To Epictetus

Contents

1. 1Athanasius tells Epictetus of Corinth that the Nicene faith suffices against every heresy, and that those who reopen questions only trouble the simple.
2. 2Athanasius lists the errors in the memoranda sent to him: that Christ's body is of the same essence as the Godhead, that the Word changed into flesh, that the body was eternal, and that Christ and the Word are two.
3. 3Athanasius explains why he sets out the errors baldly and will answer them briefly from Scripture.
4. 4Athanasius refutes the claim that Christ's body is of the same essence as the Word's Godhead, showing that it would make the Father earthly and Mary unnecessary.
5. 5Athanasius shows from the Gospel narratives that Christ's body was truly born of Mary, while the Word himself remained unchangeable and impassible.
6. 6Athanasius argues from Christ's burial and wounds that the body was the Word's own but not the Word himself, so that the impassible Word made the sufferings of his body his own for our salvation.
7. 7Athanasius insists that the incarnation was real, not a mere appearance, so that the whole man, soul and body, is saved, and he cites the risen Lord's words in Luke.
8. 8Athanasius explains that “the Word became flesh” means that he became man, not that he was changed, and he rejects the claims that Christ's flesh was eternal or immortal.
9. 9Athanasius shows that it is the opponents' own view that would make a Tetrad, and that the incarnation adds nothing to the Trinity but brings immortality to the body.
10. 10Athanasius answers those who denied that the crucified Christ is God, citing the name Emmanuel, Rom 9:5, and Thomas's confession.
11. 11Athanasius rejects the view that the Word merely came upon a man from Mary as he came to the prophets, pointing to the virgin birth, the saving death, the resurrection, and the name Emmanuel.
12. 12Athanasius concludes that the Word himself became man from Mary, rejoices that the dispute at Corinth ended in agreement, and asks for correction of anything lacking.