Crumbs from the Table

 I have decided to take time to read through a classic work of the 4th century, "On the Incarnation" by Athanasius of Alexandria (Alexandria was a prominent city in Egypt and one of the centres of Christianity in the early centuries.)   Athanasius lived approx. 296 to 373. He was at first a deacon in Alexandria, and acted as assistant to bishop Alexander at the Church Council convened at Nicea in 325 to deal with the Arian controversy. Arius, a Christian pastor, taught that the Word of God (Son of God) was not divine and eternal, but rather had a beginning. When his bishop died, Athanasius took his place and led the fight against Arianism in all its forms, gaining the nickname Athanasius Contra Mundum (Athanasius against the World). His work, "On the Incarnation" is the second part of a two-part work, the preceding first part being "Against the Heathen." Having refuted idolatry, Athanasius turns to consider the incarnation.   Having read the first 17 ...

At church on Sunday evenings we have begun a series in Hebrews. This exposition of the Christian faith has been somewhat eclipsed by the letter to the Romans. While clearly written from a Jewish perspective, and thus most immediately relevant to Jewish Christians, the letter to the Hebrews nevertheless provides, for all of us, a magnificent exposition of the Christian faith, presenting Christ as Son and Great High Priest.  Right from the start of the letter, Christ is presented in the most exalted terms as the Son whose name is far superior and more excellent than the angels.  In the first chapter the letter to the Hebrews makes the strongest case that God the Father himself refers to the Son as "my Son", calls on angels to worship him, acknowledges the Son's reign ("Your throne, O God"), speaks of him as eternal Creator, and says to him, "Sit at my right hand."  The full deity of the Son, and his equality with the Father is a truth central to and esse...