Editing Athanasius of Alexandria (section)

== Works ==

=== Polemical and theological works ===
Athanasius was not a speculative theologian. As he states in his ''First Letters to [[Serapion of Nitria|Serapion]]'', he held on to "the tradition, teaching, and faith proclaimed by the apostles and guarded by the fathers."<ref name="EA"/> He held that both the Son of God and the Holy Spirit are [[consubstantiality|consubstantial]] with the Father, which had a great deal of influence in the development of later doctrines regarding the Trinity.<ref name="EA"/> Athanasius' ''"Letter Concerning the Decrees of the Council of Nicaea"'' (''De Decretis''), is an important historical as well as theological account of the proceedings of that council.

Athanasius' apologetics are primarily represented in the two-part work: ''Against the Heathen'' (''Orations Against the Arians'') and ''[[On the Incarnation|The Incarnation of the Word of God]]''.<ref name="EB" /> Completed probably early in his life, before the Arian controversy,<ref>Justo L. Gonzalez in ''A History of Christian Thought'' notes (p. 292) that E. Schwartz places this work later, around 335, but "his arguments have not been generally accepted". The introduction to the CSMV translation of ''On the Incarnation'' places the work in 318, around the time Athanasius was ordained to the diaconate (''St Athanasius On the Incarnation'', Mowbray, England 1953)</ref> they constitute the first classic work of developed Orthodox theology. In the first part, Athanasius attacks several pagan practices and beliefs. The second part presents teachings on the redemption.<ref name="EA" /> Also in these books, Athanasius put forward the belief, referencing {{bibleref2|John|1:1–4}}, that the Son of God, the eternal Word (Logos) through whom God created the world, entered that world in human form to lead men back into the harmony from which they had earlier fallen away.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Church Fathers: On the Incarnation of the Word (Athanasius)|url=https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2802.htm|access-date=8 July 2021|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> 

Other examples of Athanasius' polemical writings against his theological opponents include his defence of the divinity of the Holy Spirit ''Letters to Serapion''<ref name="EB" /> in the 360s and ''On the Holy Spirit'' against [[Pneumatomachi|Macedonianism]]. In a letter to Epictetus of Corinth, Athanasius anticipates future controversies in his defence of the humanity of Christ. In a letter addressed to the monk Dracontius, Athanasius urges him to leave the desert for the more active duties of a bishop.<ref name="EB" /> Athanasius also wrote several works of [[Biblical criticism|Biblical exegesis]], primarily on [[Old Testament]] materials. The most important of these is his ''Epistle to Marcellinus'' (PG 27:12–45) on how to incorporate psalm-saying into one's spiritual practice. 

Perhaps his most notable letter was his Festal Letter, written to his Church in Alexandria when he was in exile, as he could not be in their presence. This letter clearly shows his stand that accepting Jesus as the Divine Son of God is not optional but necessary: {{blockquote|I know moreover that not only this thing saddens you, but also the fact that while others have obtained the churches by violence, you are meanwhile cast out from your places. For they hold the places, but you the Apostolic Faith. They are, it is true, in the places, but outside of the true Faith; while you are outside the places indeed, but the Faith, within you. Let us consider whether is the greater, the place or the Faith. Clearly the true Faith. Who then has lost more, or who possesses more? He who holds the place, or he who holds the Faith?<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.tertullian.org/fathers2/NPNF2-04/Npnf2-04-92.htm| title = fragment conjectured to belong to a festal letter}}</ref>}}

Athanasius was the first patriarch of Alexandria to use [[Coptic language|Coptic]] and Greek for [[Sermon|didactic homilies]].<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Coptic literature |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9026215/Coptic-literature |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>

=== Biographical and ascetic works ===
{{Christian mysticism}}
His biography of [[Anthony the Great]] entitled ''Life of Antony''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/vita-antony.asp | title=Athanasius of Alexandria: Vita S. Antoni [Life of St. Antony] (written bwtween 356 and 362) | publisher=Fordham University | access-date=14 July 2016 }}</ref>(Βίος καὶ Πολιτεία Πατρὸς Ἀντωνίου, ''Vita Antonii'') became his most widely read work. Translated into several languages, it became something of a best seller in its day and played an important role in the spreading of the [[Asceticism|ascetic]] ideal in Eastern and Western Christianity.<ref name="EB"/> It depicts Anthony as an illiterate yet holy man who continuously engages in spiritual exercises in the Egyptian desert and struggles against demonic powers. It later served as an inspiration to Christian [[monasticism|monastics]] in both the East and the West.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/theologians/athanasius.html|title=Athanasius|work=Christian History |access-date=14 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> Athanasius' works on asceticism also include a ''Discourse on Virginity'', a short work on ''Love and Self-Control'', and a treatise ''On Sickness and Health'' (of which only fragments remain).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Steven J. |title=The Importance of Athanasius and the Views of His Character |date=2017 |publisher=Rawlings School of Divinity |location=Lynchburg, Virginia |pages=77–90 |url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2678&context=doctoral |access-date=2 May 2023 |ref=Reflist}}</ref>

=== Misattributed works ===
{{see also|Apocalypse of Pseudo-Athanasius}}
There are several other works ascribed to him, although not necessarily generally accepted as being his own. These include the so-called [[Athanasian Creed]] (which is today generally seen as being of 5th-century Galician origin), and a complete ''Expositions on the Psalms''.<ref name="EA"/>