Difference between revisions of "Athanasians"

<p> the orthodox followers of St. Athanasius, the great and able antagonist of Arius. The Athanasian Creed, though generally admitted not to be drawn up by this father, (but probably, as Doctor Waterland says, by Hilary, bishop of Aries, in the fifth century,) is universally allowed to contain a fair expression of his sentiments. This creed says, "The [[Catholic]] faith is this: that we worship One God in Trinity, and [[Trinity]] in Unity: neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the [[Holy]] Ghost. But the [[Godhead]] of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost;" namely, "uncreate, incomprehensible, eternal," &c. The true key to the Athanasian [[Creed]] lies in the knowledge of the errors to which it was opposed. The [[Sabellians]] considered the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one in person;—this was "confounding the persons:" the Arians considered them as differing in essence—three beings;—this was "dividing the substance:" and against these two hypotheses was the creed originally framed. And since every sect was willing to adopt the language of Scripture, it was thought necessary to adopt scholastic terms, in order to fix the sense of [[Scripture]] language. Many, however, hold the doctrine of the Athanasian Creed, and approve its terms, who object to its damnatory clauses. See [[Arians]] . </p>

<p> Those who profess the sentiments held in the Athanasian Creed. </p> <p> See CREED. </p>