The Resurrection Letters
THE RESURRECTION LETTERS
blind and a Jew in your conscience! You should have understood the Scriptures and listened to the ancient saints, who said, 'Cause Your face to shine and we shall be saved' (Ps. 80:7) and, 'Send out Your light and Your Truth' (Ps. 43:3). Then you would have known that the Lord didn't come down on His own account, but on ours. As a result, you would have esteemed His lovingkindness so much more.
"And if you had thought about just who and what the Father is—and the Son as well— you would not have blasphemed the Son by saying He had a changeable nature.* If you had at all understood His works of lovingkindness for us, you would not have decided that the Son was different from the Father. Nor would you have considered the One who reconciled us to His
Father to be a stranger to that Father."
THE ARIANS AND THE SCHISMATICS
CONNECTED
I know that these words are hard to take, not only for those who downgrade Christ, but also for the schismatics. For these two groups are united in a way, having certain kindred feelings.
Both have learned to "rend the seamless coat of God." That is, neither of them feels the least bit bad about separating the inseparable Son from the Father.
I also know that when they hear these words, they will gnash their teeth, as will the devil who stirs them up. And for just one reason: It bothers them to hear the truth about our Redeemer's glory. But the Lord, who has always scoffed at the devil, does the same now, saying as always, "I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me" (John 14:11). For He is the Lord, who is revealed in the Father—and in whom the Father is revealed. It is He who, although eternally the true Son of the Father, became incarnate in time for our sakes. He offered Himself to the Father in our place and redeemed us by His offering and sacrifice.
4One of the characteristics of God is that He is immutable, unchangeable. The Arians said the Son did not have this characteristic.
LETTER VIII
He is the One who long ago brought the people of Israel out of Egypt and then later redeemed all of us—the whole race of men—from death, saving us from the grave. He is the One who in ancient days was sacrificed as a lamb, for He was pictured in those lambs sacrificed by Israel. But later, He Himself was slain for us, for "Christ our Passover is sacrificed" (1 Cor. 5:7). He is the One who now has delivered us from the snare of the hunters. He threw out the opponents of Christ (the Arians) and the schismatics, and once again rescued us, His church. Because we were victimized by their deception, He Himself has rescued us.
ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH UNSUCCESSFUL
In the face of all this, brothers and sisters, what should we do but give thanks to God, the King of all? Let us start by crying out the words of the Psalm, "Blessed be the Lord, Who has not let them eat us up" (Ps. 124:6). Let us keep the Feast in that way which He has established for our salvation—the holy day of Easter — so that we, along with the angels, may celebrate the heavenly Feast.
Remember that Israel, coming out of affliction to a state of rest, sang a song of praise for the victory as they kept the Feast.
And in the time of Esther the people kept a feast to the Lord because they had been delivered from a deadly decree (Esth.
3:9; 9:21). They called a feast, thanking and praising the Lord because He had changed the situation for them. Therefore, let us keep our promises to the Lord, confess our sins, and keep the Feast to Him— in behavior, moral conduct, and way of life.
Let us keep it by praising the Lord, who has disciplined us so lightly but has never failed us nor forsaken us nor stopped speaking to us.
He has now brought us out of the deceitful and infamous "Egypt" of the enemies of Christ (the Arians). Having experienced many troubles and afflictions in the wilderness, so to speak, we are here with His holy church. From here we can send you the customary Easter Letter, as well as receive letters from you. I'm especially thankful for this privilege, for it is an
THE RESURRECTION LETTERS
apostolic custom which these enemies of Christ, and the schismatics along with them, wanted to break off and put an end to.
The Lord did not permit it, however, but both renewed and preserved the tradition that He ordained through the apostle
Paul. So we may keep the Feast together, and together keep the holy days, according to the tradition and commandment of the Fathers.
THE DATES OF THE EASTER SEASON
We begin the forty-day fast on February 13 and the holy fast of Easter Week on March 20. The fast comes to an end late on the evening of March 25. Then we keep the Feast on the first day of the week, Easter Sunday, March 26. From that day until
Pentecost we keep holy day through seven weeks, one after the other. As we set our minds properly on all that this season means, we will be prepared for the eternal realities behind them, through Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom to the Father be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Greet one another with a holy kiss, remembering us in your holy prayers. All the brothers and sisters who are with me greet you—they keep you in mind all the time. I pray, dear brothers and sisters whom we love more than anything, that you may have health in the Lord.
THE NINTH LETTER
A.D. 339
THE WICKED DIG
A PIT FOR THEMSELVES
INTRODUCTION TO
THE NINTH LETTER
Remember that by count we are now two years behind. This is the letter for the eleventh year of Athanasius' ministry as bishop.
He was home when he wrote it, but the Arians were stirring up trouble and Athanasius could not complete the fast and celebrate the Feast in peace. On March 19 he had to go into hiding (after baptizing many people in the church of Theonas). He remained quietly in the city through Easter Sunday, but he had to leave for Rome the next day. Although this letter was written in the midst of trials and afflictions, it reflects a mature trust in the Lord and His providence.
This year Athanasius wrote many words about the wicked. They get so involved in lying and evildoing, he says, that they aren't about to repent. But their wickedness comes right back on them.
Consider that all those things they throw at others — anger, hatred, bitterness—they already have inside themselves.
He builds a foundation upon which to attack the Arians, whom he calls "Ario-maniacs."! His logic here is very strong. There is a close relationship between faith and godliness. The Arians denied the godhead of the Son. That practice undermined their faith and increased their godlessness. Being so godless, they set out to destroy the faith of the simple, spreading their poison everywhere. They really were maniacs! Stay away from them and 1This was a common term used for the Arians by the orthodox. They were considered to be madly promoting an insane heresy, and their tactics were known to demonstrate no regard for truth or morality.
INTRODUCTION TO RESURRECTION LETTER IX
their doctrines, he warns. Devote yourself to godliness and keep the true confession of faith.
Athanasius also reminds the people that trouble is coming. The "party of Eusebius," the Arian leadership, are already planning an attack, he warns. Nevertheless, those things aren't worth worrying about. The Lord prophesied afflictions for His people. Therefore, the bishop says, let us keep the Feast with joy.
You know, this connection between faith and godliness is one we should give more attention to. Sometimes Christians look at the apparent good works and the seeming morality of heretics and say, "Aren't they godly?" No, they are not godly! Only those who are in union with Christ are truly godly! "Good works" done with an evil motive are not good, and a morality undertaken in an attempt to be righteous enough to satisfy God is not a godly morality. Only a true and pure faith and godliness from a heart reconciled to God can unite to bear good fruit. Heretics cannot be godly, and wicked men cannot hold the true faith in their hearts.
For as St. Paul says, "The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2
Tim. 2:19).