Saint Athanasius refutes Arian reading of John 17:3

The post presents Saint Athanasius of Alexandria's argument against the Arian interpretation of John 17:3, where Christ calls the Father the only true God. The Arians cited this verse to deny Christ's divinity. Athanasius counters that the one speaking these words is the same Christ who declares, "I am the truth." He notes that Christ immediately adds, "and Jesus Christ whom you have sent," placing himself alongside the Father.

Athanasius argues that if the Son were merely a creature, there could be no fellowship between the true God and a creature. Therefore, Christ's words distinguish the true God from what is false by nature, not to exclude himself from divinity. The explanation follows Athanasius's theological reasoning that the Son shares the same divine nature as the Father, and the verse functions as a distinction between the true God and idols or false gods, not between the Father and the Son.