What Athanasius called "Tradition" and what the Roman Catholic Church of today calls tradition are NOT one and the same. Tradition in Athanasius' day did not include many of the "salvific" ones the Catholic Church has created since his time, but his were the truths of the Christian faith handed down from the Apostles and certainly reinforced BY Scripture. Why do you think God bothered to have it all written down if not to give us a sure way to know his revealed truths? He did the same thing with the Old Testament Scriptures and it sure worked for thousands of years longer than the New Testament has been around. Jesus said "it is written" so many times because it is AUTHORITY from HIM to all of us.
We will have to agree to disagree but don't expect me to hush up when I'm accused of creating "straw men" instead of legitimate points. The allegations I make about the Catholic Church are real and I am hardly the only one who has brought them to the fore.
If all someone wants to do is come on these forums and presume to halt all discussions with a wave of the hand and a terse, "We are the One, True Church and we are right about everything we say", then I wouldn't waste my time if I were them. I think many of us are past the point where such bluster makes any impact.
I agree bb and it's why 1 John 5:13 is so important for believers to understand.
it never ceases to amaze me that those who attack the Church try and use the words of a Catholic Church Father.
Athanasius, like all Catholics have for 2,000 years, believed in “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins”
when the Baptists appeared on the world scene in the 16th century, they rejected this doctrine contained in the Nicene Creed that Athanasius played such a huge part in.
so anyone who is a Baptist today must think Athanasius taught a “false gospel”, yet they quote him ( any sword to use against the Church! )
of course Athanasius would strongly condemn the Baptist and try and convert them into the Church, just as he did the followers of ARIUS.