the soteriology of saint athanasius of alexandria the conformation of ...
the soteriology of saint athanasius of alexandria the conformation of ...
the soteriology of saint athanasius of alexandria the conformation of ...
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THE SOTERIOLOGY OF SAINT ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA 263<br />
We must bear in mind that Athanasius draws a clear distinction<br />
between our adopted filiation and <strong>the</strong> natural one <strong>of</strong> Christ.<br />
It is in Christ that we are children <strong>of</strong> God, because 'as many<br />
received him, he gave <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> right to become children <strong>of</strong> God'<br />
(Job. 1, 12)» 241 . The distinction between children <strong>of</strong> God (-cexvoc<br />
0eoo) and sons <strong>of</strong> God (uioc. 0eoo) is clearly Johannine. Only <strong>the</strong><br />
Word is Ytoc.. Men can become -cexva — adopted children <strong>of</strong> God,<br />
but our filial relationship is conformed to <strong>the</strong> Son's relation with<br />
his Fa<strong>the</strong>r. Adoptive filiation is not an analogue or a mere<br />
resemblance to Christ's natural filiation. The Incarnation placed<br />
<strong>the</strong> source <strong>of</strong> filiation in a nature, that <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ 242 . This<br />
source is <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit, <strong>the</strong> 'spirit <strong>of</strong> filiation', who restores a<br />
filial frankness (n
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