Folia Theologica et Canonica 1. 23/15 (2012)
SACRA THEOLOGIA - László Perendy, Athenagoras on the Triune God of Christians
ATHENAGORAS ON THE TRIUNE GOD OF CHRISTIANS... 69 to have advanced really new arguments, which would be positively convincing. In this contribution I will be relying on the statements found in the Legatio, whose authorship has never been questioned. II. Christians are in Possession of the Right Concept of God In this apology Athenagoras defends the Christians against the charge of atheism. His train of thought can be summarized in the following way: How could Christians be regarded as atheists when they clearly distinguish between God and matter, the uncreated and eternal principle and the created and perishable matter. The order of the universe is the witness that one eternal God exists, who created this harmonious cosmos.* 3 Even the pagan philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, spoke of one God, who is above matter. The Stoics also said that there is one God, although He has many names.4 There can be only one God, who is uncreated and not similar to any created being. He is above and around his creation.5 We, Christians cannot be atheists also because we believe in one God, who is uncreated, eternal, invisible, and unchangeable, who now rules over his creation. We also believe in the Son, the Word of the Father, through him all things came into being. The eternal God issued His Word to serve as form and energy for the chaotic matter. We also believe in God’s angels who watch over the elements.6 We refuse to sacrifice to the gods because the Creator does not need blood or fragrance.7 We do not worship material images because the eternal Artificer is to be praised and not the perishable matter. Although the universe is beautiful, we have to worship its Maker. We do not worship powerless elements, but their Ruler.8 The genealogy of the gods starts from Ocean, i.e. Water. But how can a material element be the origin of everything when it is perishable? Apologetica. Encore sur l’authenticité du «De Resurrectione» d’Athénagore, in Revue des sciences religieuses 67 (1993) 23-40; 68 (1994) 19-38; 69 (1995) 194-201. Runia, D. T., Verba Philonica, ArA AM A TO&OPEIN, and the Authenticity of the De Resurrectione Attributed to Athenagoras, in Vigiliae Christianae 46 (1992) 313-327. Zeegers-Vander Vorst, N., Adversaires et destinataires du De Resurrectione attribué à Athénagore d'Athènes, in Salesianum 57 (1995) 75-122, 199-250,415-442, 611-656. 3 “But surely it is not rational for them to apply the term atheism to us who distinguish God from matter and show that matter is one thing and God another and the difference between them immense; for the divine is uncreated and eternal and can be contemplated only by thought and reason, whereas matter is created and perishable.” (Ch. 4). The English translation is taken from Schoedel, W. R., Athenagoras, Legatio and De Resurrectione, Oxford 1972. 4 Chapter 6. 5 Chapter 8. 6 Chapter 10. 7 Chapter 13. 8 Chapter 16.
