I think I already answered that. Only a few people in the 4th century and during the nicene creed era could actually read. They only needed to change what God supposedly said because who could read the Book of Acts back then and challenge them? It basically looks like the Nicene Council was not as inspired by God as people have been led to believe. Might be why we have Books like Jasher and Enoch missing when Joshua and David quoted from Jasher, and Yeshua and Jude quoted from Enoch. The council clearly had a devious purpose and fulfilled it. I mean look at this confusion in this thread alone. They clearly did their jobs..
I understand what you say, but I am not sure about a devious purpose. You know the adage the way to hell is paved with good intentions.
To me their intention was not that bad: fight the Arianism heresy. Now the means was incorrect. If they changed Scripture, that is a no no.
My concern is when modern scholars, theologians, academicians, etc. are aware of the problem with the present formula in Mt. 28:19, and do not do anything about it.
Now we can think that there is a devious purpose, or they are afraid of what others may think.
Why can't they just put "in my name", as the most likely rendering taking into consideration internal and external evidence, and put a note to it for a footnote saying: "after the 4th century the long formula appeared and was used, there are various views on the reason for it, but the long formula by internal evidence does not seem original, but added later"
I would be happy, many persons would be happy, and you would not give the devil another reason to attack christianity, saying that the Scripture is corrupted.
Simple, elegant, transparent, and with probity.
We must remember that Athanasius was not an Apostle, but an office holder way before. He sincerely was defending the divinity of our Savior.
kind regards.