Most of the bishops who had signed the creed of Nicaea did not like Athanasius, and they didn't like the way he said that people were heretics if they didn't believe this.

They were just kind of lucy-goosey, and they wanted

peace. They were called political theologians. And so they did everything in their power

over the next 40 years to get rid of this man.

Hi, I'm your host, Dan Krover. What kind of man can outlast emperors, exile, and slander?

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper traces how Athanasius' fierce allegiance to Christ and his unwavering defense of truth shaped the very

future of the church. This message was originally delivered at the 2005 Bethlehem

Conference for pastors.

Athanasius was born, 8298 in Egypt, and became the Bishop of Alexandria, June 8, 3228 at the age of 30.

He was viewed by his people as the Bishop of Alexandria his whole life long until he died

at the age of 75 in 373.

And I say he was viewed that way because he wasn't always there as bishop.

He spent 17 years of his 45 years as bishop in exile because he was banished by

imperial forces five times from his country or from his city, at least.

And nevertheless, all of the alternate bishops that the forces installed were never viewed

as rightful bishops by the people.

He was deeply, deeply loved by his people, and they waited for him. Imagine yourself being forcefully evicted from your

church for seven years and your people waiting eagerly until you came back and then welcoming you

with palm branches after that seven year exile. We don't know much.

I think that's one of the reasons why there aren't more biographies.

There aren't a lot of details about the life, just the controversies.

In the whole of our minute knowledge of his life, this is Archibald Robertson, who did the editing and wrote the biography at the front of this,

...