The Works of Athanasius

This list is based on Clavis Patrum Graecorum.  The dates and English titles are taken from the following sources:

T.D. Barnes,  Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire  (Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1993)

D. Brakke, Athanasius and the Politics of Asceticism, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995).

H.R. Drobner, The Fathers of the Church: A Comprehensive Introduction, S.S. Schatzmann, trans., W. Harmless and H.R. Drobner, revisions (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007).

C. Moreschini and E. Norelli, Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature: A Literary History, trans. M.O'Connell, vol. 2 (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson, 2005).

A. Robertson, Select Writings and Letters of Athanasius, Bishops of Alexandria, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 4 (New York: Christian Literature Publishing Company, 1892)

Where Barnes did not give a date for a work, Brakke was consulted, then Drobner, then Moreschini, and finally Robertson if no other date was found.  Titles given in the SBL Handbook of style were also included.

Because Athanasius spent so much of his episcopacy in exile, the five exiles have been marked with a colored background.

Important events are given in italics.  When multiple titles exist for a work, we note variations. Uncertain dates are followed by a question mark.  When a work survives in a language other than Greek, the language is given in parentheses.  Otherwise, parentheses denote an optional addition to the title of a work.  Though Athanasius wrote in Greek, we provide Latin titles because they are used more commonly than Greek titles in English literature. 

note - Against the Pagans and On the Incarnation are difficult to date.  They contain no references to the Arian controversy, which would seem to mean they were written before the Arian controversy began.  But that would mean Athanasius was very young, perhaps even 18, when he wrote them.  But if we assume he wrote them when he was older, it is difficult to understand why he does not refer to the Arian controversy when the subject matter is so closely related.  Barnes hypothesizes that Athanasius wrote these two books shortly after the Council of Nicea, when it briefly seemed that they controversy was resolved. According to this view, Athanasius used this opportunity to show his theological skill as he anticipated that he would succeed Alexander as bishop of Alexandria. We have followed Barnes's hypothesis.  Others have placed the date before the Council of Nicea (318-324) or during the first exile (335-337).

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Last updated: 6/20/08 AJW
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