C. S. Lewis on the Athansian Creed

The editor of Forum Letter likes to begin with a quote from someone in the wide range of church history.  For the June newsletter, he quoted from C. S. Lewis’ introduction to the English translation of Athanasius’ On the Incarnation on the need to read old books. Where Lewis says old books, we should insert “classical” books, should be read. In another post I offer that quote. 

This morning, as I was reading through C.S. Lewis’ introduction, I appreciated what he had to say about the Athanasian Creed.  Athanasius died May 2, 373. He did not write the Creed that bears his name. We do not know who wrote it. 

The first Sunday after Pentecost is always the Feast of the Holy Trinity. Wherever I have served as Pastor, I have on that Sunday substituted the Athanasian Creed for the Nicene Creed.  Not all Lutheran congregations are in the habit of doing this.  I remember one congregation where several members were astonished by what the Athanasian Creed said. Professor Lewis comments on the words that gave offense.

“I will not labor the point that that work is not exactly a creed and was not by St. Athanasius, for I think it is a very find piece of writing. The words, ‘Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly’ are the offense.* They are commonly misunderstood.  The operative word is keep; not acquire, or even believe, but keep. The author, in fact, is not talking about unbelievers, but about deserters, not about those who have never heard of Christ, nor even those who have misunderstood and refused to accept Him, but of those who having really understood and really believed, then allow themselves, under the sway of sloth or of fashion or any other invited confusion to be drawn away into sub-Christian modes of thought. They are a warning against the curious modern assumption that all changes of belief, however brought about, are necessarily exempt from blame.” 

 

*The Lutheran Service Book says it this way: whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.