Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 84:1 (Spring 2022)
Article: Athanasius’s Doctrine Of Faith In The Festal Letters: The Word, The Holiness, And The Divinization
Author: Jong Bok Park

WTJ 84:1 (Spring 2022) p. 65

Athanasius’s Doctrine Of Faith In The Festal Letters: The Word, The Holiness, And The Divinization

Jong Bok Park

Jong Bok Park serves as assistant pastor at New Life Church of San Francisco, in Fremont, CA.

Even though some scholars acknowledge the existence of the doctrine of sola fide among the early church fathers, many opine that the doctrine of faith was not a significant issue until Augustine’s dispute with Pelagius. Thus, there is some accusation that the early church fathers do not have a distinct doctrine of faith, even allowing a moralism in salvation. However, Athanasius of Alexandria provides significant teachings on “faith” in his festal letters. Yet, his festal letters have not been examined in detail. In this regard, this article explores the doctrine of faith in Athanasius’s festal letters by examining inductively the key terms “faith” (“foi”) and “believe”(“croire”), which occur respectively ninety-nine and thirty-nine times. This study reveals Athanasius’s concept and doctrine of faith in light of the Word of God, Christian virtues, and divinization. In other words, faith receives its divine nature from God’s Word. Faith is the foundation of all the virtues. By faith alone, one can participate in the divine nature.

Over the past several decades, a movement known as theological interpretation of Scripture has caused renewed interest in the theology of the early church fathers.1 Furthermore, this renewed interest has encouraged ecumenical dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Protestants. Among their various doctrines, the soteriology of the early church fathers has been discussed in light of the Reformation doctrine sola fide.2

WTJ 84:1 (Spring 2022) p. 66

This discussion examines the role of faith in salvation. Many scholars opine that this doctrine of faith was not a major issue until Augustine’s dispute with Pelagius, even though they acknowledge the existence of sola fide among the early church fathers.3 Louis Berkhof suggests,

In their emphasis on faith the Fathers largely repeated what they found in the Bible. It is not altogether clear just what they meant when they spoke of faith. The prevalent idea seems to be that of a merely intellectual assent to the truth … [thus] the early church Fathers reveal a moralism that is not in harmony with the Pauline salvation.4

Among the church fathers, however, Athanasius of Alexandria provides significan...