Person
Athanasius
Also known as Athanasius of Alexandria
Bishop of Alexandria (c. 296–373) and key defender of Nicene theology.
Definition
Bishop of Alexandria and a prominent Greek theologian. He is significant in the history of the biblical canon for his 39th Festal Letter (AD 367), which listed the 27 books of the New Testament as the exclusive and closed canon.
Sources
- 1.Everett Ferguson Church History: Volume One: From Christ to Pre-Reformation. 2nd ed.. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013). pp. 105-121
Last revised August 18, 2026