---
title: 'R.C. Reed on Athanasius and Luther'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2025-10-07
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2025-r-c-reed-on-athanasius-and-luther
---

# R.C. Reed on Athanasius and Luther

“If ever courage and firmness were put to the test, his \[Athanasius’\] were. Councils, embodying the highest learning of the age, met and condemned his views, and invoked upon him the curse of God. Emperors banished him time and again, chased him from place to place, and set a reward on his head. At one time all the bishops, in all parts of the empire, were persuaded or coerced into pronouncing against him. Thus the phrase originated, ‘Athanasius contra mundum’ — Athanasius against the world. But with all this pressure bearing on him he yielded not an inch. We admire Luther, and justly admire his sublime obstinacy, as he stands before the brilliant and august Diet at Worms, refusing to recant, ‘Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me. Amen.’ Athanasius furnishes an example of heroism equally sublime. They were kindred spirits, inspired from the same source. Each was called to bear, like fabled Atlas, the weight of a world. Each, sustained by a courageous faith, than which nothing could be grander, bore it without staggering. What would have become of the Reformation had Luther given way? Apparently it would have died in its birth throes. What would have become of the early church had Athanasius given way? Apparently it would have slipped from its moorings, and drifted out on the sea of error, without a chart, a star, or a pilot. He alone held it anchored to the throne of a divine Mediator, the only safe anchorage.” — [**Richard C. Reed**](/authors/richard-clark-reed), *Athanasius* (1904)