Ben Chomp
Puritan Board Freshman
Here's another perplexing Athanasius quote. This can be found in section 6 of his second chapter of "On the Incarnation". The context is a little lengthy, but I think this selection captures his thinking:
"Surely it would have been better never to have been created at all, than, having been created, to be neglected and perish; and, besides that, such indifference to the ruin of His own work before His very eyes would argue not goodness in God but limitation, and that far more than if He had never created men at all. It was impossible, therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by corruption, because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself."
It sounds like Athanasius is saying that God is somehow bound by his own goodness and nature to save sinners. This seems to contradict what the Westminster Standards often say about God being most free and his grace being free and coming from his mere good pleasure. God is not bound to save sinners. His grace is amazing grace. I have trouble reconciling this Athanasius quote to our standards. Is it reconcilable?
"Surely it would have been better never to have been created at all, than, having been created, to be neglected and perish; and, besides that, such indifference to the ruin of His own work before His very eyes would argue not goodness in God but limitation, and that far more than if He had never created men at all. It was impossible, therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by corruption, because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself."
It sounds like Athanasius is saying that God is somehow bound by his own goodness and nature to save sinners. This seems to contradict what the Westminster Standards often say about God being most free and his grace being free and coming from his mere good pleasure. God is not bound to save sinners. His grace is amazing grace. I have trouble reconciling this Athanasius quote to our standards. Is it reconcilable?