Comments on: Top 5 Christian Theologians: Athanasius

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:12:45 +0000

Trevin,

Agreed that Athanasius should be on the list. But to me his work on the incarnation has been more insightful and impactful than anything on the trinity.

Thanks,
Alex

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:29:22 +0000

Irenaeus or Athanasius… tough call, but I would probably made the same choice. Well, I’m all for bumping someone else out of the top five to make room for them both – affection clouding the decision-making process and all!

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:55:56 +0000

Great call. Can’t disagree w/ this pick.

By: trevinwax

trevinwax — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:04:43 +0000

No… Lasting influence and worldwide impact and importance too.

By: Bradley Cochran

Bradley Cochran — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:10:59 +0000

So … how are you defining “top”? Based on influence only?

By: Matt Privett

Matt Privett — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:21:08 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly that Athanasius belongs in the top five. If God doesn’t use him the way He did, the church might very well have delved even further into the Arian heresy, and the church would not be worshipping God as He has revealed Himself. Athanasius is a wonderful example of the faithfulness of God to the church: that the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

By: trevinwax

trevinwax — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:40:34 +0000

It was a toss-up between Athanasius and Irenaeus. I eventually went with Athanasius (at Scot McKnight’s behest) due to the influence of Trinitarianism. Irenaeus definitely deserves an “honorable mention” – most especially for his refutation of Gnosticism and his atonement theory of “recapitulation”.

Athanasius, I believe, has the most lasting influence however. Every time we talk about the Trinity in a biblical way, we are carrying on the legacy that Athanasius bequeathed us.

By: m slater

m slater — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:34:38 +0000

Excellent call Trevin,

I think Athanasius very much deserves a place in the top 5, probably the top 3 in fact for me. I would not have said that before taking classes in church history and reading in that area though. It would seem that, unfortunately, for all that Athanasius did, and for how incredible his personal narrative is through the tides of these controversies, that he does not get a lot of attention in non-historical theology (systematics etc). Curious who else you will include but I’ll find that out soon enough I suppose.