Commentary on 2 Timothy

Athanasius of Alexandria (296–373)

Here again allusion is made to the economy according to the flesh. For the grace which came to us from the Savior appeared, as the apostle says, just now, and has come when he sojourned among us. Yet this grace has been prepared even before we came into being.… The God of all then created us by his own Word, and knowing our destinies better than we, God foresaw that even though we were made "good," we should be transgressors of the commandment and be thrust out of paradise for disobedience. Being loving and kind, he prepared beforehand in his own Word, by whom also he created us, the economy of our salvation. Though by the serpent's deceit we fell from him, we would not remain wholly dead, but having in the Word the redemption and salvation which was earlier prepared for us, we might rise again and abide immortal.

"From Adam to Moses death reigned"; but the presence of the Word abolished death. No longer in Adam are we all dying. In Christ we are all reviving.

See also

• More works by Athanasius of Alexandria

Enable JavaScript to read the full text and search the library.