Incarnation, Deification and Orthodoxy in The Life of St.

Antony
Works by Athanasius:

• Against the Pagans

• On the Incarnation

• Life of St. Antony

• Festal letters
• Letters to ascetics
• Other Letters

• Against the Arians

Against the Pagans and On the Incarnation

• His first major work and also one of his greatest

• Written before the Arian crisis reached its peak

• Athanasius did not interpret scripture allegorically like Origen: not a

speculative thinker
• Also did not read scripture ‘historically’.
• On the Incarnation does not mention the birth scenes in Matthew
and Luke!

• The focus of On the Incarnation is

• The fall of humanity which made salvation necessary
• The cross
• The consequences of the resurrection for humanity

Unlike Origen, Athanasius sees a huge ontological divide between God

and humanity. Christ is the bridge, and comes so that we, too, can
become ‘gods’.
On the Incarnation:

Creation and Fall

All things that are, owe their being to the Word’s will and power… Through Him the
Father gives order to creation, by Him all things are moved, and through him they
receive their being. 1

What men think is impossible, God proves to be possible – He chose to become

man and in so doing declared humanity divine. ‘Thus by what seems His utter
poverty and weakness on the cross He overturns the pomp and parade of idols, and
quietly and hiddenly wins over the mockers and unbelievers to recognise Him as
God’. 1

Upon humanity ‘He bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked – namely the
impress of His own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word Himself,
so that reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and expressing the
Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree, they might continue for
ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in paradise.’ 3

God gave them a law and a place in which to exercise their freedom. They abused
this freedom and chaos broke loose. ‘Cities were warring with cities, nations were
rising against nations and the whole earth was rent with factions and battles, while
each strove to outdo the other in wickedness.’ 5
The divine dilemma and its solution in
the incarnation

What was God to do? … Demand

repentance? … But repentance would not
guard the Divine consistency, for, if death
did not hold dominion over men, God
would still remain untrue…
What – or rather WHO was it that was
needed for such grace?

Who, save the Word of God Himself, who

also in the beginning had made all things
out of nothing… He alone was both able
to recreate all and worthy to suffer on
behalf of all and to be an ambassador for
all with the Father. 7
Man’s neglect of the indwelling grace tends ever to increase

Nevertheless, three ways lay open to humanity, by which they might obtain the
knowledge of God. They could:

• See the immensity and harmony of the heavens

• Converse with holy people
• Cease from luke-warmness and lead a good life according to the law 12

Thus if they were tardy in looking up to heaven, they might still gain knowledge of
their Maker from those close at hand; for men can learn directly about higher things
from other men.

But men kept on sinning and God’s Image was being destroyed!
What else could He possibly do, being God, but renew His Image in mankind
so that through it men might once more come to know Him?

And how could this be done save by the coming of the very Image Himself,
our Saviour Jesus Christ?
Men could not have done it, for they are only made after the Image;
nor could angels have done it, for they are not the image of God.

In order to effect this recreation, He had first to do away with death and
corruption.

Therefore He assumed a human body, in order that in it death might once for
all be destroyed, and that men might be renewed according to the Image. 13
The paradox of the incarnation

The marvellous truth is, that being the Word, so far from being Himself contained by
anything, He actually contained all things Himself.

In creation He is present everywhere, yet is distinct in being from it; ordering,

directing, giving life to all, containing all, yet is He Himself the Uncontained, existing
solely in His Father.

…Existing in a human body, to which He Himself gave life, He is still Source of life to
all the universe, present in every part of it, yet outside the whole; and He is revealed
both through the works of His body and through His activity in the world…

His body was for Him not a limitation, but an instrument, so that He was both in it and
in all things, and outside all things, resting in the Father alone.

At one and the same time – this is the wonder – as man He was living a human life,
and as Word He was sustaining the life of the universe, and as Son He was in constant
union with the Father…He sanctified the body by being in it. 17
The death of Christ

Thus it happened that two opposite marvels took place at once:

• the death of all was consummated in the Lord’s body;
• yet, because the Word was in it, death and corruption were in the same act utterly
abolished.

Death there had to be, and death for all, so that the due of all might be paid.
Wherefore, the Word, as I said, being Himself incapable of death, assumed a mortal
body, that He might offer it as His own in place of all, and…bring to nought Him that
had the power of death. 19

The supreme object of his coming was to bring about the resurrection of the body.

A marvellous and might paradox has thus occurred, for the death which they thought
to inflict on Him as dishonour and disgrace has become the glorious monument to
death’s defeat.

Therefore it is also that He neither endured the death of John, who was beheaded,
nor was He sawn asunder like Isaiah: even in death He preserved His body whole
and undivided, so that there should be no excuse hereafter for those who would
divide the Church. 24
The resurrection

All the disciples of Christ despise death; they take the offensive against it and,
instead of fearing it, by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ trample on it as
on something dead…

Now that the Saviour has raised His body, death is no longer terrible, but all those
who believe in Christ tread it under foot as nothing, and prefer to die rather than
to deny their faith in Christ,

knowing full well that when they die they do not perish but live indeed, and
become incorruptible through the resurrection. 27
Many have welcomed martyrdom and this is proof of the resurrection:

Those who disbelieve in the resurrection have no support in facts, if their gods
and evil spirits do not drive away the supposedly dead Christ. Rather, it is He Who
convicts them of being dead.

We are agreed that a dead person can do nothing: yet the Saviour works mightily
every day, drawing men to religion, persuading them to virtue, teaching them
about immortality, quickening their thirst for heavenly things, revealing the
knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength in the face of death, manifesting
Himself to each, and displacing the irreligion of idols; while the gods and evil
spirits of the unbelievers can do none of these things. 31

Evidence that Christianity is true is that people:

When they hear the teaching of Christ, they forthwith turn from fighting to
farming, and instead of arming themselves with swords extend their hands in
prayer. 52
Refutation of questions posed by Jews/Gentiles

Why did Christ come as a man and not some nobler part of creation?

The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach
suffering men… to put Himself at the disposal of those who needed Him,

and to be manifested according as they could bear it, not vitiating the value of
the Divine appearing by exceeding their capacity to receive it.

Moreover, nothing in creation had erred from the path of God’s purpose for it,
save only man. Sun, moon, heaven, stars, water, air… (all remain obedient). 43.
What is the purpose of the incarnation?

He indeed assumed humanity so that we might become god.

He manifested Himself by means of a body in order that we might

perceive the Mind of the unseen Father.

He endured shame from men that we might inherit immortality. 54

Postscript: Theology requires purity

But for the searching and right understanding of the Scriptures there is need
of a good life and a pure soul, and for Christian virtue to guide the mind to
grasp, so far as human nature can, the truth concerning God the Word.

One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a
pure mind and is trying to imitate their life.

Anyone who wants to look at sunshine naturally wipes his eyes clear first, in
order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that on which
he looks; and a person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in
order to do so.

Similarly, anyone who wishes to understand the mind of the sacred writers
must first cleanse his own life, and approach the saints by copying their deeds.
57
Progression towards union with Christ in The Life of St. Antony:

• Antony is called by God and responds

• He practices in front of his house
• He goes to the tombs and
• Dies to himself
• He goes to the barracks and
• Comes out as if from a shrine

Christ speaks and works through him

• Against the demons
• For the saints

• Antony goes to the inner mountain whereafter

• Antony is presented as a deified person
• Who has returned to paradise and
• Has heavenly visions

Antony teaches against the Arians and the pagan philosophers

When Antony resists the temptations of the devil:

He who had thought he would become like God was now mocked by a
mere youth; he who had vaunted himself against flesh and blood was being
rebuffed by a flesh and blood human being. For working with Antony was
the Lord, who for us bore flesh and gave the body victory over the Devil so
that each of those who struggle like Antony can say: ‚It is not I but the grace
of God that is in me‘. 5

Antony gave thanks to the Lord (rebuked the devil and said) ‚the Lord is my
helper, and I shall look upon my enemies Ps 117.7 6

This was Antony‘s first contest against the Devil; or, rather, through Antony
it was the triumph of the Saviour, who ‚condemned sin in the flesh, so that
the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.‘ Rom 8. 3-4 7
Antony conforms himself to be like Christ:

He observed that in saying ‚today‘ he was not counting time that

had passed but was always making a new beginning for himself,
endeavoring each day to stand with God as though he were about
to appear before God, pure in heart and prepared to obey only the
will of God, and the will of no other. 7
Antony goes to the tombs

In this way Antony girded himself and left for the tombs…He went
into one of the tombs and, closing the door of the tomb behind him,
remained inside, alone. 8

The demons attack him, his friend takes him to the church and
„many of his relatives and people from the village sat down around
Antony as though he were dead“ 8

Antony was carried back to the tomb… and with the door closed, as
was his custom, he was once again by himself. He did not have the
strength to stand… but said: ‚Even if you do worse things to me,
nothing will separate me from the love of Christ.‘ Rom 8.35 9
When the demons attack him like wild beasts, Antony puts himself
under the protection of the Lord

If you are able, and have received authority against me, do not hesitate, but
attack now. But if you are not able, who do you bother me to no purpose?
Our seal and wall of protection is our faith in the Lord.‘

The Lord did not forget Antony‘s struggle at that time but came to his help.

Antony perceived the Lord‘s help and when he took a deep breath and
realized that he had been relieved of his suffering, he entreated the vision
that had appeared to him. Where are you? Why did you not appear at the
beginning?

I was here but I waited to see your struggle. And now, since you persevered
and were not defeated, I will be a helper to you always and I will make you
famous everywhere. 9-10
Antony goes to the Barracks

Finding on the far side of the river a barracks deserted so long that it was
full of reptiles, he made a new home for himself there and lived in the
barracks. As a result, the reptiles, as though someone were chasing them,
immediately left. Antony blocked up the entrance and, having water inside,
laid in enough bread for six months… As though he were hidden away in the
innermost recesses of a sanctuary, he remained alone inside his hermitage
(monasterion). 12

When others come to visit him and hear him contending with the demons:

The demons create just such apparitions for those who are fearful. But you
– cross yourselves and go away strengthened and encouraged, and leave
the demons to deceive themselves.‘ so they went away, protected by the
sign of the cross. 13
Antony comes out of the barracks as though from some shrine

Antony spent almost twenty years alone practicing his ascetic discipline this
way, neither going out, nor being often seen by anyone. After awhile, many
people yearned for his way of life… (they) tore down his door and forced
him to come out.
Antony emerged as though from some shrine, having been initiated into
divine mysteries and inspired by God.
The character of his soul was pure… He maintained equilibrium and natural
balance.
Through Antony the Lord healed many there who were suffering from
bodily illnesses and purified others of their demons…. The Lord gave grace-
filled speech to Antony, so he comforted many…in addition telling everyone
to prefer nothing among the things of the world to love for Christ.

Talking with them and reminding them of the good things to come and of
God‘s love for humankind that has come to us – God ‚did not withhold his
own Son, but gave him up for all of us‘ he persuaded many to choose the
monastic life. 14
Antony gives the brothers a word (The Lord gave grace-filled
speech to Antony)

After talking about the wiles of the demons: ‚Nevertheless, we have no

need to fear… for they are nothing and they disappear in a hurry, especially
if each person protects himself with faith and the sign of the cross.‘ 23

‚The Lord silences the demons, and we have learned from the saints that we
should do as they did and emulate their courage.‘27
The demons sometimes speak truthfully to confuse people:

So the oracles of the pagans arose and so the Greeks formerly were led
astray by the demons, but so too the deception later stopped, for the Lord
came who abolished the demons along with their cunning. 33

Sometimes it is God who gives visions like he did for Elisha. 34

The way to differentiate:

Make the sign of the cross over yourself and your house and pray, and you
will see (the demons) disappear. They are cowards and are completely
afraid of the sign of the Lord‘s cross becasue by it the Saviour stripped them
of their weapons and made an example of them. 35
The doing of miracles is not our work but the Lord‘s

Casting out demons is a grace given by the Saviour. Therefore, to those who
boasted not of their virtue but of miracles… He replied, „Truly I say to you, I
do not know you“, for the Lord does not know the ways of the ungodly. In
general, then, it is necessary to pray to receive the gifts of discerning spirits.
38

Therefore, do everything in the name of the Lord

Often the demons have called me blessed while I cursed them in the name
of the Lord. 39

I gave glory to the Lord who had overpowered their audacity and madness
and made an example of them. 39.
Further examples:

When the devil asked Antony what he might bestow on him:

I blew on him all the more forcefully, invoking the Lord‘s name, and
attempted to strike him. I thought I had managed to hit him, and suddenlty
this huge apparition disapperared, along with all his demons, because of
the name of Christ.

How many times the Devil showed me illlusory gold in the desert… but I
chanted the psalms and he melted away. Many times the demons struck me
and beat me, and I would say ‚nothing can separate me from the love of
Christ!‘

But it was not I who made them stop and rendered them impotent; it was
the Lord, who says, ‚I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.‘ 40
The devil complains about the Christians harassing him:

You have always been a liar and you never speak the truth! Nevertheless,
just now you spoke the truth, however unwillingly: when Christ came he
made you weak; casting you down, he stripped you naked. When the devil
heard the name of Christ, he could not stand the searing heat and
disappeared.

Let us reflect in our soul that the Lord is with us: he has routed the demons
and rendered them impotent.

They come looking for us and if they find us rejoicing in the Lord and
thinking thoughts about the good things to come, keeping our hearts set on
the Lord and his works and reflecting on the fact that everything is in the
Lord‘s hands, that a demon has no power against a Christian and has
absolutely no authority over anyone, then seeing the soul made secure with
thoughts of this kind, they turn away ashamed. 41-42
A community develops around Antony: Back to Eden!

To see it was truly to see a land like no other, a land of righteousness and
devotion to God… about which one says ‚Good are your dwellings, Jacob,
and your tents, Israel; like shady groves and like a garden beside a river, and
like tents that the Lord has staked… 43
Antony goes to Alexandria to help the martyrs and is asked to heal
a child with a demon:

When the officer remained knocking a long time on the door, asking Antony
to come out and pray to God on behalf of his child, Antony refused to open
the door but leaning down from above said, ‚Man, who do you cry to me? I
am a man, just like you. If you believe in Christ, whom I serve, go and pray
to God according to your faith, and what you seek will come to be‘.
Immediately the man believed and called on Christ and went away and his
daughter was cleansed of her demon. 48

Antony was concerned that, because of the things the Lord was
doing through him, either he himself might become conceited or
someone might think that he was greater than he was. 49
Antony goes to the inner mountain: return to paradise

• He loved the place

• He remained alone on the mountain with no one else living with him.
• He was like someone who recognizes his own home.
• From that point on he considered the place his own. 50

• Although he was in such a barren place… because he put his trust in the Lord, he
was like Mount Sion, having a calm and tranquil spirit. 51

• The devil kept his eye on Antony and gnashed his teeth against him, but Antony,
comforted by the Saviour, remained unharmed by the various wiles and
machinations of the Devil.
• When hyenas come he responds: ‘Go away! For I am a servant of Christ.”
• When the Beast comes, he says: ‘I am a servant of Christ; if you have been sent
against me, look, here I am!’ 53
Others come to the Inner Mountain

Antony exhorted those who came to him: ‘Have faith in the Lord and love him’ 55

When he healed people he taught them ‘to give thanks to the Lord, not Antony.’ 56

Antony is asked to heal a girl:

Go, and you will find her healed if she has not died. This achievement is not mine
so that every pitiable person will come to see me. No, this healing is the Saviour’s:
he works his mercy everywhere on those who call on him. As far as the girl is
concerned, then, the Lord has agreed to hear her prayer; as for my involvement,
the Lord has demonstrated his love for humanity by healing her of her infirmity
over there. 58

After another healing:

Everyone was astonished when they understood that the Lord had stopped her
suffering at the time when Antony was praying and petitioning the goodness of the
Lord on her behalf. 61
Antony’s Role as a Christian Teacher

In Response to Antony’s visions:

Although Antony saw such amazing things and spoke about them, he
asked that no one marvel at him on account of them, but to marvel
instead at the Lord because he has given us human beings the grace to
know him according to our abilities. 62
Antony shown to be deified

Antony was not any different from others in height or size, but he was different
from them in the makeup of his character and in the purity of his soul. Because his
soul was tranquil, Antony was also imperturbable on the outside… he also had a
joyful face… 67

Antony was completely wonderful and orthodox in his belief, for he never had
fellowship with the schismatic Melitians… nor did he have friendly relations with
Manicheans or with any other heretics except to admonish them to change to
orthodoxy… Thus he also loathed the Arian heresy, urging everyone neither to go
near them nor to hold their wicked beliefs. 68
Antony goes to Alexandria to oppose the Arians

• He taught the people that the Son of God is not a creature and that he did not
come into existence from non-existence, but that he is the eternal Word and
Wisdom of the Father’s essence.
• It is sacrilegious to say there was a time when he was not, for the Word was
always with the Father
Therefore:
• Believe that all creation is angry with them because they number the Creator
and Lord of all, through whom all things came into being among those that came
into being. 69

All the people rejoiced to hear from such a person the condemnation of the heresy
that fights against Christ… There is no doubt that as many people became Christians
in just those few days as one normally saw come to the faith in a year. 70
Antony heals a child

Man of God, stop! My daughter is terribly afflicted by a demon… but when Antony
prayed and invoked the name of Christ, the child was healed and rose to her feet…
Her mother praised God and everyone gave thanks. Antony also rejoiced as he left,
heading for the mountain like someone going home. 71
Antony has the right Word for the pagan philosophers

Antony was also extremely wise. And it was amazing that, although he had not
learned to write, he was a perceptive and intelligent person. One day two
philosophers came to see him – they were pagans – thinking that they would be
able to put Antony to the test. He was on the outer mountain… He spoke to them
through an interpreter: ‘Why do you trouble yourselves, philosophers, coming to
see such a foolish person?’ When they said that he was not foolish but was very
wise, he said to them, ‘… If you think that I am wise, become like me, for we ought
to imitate what is good. Also, if I had come to see you, I would have emulated you.
But since you have come to see me, become like me: I am a Christian. 72
Antony defends the doctrine of the Incarnation

Still others came… and demanded a word with him concerning the faith we have in
Christ…
Feeling sorry for them, Antony spoke through an interpreter who translated his
words well: ‘Which is more becoming: to confess a cross, or to attribute to those
whom you call gods adulteries and the corruption of boys?
Antony defends the doctrine of the Incarnation

Still others came… and demanded a word with him concerning the faith we have in
Christ…
Feeling sorry for them, Antony spoke through an interpreter who translated his
words well: ‘Which is more becoming: to confess a cross, or to attribute to those
whom you call gods adulteries and the corruption of boys?

Is it better, then, to say, that the Word of God did not err but, on the contrary,
staying as he was, for our benefit and salvation assumed a human body so that,
having participated in human nature, he might make us humans participate in the
divine and spiritual nature?

Or is it better to liken God to irrational beings and, as a result, worship four-legged

beasts?
Antony defends the doctrine of the Incarnation

Still others came… and demanded a word with him concerning the faith we have in
Christ…
Feeling sorry for them, Antony spoke through an interpreter who translated his
words well: ‘Which is more becoming: to confess a cross, or to attribute to those
whom you call gods adulteries and the corruption of boys?

Is it better, then, to say, that the Word of God did not err but, on the contrary,
staying as he was, for our benefit and salvation assumed a human body so that,
having participated in human nature, he might make us humans participate in the
divine and spiritual nature?

Or is it better to liken God to irrational beings and, as a result, worship four-legged

beasts?

How dare you ridicule us for saying that Christ appeared as a human being when
you define the soul as coming from Mind and maintain that it has strayed and fallen
from the vault of heaven into a body?
Antony defends the doctrine of the Incarnation (continued)

Our faith declares that the coming of Christ is for the salvation of human beings,
while you propound errors about the soul being uncreated.

We also know Providence’s power and love for humankind: the coming of Christ
was not impossible for God. You on the other hand, in calling the soul an image of
Mind, attribute to it a fall and make up myths about its mutability, and finally you
introduce the idea that Mind itself is mutable because of the soul… When you
believe such things about Mind, understand that you are also blaspheming the
Father of the Mind. 74
Concerning the Cross

Which would you say is better: to endure the cross when some plot is hatched by
evil people and not to shrink from an engineered death, however it comes; or to
make up false myths concerning Osiris and Isis and the plots of Typhon and the
flight of Kronos and the swallowing of children and murdering of fathers? And these
are the things you deem wise!
Concerning the Cross

Which would you say is better: to endure the cross when some plot is hatched by
evil people and not to shrink from an engineered death, however it comes; or to
make up false myths concerning Osiris and Isis and the plots of Typhon and the
flight of Kronos and the swallowing of children and murdering of fathers? And these
are the things you deem wise!

How can you sneer at the cross and not be astonished at the resurrection?

Or why, since you bring up the cross, are you silent about the dead that were raised
and the blind who regained their sight and the paralytics who were healed and the
lepers who were cleansed and walking upon the sea and the other signs and
wonders that show that Christ is not only human but also God?

It is clear to me that you are doing yourselves harm by not sincerely acquainting
yourselves with our Scriptures.

Acquaint yourselves with them and see that the things Christ did demonstrate that
he is God, who dwelt among us for the salvation of humankind.75
Concerning the Cross

Which would you say is better: to endure the cross when some plot is hatched by
evil people and not to shrink from an engineered death, however it comes; or to
make up false myths concerning Osiris and Isis and the plots of Typhon and the
flight of Kronos and the swallowing of children and murdering of fathers? And these
are the things you deem wise!

How can you sneer at the cross and not be astonished at the resurrection?

Or why, since you bring up the cross, are you silent about the dead that were raised
and the blind who regained their sight and the paralytics who were healed and the
lepers who were cleansed and walking upon the sea and the other signs and
wonders that show that Christ is not only human but also God?

It is clear to me that you are doing yourselves harm by not sincerely acquainting
yourselves with our Scriptures.

Acquaint yourselves with them and see that the things Christ did demonstrate that
he is God, who dwelt among us for the salvation of humankind.75

You serve the creation rather than God who created all things! 76
Faith in Christ: Christians outdo the pagans!

We Christians, therefore, do not possess the mystery through the wisdom of Greek
words, but through the power of faith supplied to us by God through Jesus Christ.

You with all your fine and fancy words, do not hinder the teaching of Christ; we, on
the other hand, invoking the name of Christ crucified, are putting to flight all the
demons, whom you fear. Wherever one sees the sign of the cross, magic loses its
power and sorcery has no effect. 78

Where are the incantations of the Egyptians? Where are the illusions of the
magicians? When did all these things lose their power and come to an end except
at the time when the cross of Christ appeared? Does this cross deserve ridicule,
then? Or, on the contrary, those things that have been nullified by the cross and
refuted as powerless?

your religion, celebrated and protected on all sides, is falling into ruin, whereas the
faith and teaching of Christ, ridiculed by you and often persecuted by emperors, has
filled the whole world! When has the knowledge of God ever shown so brilliantly?
79
Antony heals people as further demonstration of the power of the cross

You philosophers with your logical proofs, or by whatever skill or magic you wish,
calling upon your idols, cleanse these people! If you cannot, stop waging war
against us, and you will see the power of the cross of Christ!
When he had finished saying these things, he called on Christ and a second and a
third time sealed with the sigh of the cross those who were suffering. Immediately,
they stood up straight, sound of mind from that time on, giving thanks to the Lord.

… It is not skill with words that is achieving the things we do but rather faith
working through the love of Christ. If you too have this faith you… will realize that
faith in Christ is enough. 80
When the emperor asks his advice

Why are you so amazed that the emperor writes to us? He is human, too. Instead,
be more amazed that God has written the Law for human beings and has spoken
to us through his own Son.
He replied, welcoming the emperors’ letter because they worshipped Christ,
advising them concerning salvation, and counseling them not to regard present
things as important but to be mindful instead of the coming judgment and know
that Christ is the only true an eternal Emperor. 81
Antony’s faith allows him to do the works that Christ did

It is the promise of the Saviour when he says, ‘If you have faith the size of a mustard
seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here’, and it will move, and nothing
will be impossible for you.’ … ‘Ask and you will receive.’ He is also the one who says
to his disciples and to everyone who believes in him, ‘Cure the sick, cast out
demons. You received without payment; give without payment.’ 83
Antony: the Picture of Humanity united with Christ

Antony healed people not by issuing orders but by praying and calling on the name
of Christ. As a result, it became clear to everyone that it was not he who was doing
these things but the Lord, who through Antony was demonstrating his love for
humankind and healing those who were suffering.
Antony: the Picture of Humanity united with Christ

Antony healed people not by issuing orders but by praying and calling on the name
of Christ. As a result, it became clear to everyone that it was not he who was doing
these things but the Lord, who through Antony was demonstrating his love for
humankind and healing those who were suffering.

Antony prefers nothing to Christ:

• Antony prayed and practiced ascetic discipline alone, for that purpose sitting on
the mountain.
• He rejoiced at the contemplation of divine things
• He was saddened because he was being bothered by crowds of people and
dragged away from the mountain. 84
The last of Antony’s exhortations before he dies:

Like someone who leaves a foreign city for his own, he was filled with joy. He talked
with them and exhorted them
• Not to neglect their ascetic labors
• Not to be faint-hearted in their ascetic discipline but to
• Live each day as if they were going to die
• Zealously protect their souls from filthy thoughts
• Emulate the saints
• Stay away from the Melitians and the Arians

You who are pure, therefore, take special care to keep yourselves away from (the
Arians) and preserved the tradition of the fathers and, above all, keep a pure faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ, which you have learned from the scriptures and have often
had recalled to you by me.’ 89

Make every effort yourselves always to be united, especially with the Lord, and then
with the saints, so that after your death they will receive you into the eternal
habitations as friends and companions. 91
Antony: the picture of perfection

• He neither yielded to the desire for extravagant foods on account of old age
• Nor on account of his body’s frailty did he change the way he dressed or wash
his feet
Yet although he persevered in these practices, no harm came to him.

• He maintained undiminished eyesight

• Not one of his teeth fell out – they were just worn down by age
• His feet and hands remained healthy and strong.
• He appeared more radiant, stronger, and more energetic than all those people
who enjoy a wide variety of foods and baths and different types of clothing.

Antony was recognized through his love of God. 93

Questions for the Final Exam
1. How do these three authors present the basis of Christian
paideia in their respective Lives? What does this convey about
the intention of the author? What could modern education
learn from them?
2. How do the three authors make use of miracles in their
respective Lives? What does this convey about the intention of
the author? Can miracles like these be taken seriously today?
3. How do the three authors present demons and or deal with the
concept of logos and logismoi in their respective Lives? What
does this convey about the intention of the author? How does it
inform our understanding of sin today?
4. How do the three authors present their understanding of
deification or union? What consequences does this have for the
Lives they write? What consequences could it have for Christian
life today?