PODCAST · arts

Defence of the Nicene Definition

by Athanasius of Alexandria

“This letter must have been written in the interval between the return of Athanasius in 346 and his flight in 356...It is written in answer to a friend who in disputing with Arians had been posed by their objection to the use of non-scriptural terms in the Nicene Definition. He accordingly asks for some account of what the council had done...Athanasius begins his answer by stigmatising the evasions and inconsistency of the Arianisers, and describing their conduct at the council, and how they eventually subscribed to the terms now complained of (1–5). He then investigates the meaning of the divine Sonship (6–14), and how its true meaning is brought out by the other titles of the Son (15–17). Coming to the non-scriptural expressions he shews how they were forced upon the council by the evasions of the Arians (18–20), and that they express no sense not to be found in Scripture (21–24)...” From Introduction to de Decretis or Defence of the Nicene Definition. Soloist Note: The term “catholi