Athanasius Flashcards
What is the logical basis for Athanasius’ declaration that the Son is homoousios with the Father?
The son is offspring peculiar (unique) to the Father’s substance.
Athanasius - Why is “God’s offspring everlasting”?
Because God is everlasting and the peculiar Son of God always is because of the continual perfection of his nature.
How is it possible for human beings “to partake of God” when we partake of the Son and how is it possible for human “thought and comprehension of the Son” to be “knowledge about the Father”?
The son is the peculiar offspring from his substance…the offspring is neither an affection nor a division of that blessed substance.
According to Athanasius, if there is not a Triad that is originated, then what is there?
there is an everlasting and one Godhead in a Triad and there is one glory of the holy Triad.
Athanasius - What is it that “the Christian faith knows”?
…an unmoved, perfect, constant, blessed Triad.
What is the conclusion that Athanasius draws from the fact that the Son and Father are peculiar, or proper to, each other – what “must be stated”?
It must be stated that neither was God once Wordless nor was the Son once nonexistent.
According to Athanasius in Con Ar 1.20, what resemblance do originated things have with their maker? And why?
Other things have no resemblance, they are external to him having come into existence by his grace and will, by his Word, so that they have potential of ceasing to be if their maker intends it.
Athanasius uses numerous phrases to describe the relationship of a son to his father in order to contrast the status of a son with the status of an external thing – what are the phrases he uses to describe the status of the s/Son with relation to his f/Father?
You did not have a son before you begot him?
Children are not external but from parents – the Word of God is entirely from the Father
Through the Word, the Father brought into being all things that were not.
The Son is not from nothing but is everlasting and from the father.
Athanasius says God is what?
not composed of parts but is impassible and simple; he is without passion and indivisibly Father of the Son.
How does Athanasius conceive of the Father/God?
Immanent/Involved
Athanasius - Originated as “that which is not a work but always is” applies to ____.
BOTH Father and Son
Athanasius - Originates as “being but not having been begotten from anyone, nor having a father of his own” applies to ___
FATHER alone
