The Resurrection Letters
THE RESURRECTION LETTERS
HERESIES ARE PERVERSIONS OF THE TRUTH
Other men came along who used Paul's words, but they wanted to "obey" them their way. So they twisted what he said to fit their schemes. They are like the followers of Hymenaeus and Alexander — and before them, the Sadducees. These people, as St. Paul said, "made shipwreck of faith" (1 Tim.
1:19), since they were confused about the mystery of the resurrection (2 Tim. 2:18).
That is undoubtedly why he made special note of the fact that the Corinthians had held fast to the traditions just as he had handed them on. Paul was emphasizing that we should hold the same views on the gospel that our teachers held. It was not only outwardly that these wicked men disguised themselves. When the Lord said they put on sheep's clothing and looked like whitewashed tombstones, He meant that they put on a very good pretense.
So these deceivers spoke the divine words, while inside they had evil intentions.
Of course, the first to do this sort of thing was the serpent, the devil, who was the inventor of wickedness in the first place.
He put on a disguise to talk with Eve, and in that form he deceived her. But in his train are all these inventors of heresies, who, sure enough, refer to the Scriptures but do not believe the orthodox faith handed down to us by our Fathers. Instead, they call these truths "traditions of men." The fact is, they have gone astray because they do not really know the Scriptures — nor their power.
GOD'S DOCTRINE AND MEN'S TRADITIONS
You can see, then, that it was right for Paul to praise the Corinthians, because their views were in agreement with the traditions he had given them. Further, it was quite appropriate for the Lord to reprove the Jews when He said, "Why do you break the commandments of God on account of your traditions?" (Matt. 15:3). For they changed the commandments handed down to them from God to suit their own foolish ideas.
LETTER II
Instead of following God's tradition, they embraced the traditions of men.
Later, the apostle Paul instructed the Galatians, who were in danger of doing the same thing, "If anyone preaches to you anything besides what you have received, let him be accursed"
(Gal. 1:9). There is no association at all between the orthodox faith and the fancies of human invention. The Fathers of the church are the ministers of truth, preaching the kingdom of heaven. But those false teachers who get carried off in the opposite direction have no real hope. All they can do is go through the motions of life, thinking that when they die they will cease to exist. So we hear them say, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (Isa. 22:13).
That is why the blessed Luke reproves man-made traditions and ideas, while handing down the words of the apostles. He made his purpose quite clear in the beginning of the Gospel he wrote: "Many people have written narrations of the events that happened among us, using the traditions handed down to us by the original disciples and other eyewitnesses. Since I have clung to the truth from the beginning, I decided to write it all down in order and send it to you, excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth about what you have been taught" (Luke
1:1-4).
What the apostles received, they passed on without change, so that the doctrine of the mysteries (the sacraments) and Christ would remain correct. The Divine Word—the Son of God — wants us to be their disciples. It is appropriate for them to be our teachers, and it is necessary for us to submit to their teaching alone. Only from them and those who have faithfully taught their doctrine do we get, as Paul writes, "faithful words, worthy of complete acceptance" (1 Tim. 1:15). With them we are back to ground level, because they did not become disciples as a result of what they heard from others. Rather, they were eyewitnesses and servants of God the Word, and they handed down what they heard directly from Him.
Some of them told about the great miracles performed by our Savior, and preached His eternal godhead. Others wrote about Him being born as a baby of the Virgin Mary, and announced
THE RESURRECTION LETTERS
the festival of the holy Passover, saying, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed" (1 Cor. 5:7). As a result of their testimony, each of us and all of us together, and all the churches in the world, know
"that Christ rose from the dead, of the seed of David, according to the Gospel" (2 Tim. 2:8).
Let us not forget what Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning the Lord's resurrection (cf. 1 Cor. 15:12-57). By that resurrection "He destroyed him who had the power of death; that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14). Yes, and He raised us up along with Himself, because he cut loose the hold death had on us. He gave us a blessing instead of a curse, joy instead of grief, and a feast instead of mourning—the holy and joyful Feast of Easter.
Thus, with our hearts full of all that He has done for us, we rejoice continually, as Paul commanded: "Praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks" (1 Thess. 5:17,18). So when
Easter time comes around, we make it and everything connected with it known, just as we received it from the Fathers.
THE DATES OF THE EASTER SEASON
Thus we write once again. Holding to the apostolic tradition, we remember each other when we meet for prayer. We keep the Easter Feast together, giving thanks to the Lord with one voice. Having received the grace of the Lord, and being followers of the saints who went before us, "we shall make our praise in the Lord all the day" (Ps. 35:28). Properly keeping the Feast in this way, we will share in the joy of heaven.
We begin the forty-day fast on March 9. Easter Week begins on April 13. Therefore, we keep the Feast on Sunday, April 19, and follow it up with the seven weeks to Pentecost. Throughout the whole time, let us rejoice and delight in Christ Jesus our
Lord, through whom to the Father be glory and dominion by the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
The brothers and sisters who are with me greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
THE THIRD LETTER
A.D. 331
GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING
INTRODUCTION TO
THE THIRD LETTER
During this year, Athanasius was called before Emperor Constantine to answer charges his enemies had made against him. While he was there, the time came to write the Easter
Letter, and the faithful bishop found a way to send it back. He mentions his troubles at the beginning of the letter in a brief note about "those who afflict us."
His main theme this year is the distinction between thankful and unthankful people. By the skillful use of Scripture he uncovers the condition of the unthankful, pointing out that unthankfulness is wicked. Unthankfulness quenches the Spirit, so people who lack gratitude are bound to be in darkness.
Ah, but the faithful people of God are thankful. They praise the Lord. And Athanasius gives a list of Old Testament examples, before returning to his own troubles. But note that he does not use his difficulties as an occasion to complain. Rather, he says, the more they persecute me the more I'll praise the Lord. I will not be unthankful.
It seems that the same warning and exhortation is proper and appropriate even in our day. Isn't it true that unthankful people are sour and scheming, always trying to get what's coming to them? And do they not miss the blessing of God?
If you let your mind wander through thoughts of people you know and have known, you'll discover that it isn't always those who seem the most blessed in a worldly sense who are thankful.
As a matter of fact, it often seems that the reverse is true. The poor and the afflicted praise the Lord, while the rich and the
INTRODUCTION TO RESURRECTION LETTER III
comfortable gripe and grumble and complain. The Scriptures are clear: whatever our circumstances, we are to praise the Lord.
So count your blessings, Christian! Let us be thankful unto Him! Yea, and with Moses, and Athanasius after him, "I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously" (Exod.
15:1; KJV).