Athanasius of Alexandria: A small quotemine

St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Later Treatises Against Apollinaris

A shorter work

St. Athanasius of Alexandria, had these treatises later made in life against Apollinaris, who confused the natures. He makes clear throughout the very short treatise that the natures can be distinguished, but in the first book he also concludes that there is one physis, or nature if you like.
These treatises are most likely written by Athansius since the inner work matches his style perfectly.

In the First book he writes:

“Christ will be called perfect God and perfect man: not as if the divine perfection had been converted into a human perfection which is an impious notion; nor as if we acknowledged two ‘perfections’ separate from each other, which is alien to true religion; nor again by way of ‘advance’ in virtue, and an accession of righteousness, God forbid! But by way of an unfailing existence, so that the two should be one, perfect in all things, the self-same God and man.”

Since this treatise was written against Apollinaris, it would only be right to assume that he was talking about the Physis rather than hypostasis, but even if he had been speaking of hypostasis, it would still refer back to nature. [see p. 12]

Continuing, he doubles down on this statement, once more writing similar, the following:

“Therefore ‘Christ’ is called man and ‘Christ’ is called God, and ‘Christ’ is God and man, and ‘Christ’ is one.”

He makes it evident that Christ remains one, whether in Hypostasis or Physis. Athanasius of Alexandria’s language here is obviously saying that the nature of the Logos is composed of two, yet throughout the rest of the writing we read that the two are unmixed and unchanged.
I draw the conclusion that this is a miaphysite dialogue, although it is very short and doesn’t use much theological language.