A historical and theological re-evaluation of the polemical writings of Athanasius of Alexandria (bishop 328-73), who would become known to later Christian generations as a saint and a champion of orthodoxy, and as the defender of the original Nicene Creed of 325 against the `Arian heresy'.

David M. Gwynn is Junior Research Fellow, Christ Church, Oxford.

• Introduction


• Part I


• 1: The polemical writings of Athanasius: chronology and context


• Part II


• 2: Athanasius' earliest polemical work: the `Eusebians' in the Epistula Encyclica of 339


• 3: The origin of the `Eusebians' in the polemic of Athanasius


• 4: The influence of Athanasius' polemic 339-46


• Part III


• 5: Who were the `Eusebians'?


• 6: The `Eusebians' in action


• 7: The `Arianism' of the `Eusebians'


• Conclusion