The Apologetic Writings

1. §§3–19 (end of 338 or beginning of 339). Circular of Egyptian bishops reciting the election of Athanasius, the plots and charges against him, the history of the Mareotic Commission, the testimony available in his…

§1–8 (¶1)

9. §52 (same year). Letter of Julius to the Church of Alexandria, eulogising Athanasius, complimenting them for their constancy, and congratulating them upon his return. 10. §54 (same year).

§9–16 (¶2)

17. §61 (same year). Letter to the people of Alexandria, remonstrating with them for their dissensions and stigmatising the calumnies against Athanasius (about the affair of Philumenus). ii. 18. §64 (332).

§17–25 (¶3)

26. §78. Protest addressed by the Egyptian Bishops to Count Dionysius, repeating the above complaints (in No. 24), and requesting him to stop the irregularities. 27. §80.

§26–33 (¶4)

34. §84. The Council of Jerusalem to the Church of Alexandria, announcing that Arius has been received to communion. 35. §87 (June 17, 337). Constantine II.

§34–5 (¶5)

6. When Arius, from whom the heresy of the Arian madmen has its name, was cast out of the Church for his impiety by Bishop Alexander, of blessed memory, Eusebius and his fellows, who are the disciples and partners of…

§6–13 (¶6)

14. They therefore entered Alexandria alone with the accuser, their partner in lodging, board, and cup; and taking with them Philagrius the Prefect of Egypt they proceeded to the Mareotis, and there carried on the…

§14–21 (¶7)

22. Yet what has been done that is a just cause of vexation? or in what respect was my letter to you such? Was it, that I invited you to be present at a council? You ought rather to have received the proposal with joy.

§22–29 (¶8)

5. §5. Gibbon says that by the government conveyances, “it was easy to travel an 100 miles in a day along the Roman roads.” ch. ii. Μονὴ or mansio properly means the building, where soldiers or other public officers…

§5–36 (¶9)

37. We were not ignorant, but the fact was well known to us, even before we received the letters of your piety, that the supporters of the abominated heresy of the Arians were practising many dangerous machinations,…

§37–44 (¶10)

45. They fled, beloved brethren, not only on account of the calumnies they had uttered, but because they saw that those had come who had various charges to advance against them.

§45–52 (¶11)

53. Wherefore he returns to you now more illustrious than when he went away from you. Fire tries and purifies the precious materials, gold and silver: but how can one describe the worth of such a man, who, having passed…

§53–60 (¶12)

61. Beloved brethren, I greet you well, calling upon God, Who is the chief witness of my intention, and on the Only-begotten, the Author of our Law, Who is Sovereign over the lives of all men, and Who hates dissensions.

§61–68 (¶13)

69. But that the wickedness of the calumniators might be more fully displayed, behold Arsenius also wrote to me after he was discovered in his place of concealment; and as the letter which Ischyras had written confessed…

§69–75 (¶14)

76. The same to the Controller, and to Philagrius, at that time Prefect of Egypt. To Flavius Philagrius, and to Flavius Palladius, Ducenary709, Officer of the Palace, and Controller, and to Flavius Antoninus, Commissary…

§76–83 (¶15)

84. As such was the character of their machinations, so they very soon shewed plainly the reasons of their conduct. For when they went away, they took the Arians with them to Jerusalem, and there admitted them to…

§84–7 (¶16)

16. Asterius (1, 2, 3), [Petra in] Arabia; 17. Athanasius (1, 2, 3, 4), Alexandria; 18. Athenodorus (1, 2, 3, 4), Platæa in Achaia; 19. Bassus (1, 2, 3), Diocletianapolis “in Macedonia” (really in Thrace); 20.

§16–78 (¶17)

1. Thou hast done well, in signifying to me the discussion thou hast had with the advocates of Arianism, among whom were certain of the friends of Eusebius, as well as very many of the brethren who hold the doctrine of…

§1–5 (¶1)

6. They say then what the others held and dared to maintain before them; “Not always Father, not always Son; for the Son was not before His generation, but, as others, came to be from nothing; and in consequence God was…

§6–10 (¶2)

11. For God creates, and to create is also ascribed to men; and God has being, and men are said to be, having received from God this gift also. Yet does God create as men do? or is His being as man’s being?

§11–14 (¶3)

15. This then is quite enough to expose the infamy of the Arian heresy; for, as the Lord has granted, out of their own words is irreligion brought home to them848.

§15–19 (¶4)

20. Again, when the Bishops said that the Word must be described as the True Power and Image of the Father, in all things exact and like the Father, and as unalterable, and as always, and as in Him without division (for…

§20–25 (¶5)

26. And that the Word of God is not a work or creature, but an offspring proper to the Father’s essence and indivisible, as the great Council wrote, here you may see in the words of Dionysius, Bishop of Rome, who, while…

§26–29 (¶6)

30. In like manner, when the Prophets spoke of God as All-ruling, they did not so name Him, as if the Word were included in that All; (for they knew that the Son was other than things originated, and Sovereign over them…

§30–32 (¶7)

1. The Arian appeal to Dionysius a slander against him. You have been tardy in informing me of the present argument between yourself and the enemies of Christ; for even before your courtesy wrote to me, I had made…

§1–5 (¶1)

6. Dionysius did not express his full opinion in the passages alleged. Well then, what is there in common between the heresy of Arius and the opinion of Dionysius: or why is Dionysius to be called like Arius, when they…

§6–10 (¶2)

11. The same is true of the analogous language of the Apostles. This then being the sense of the expression, it follows that it is of the vine, so understood, that it is written: ‘Who was faithful to Him that had…

§11–15 (¶3)

16. Contrast of the language of Dionysius with that of Arius. Now if the sense of the above statements were doubtful, there would be need of an interpreter.

§16–20 (¶4)

21. In what sense Dionysius said that the Son was ‘made.’ Of a truth one that hears this is reminded of the divine oracle which says, ‘whithersoever the impious turns, he is destroyed’ (Prov. xii. 7, LXX). For lo!

§21–25 (¶5)

26. How Dionysius dealt with the Sabellians. Hence too it is manifest that even the letter to Euphranor and Ammonius was written by him in a different sense and for a special purpose. For this his defence makes plain.

§26–27 (¶6)

1. Christ warned His followers against false prophets. All things whatsoever our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as Luke wrote, ‘both hath done and taught1147,’ He effected after having appeared for our salvation; for He…

§1–4 (¶1)

5. Attempt of Arians to substitute a Creed for the Nicene. I heard during my sojourn in these parts (and they were true and orthodox brethren that informed me), that certain professors of Arian opinions had met…

§5–8 (¶2)

9. For such words do but serve as their cloak. But when they proceed from those who are hired to advocate the cause of heresy, and since, according to the divine proverb, ‘The words of the wicked are to lie in wait,’…

§9–12 (¶3)

13. Arguments from Scripture against Arian statements. For maintaining these and the like opinions Arius was declared a heretic; for myself, while I have merely been writing them down, I have been cleansing myself by…

§13–16 (¶4)

17. Arguments from Scripture against Arian statements. But it is written1241, say they, ‘The Lord created me in the beginning of His ways for His works.’ O untaught and insensate that ye are!

§17–20 (¶5)

21. To make a stand for the Faith equivalent to martyrdom. Wherefore I exhort you, keeping in your hands the confession which was framed by the Fathers at Nicæa, and defending it with great zeal and confidence in the…

§21–32 (¶6)

1. Knowing that you have been a Christian for many years1282, most religious Augustus, and that you are godly by descent, I cheerfully undertake to answer for myself at this time;—for I will use the language of the…

§1–5 (¶1)

6. The second charge, of corresponding with Magnentius. With regard to the second calumny, that I have written letters to the tyrant (his name I am unwilling to pronounce), I beseech you investigate and try the matter,…

§6–10 (¶2)

11. Challenge to the accusers as to the alleged letter. Now I have already called upon God, and His Word, the Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, to witness for me, that I have never written to that man, nor…

§11–14 (¶3)

15. Want of room the cause, precedent the justification. Believe me, Sire, and let Truth be my witness in this also, when I declare that in the congregations held during the season of Lent, in consequence of the narrow…

§15–19 (¶4)

20. History of his disobeying it. Now I ask again, whence have my accusers obtained this letter also? I would learn of them who it was that put it into their hands? Do you cause them to answer.

§20–24 (¶5)

25. The irruption of Syrianus. All demanded that the letters of your Piety should be exhibited. For although the bare word of a King is of equal weight and authority with his written command, especially if he who…

§25–29 (¶6)

30. A copy of the letter of Constantius against Athanasius. Victor Constantius Maximus Augustus to the Alexandrians. Hist Ar. §73. Tit. i. 8. Rom. ii. 24. [Prolegg. ch. ii. §§4, 7, 8 (1).] That is, the prison.

§30–34 (¶7)

35. It was therefore better for me to hide myself, and to wait for this opportunity. Yes, I am sure that from your knowledge of the sacred Scriptures you will assent and approve of my conduct in this respect.

§35 (¶8)

1. Athanasius charged with cowardice for escaping. I hear that Leontius1389, now at Antioch, and Narcissus of the city of Nero, and George1391, now at Laodicea, and the Arians who are with them, are spreading abroad…

§1–4 (¶1)

5. In praise of Hosius. Of the great Hosius1409, who answers to his name, that confessor of a happy old age, it is superfluous for me to speak, for I suppose it is known unto all men that they caused him also to be…

§5–8 (¶2)

9. The accusation shews the mind of the accusers. Now if they had been of sound mind, they would have seen that they were in this strait, and that they were falling foul of their own arguments.

§9–12 (¶3)

13. Example of Our Lord. When they see these things, or rather even hear of them, for see they do not, will they not desire, as it is written, to become ‘fuel of fire1441,’ because their counsels and their words are…

§13–6 (¶4)

17. A time to flee and a time to stay. And if ever in their flight they came unto those that sought after them, they did not do so without reason: but when the Spirit spoke unto them, then as righteous men they went and…

§17–20 (¶5)

21. The Saints fled for our sakes. The flight of the saints therefore was neither blameable nor unprofitable. If they had not avoided their persecutors, how would it have come to pass that the Lord should spring from…

§21–24 (¶6)

25. Athanasius’s wonderful escape. Now when Providence had delivered us in such an extraordinary manner, who can justly lay any blame upon me, because we did not give ourselves up into the hands of them that sought…

§25–27 (¶7)