SOURCE: Kershner, Frederick D. “Athanasius.” In Pioneers of Christian Thought, pp. 113–34. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1930.

In the following excerpt, Kershner provides background for the debate on the nature of the Trinity and contends that the logically-incomprehensible doctrine championed by Athanasius ultimately defied his rational critics.

For more than a thousand years the name of Athanasius has remained the symbol of orthodoxy in Christian theology. Along with Augustine and Aquinas, he helps to constitute the great trinity of dogmatic thinkers down to the period of the Reformation. It seems a little strange that all three of these illustrious dignitaries should be honored with names beginning with the first letter of the alphabet. In this respect they are by no means alone. At least three more figures of first-rate importance in the history of speculation share the same peculiarity. The men to whom we refer are Anselm, Abelard and...