lord's manhood32
  84. Chapter XVI.—Introductory to Proverbs viii. 22, that the Son is not a Creature. Arian formula, a creature but not as on33
  85. Chapter XVII.—Introduction to Proverbs viii. 22 continued. Absurdity of supposing a Son or Word created in order to the33
  86. Chapter XVIII.—Introduction to Proverbs viii. 22 continued. Contrast between the Father's operations immediately and na34
  87. Chapter XIX.—Texts explained; Sixthly, Proverbs viii. 22. Proverbs are of a figurative nature, and must be interpreted35
  88. Chapter XX.—Texts Explained; Sixthly, Proverbs viii. 22 Continued. Our Lord is said to be created for the works,' i.e.35
  89. Chapter XXI.—Texts Explained; Sixthly, Proverbs viii. 22, Continued. Our Lord not said in Scripture to be created,' or36
  90. Chapter XXII.—Texts Explained; Sixthly, the Context of Proverbs viii. 22 Vz. 22-30 It is right to interpret this passag37
  91. Discourse III.38
  92. Chapter XXIII.—Texts Explained; Seventhly, John xiv. 10 Introduction. The doctrine of the coinherence. The Father and t38
  93. Chapter XXIV.—Texts Explained; Eighthly, John xvii. 3. and the Like. Our Lord's divinity cannot interfere with His Fath38
  94. Chapter XXV.—Texts Explained; Ninthly, John x. 30; xvii. 11, &c. Arian explanation, that the Son is one with the Father38
  95. Chapter XXVI.—Introductory to Texts from the Gospels on the Incarnation. Enumeration of texts still to be explained. Ar39
  96. Chapter XXVII.—Texts Explained; Tenthly, Matthew xi. 27; John iii. 35, &c. These texts intended to preclude the Sabelli39
  97. Chapter XXVIII.—Texts Explained; Eleventhly, Mark xiii. 32 and Luke ii. 52 Arian explanation of the former text is agai40
  98. Chapter XXIX.—Texts Explained; Twelfthly, Matthew xxvi. 39; John xii. 27, &c. Arian inferences are against the Regula F40
  99. Chapter XXX.—Objections continued, as in Chapters vii.—x. Whether the Son is begotten of the Father's will? This virtu41
  100. Discourse IV.42
  101. Arians date the Son's beginning earlier than Marcellus, &c.42
  102. Marcellian illustration from 1 Cor. xii. 4, refuted.43
  103. Part I. History of the Councils.44
  104. Part II. History of Arian Opinions.45
  105. Part III. On the Symbols Of the Essence' And Coessential.'46
  106. Postscript.47
  107. Tome or Synodal Letter to the People of Antioch.47
  108. Letter of Ninety Bishops of Egypt and Libya, including Athanasius.48
  109. Letter I.—For 329. Easter-day xi Pharmuthi; viii Id. April; Ær. Dioclet. 45; Coss. Constantinus Aug. VIII. Constantinus49
  110. Letter II.—For 330. Easter-day xxiv Pharmuthi; xiii Kal. Mai; Æra Dioclet. 46; Coss. Gallicianus, Valerius Symmachus; P50
  111. Letter III.—For 331. Easter-day xvi Pharmuthi; iii Id. April; Æra Dioclet. 47; Coss. Annius Bassus, Ablabius; Præfect,51
  112. Letter IV.—For 332. Easter-day vii Pharmuthi, iv Non. Apr.; Æra Dioclet. 48; Coss. Fabius Pacatianus, Mæcilius H52
  113. Letter V.—For 333. Easter-day, Coss. Dalmatius and Zenophilus; Præfect, Paternus; vi Indict.; xvii Kal. M52
  114. Letter VI.—For 334. Easter-day, xii Pharmuthi, vii Id. April; xvii Moon; Æra Dioclet. 50; Coss. Optatus Patricius, Anic53
  115. Letter VII.—For 335. Easter-day iv Pharmuthi, iii Kal. April; xx Moon; Ær. Dioclet. 51; Coss. Julius Constantius, the b54
  116. Letter X.—For 338. Coss. Ursus and Polemius; Præf. the same Theodorus, of Heliopolis, and of the Catholics. Afte55
  117. Letter XI.—For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus II, Constans I; Præfect, Philagrius the Cappadocian, for the second time56
  118. Letter XIII.—(For 341.) Coss. Marcellinus, Probinus; Præf. Longinus; Indict. xiv; Easter-day, xiii Kal. Maii, xxiv Phar57
  119. Letter XIV.—(For 342.) Coss. Augustus Constantius III, Constans II, Præf. the same Longinus; Indict. xv; Easter-day iii58
  120. Letter XVII.—(For 345.) Coss. Amantius, Albinus; Præf. Nestorius of Gaza; Indict. iii; Easter-day, vii Id. Apr., xii Ph58
  121. Letter XVIII.—(For 346.) Coss. Augustus Constantius IV, Constans III; Præf. the same Nestorius; Indict. iv; Easter-day58
  122. Letter XIX.—(For 347.) Coss. Rufinus, Eusebius; Præf. the same Nestorius; Indict. v; Easter-day, Prid. Id. Apr., Pharmu59
  123. Letter XX.—(For 348.) Coss. Philippus, Salia; Præfect the same Nestorius; Indict. vi; Easter-day iii Non. Apr., viii Ph60
  124. From Letter XXII.—(For 350.)60
  125. From Letter XXIV.—(For 352.)60
  126. From Letter XXVIII.—(For 356.)60
  127. Another Fragment.60
  128. From Letter XL.—(For 368.)60
  129. From Letter XLII.—(For 370.)60
  130. From Letter XLIII.—(For 371.)60
  131. From Letter XLV.—(For 373.)60
  132. Letter XLVI.—Letter to the Mareotis from Sardica, a.d. 343-4.61
  133. Letter XLVII.—To the Church of Alexandria on the same occasion.61
  134. Letter XLVIII.—Letter to Amun. Written before 354 a.d.61
  135. Letter XLIX.—Letter to Dracontius. Written a.d. 354 or 355.62
  136. Letter L.—First Letter to Lucifer.63
  137. Letter LI.—Second Letter to Lucifer.63
  138. Letter LII.—First Letter to Monks. (Written 358-360).63
  139. Letter LIII.—Second Letter to Monks.64
  140. Letter LIV.—To Serapion, concerning the death of Arius.64
  141. Letter LV.—Letter to Rufinianus.64
  142. Letter LVI.—To the Emperor Jovian.65
  143. Letter LVII.—First Letter to Orsisius.65
  144. Letter LVIII.—Second Letter to Orsisius.65
  145. Letter LIX.—To Epictetus.65
  146. Letter LX.—To Adelphius, Bishop and Confessor: against the Arians.66
  147. Letter LXI.—Letter to Maximus. (Written about 371 a.d.)67
  148. Letter LXII.—To John and Antiochus.67
  149. Letter LXIII.—Letter to the Presbyter Palladius.67
  150. Letter LXIV.—To Diodorus (fragment).67
Four Discourses Against the Arians; Festal Letters; Life of Antony · Athanasius · Cloud of Witnesses