Athanasius is consistent with 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Ken Temple

A Roman Catholic argued with me:

“I go straight to the early church fathers”

My response:

why not go straight to the apostles/apostolic writings? (The 27 books of the New Testament ) Only those writings/ Scriptures are infallible, since they are God-breathed. 2 Timothy 3:16

Athanasius (bishop of Alexandria, deacon at Council of Nicea 325; bishop from 328-373 AD, exiled 5 times for his defense of the Deity of Christ and the doctrine of Nicea (Christ is eternal and “homo-ousias ” (same substance) with the Father, and the Trinity) agrees with us: “in these alone is the doctrine of godliness ” Festal letter 39, And “The Scriptures are self-sufficient” for faith, & teaching And ” Vainly do they run around seeking a council where as the scriptures are fully sufficient” I will get references in next comment.

After listing the 27 books of the NT in his famous Easter Letter of 367 AD, Athanasius writes, “These are the fountains of salvation that they who thirst may be satisfied with the living words they contain.  In these alone is proclaimed the doctrine of godliness.”  (Athanasius, Festal Letter 39) Notice the word “alone” here.  There is “Sola Scriptura” in a basic, general principle form.

“Vainly then do they run about with the pretext that they have demanded Councils for the faiths sake; for divine Scripture is sufficient above all things; but if a Council be needed on the point, there are the proceedings of the Fathers, for the Nicene Bishops did not neglect this matter, but stated the doctrines so exactly, that persons reading their words honestly, cannot but be reminded by them of the religion towards Christ announced in divine Scripture.”  (De Synodis, 6)  (On the Councils, 6)

“For indeed the holy and God-breathed Scriptures are self-sufficient for the preaching of the truth.”  (Against the Gentiles, 1:3)

“self – sufficient” points to the sufficiency of Scripture and the perspicuity (clearness) of Scripture on the main things, and the self-authenticating nature of Scripture.

About Ken Temple

I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I am a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith alone (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:28; 4:1-16), in Christ alone (John 14:6). But a true faith does not stay alone, it should result in change, fruit, good works, and deeper levels of repentance and hatred of my own sins of selfishness and pride. I am not better than you! I still make mistakes and sin, but the Lord is working on me, conforming me to His character. (Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18) When I do sin, I hate the sin as it is an affront to God, and seek His forgiveness in repentance. (Mark 1:15; 2 Corinthians 7:7-10; Colossians 3:5-16 ) Praise God for His love for sinners (Romans 5:8), shown by the voluntary coming of Christ and His freely laying down His life for us (John 10:18), becoming flesh/human (John 1:1-5; 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8), dying for sins of people from all nations, tribes, and cultures (Revelation 5:9), on the cross, in history, rising from the dead (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 28, Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24; John 20-21; 1 Corinthians chapter 15). His resurrection from the dead proved that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal Son of God, the word of God from eternity past; and that He was all the gospels say He was and that He is truth and the life and the way to salvation. (John 14:6)
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