St. Athanasius On the Incarnation St. Athanasius, a bishop from Alexandria, lived during the times of 296-373 AD. In his book, On the Incarnation, St. Athanasius is writing to Macarius. In this writing, St. Athanasius defends the incarnation of Christ against non-believers and clarifies why God chose to approach his fallen people in human form. According to St. Athanasius it is crucial to know that the Redeemer is as well the Creator. This can be seen when he states that “the renewal of creation has been wrought by the Self-same Word Who made it in the beginning” (Athanasius 2). Consequently, man is the reason why the Word decided to come down. Man lost the knowledge of God and began to practice idolatry. God could not leave man to be conquered
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Athanasius clarifies that Christ was both fully man and fully God. He demonstrates a clear understanding of the nature of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Athanasius constantly states that the entire process of the incarnation while being human is motivated by the love of God for His creation. God recreated us in his likeness by coming in the flesh in our likeness. Athanasius compares this to a man who has had his portrait made but the portrait has been damaged. The artist doesn’t have to destroy the painting. He can have the subject come and sit for him again and he can restore the correct image in the painting. In reading Athanasius’ thoughts on Jesus’ birth I am reminded that Jesus’ birth, is an act of grace and salvation by God and it is as important to God’s plan of salvation as the cross and the resurrection. When St. Athanasius explains that “when God the Almighty was making mankind through His own Word, He perceived that they, owing to the limitation of their nature, could not of themselves have any knowledge of their Artificer” I it found interesting because I did not know that this is what God planned originally (Athanasius 10). He proceeds to ask what would be the purpose of man’s existence if they did not know their creator? When God created humanity, he created man in his image and restored humanity through the
Athanasius clarifies that Christ was both fully man and fully God. He demonstrates a clear understanding of the nature of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Athanasius constantly states that the entire process of the incarnation while being human is motivated by the love of God for His creation. God recreated us in his likeness by coming in the flesh in our likeness. Athanasius compares this to a man who has had his portrait made but the portrait has been damaged. The artist doesn’t have to destroy the painting. He can have the subject come and sit for him again and he can restore the correct image in the painting. In reading Athanasius’ thoughts on Jesus’ birth I am reminded that Jesus’ birth, is an act of grace and salvation by God and it is as important to God’s plan of salvation as the cross and the resurrection. When St. Athanasius explains that “when God the Almighty was making mankind through His own Word, He perceived that they, owing to the limitation of their nature, could not of themselves have any knowledge of their Artificer” I it found interesting because I did not know that this is what God planned originally (Athanasius 10). He proceeds to ask what would be the purpose of man’s existence if they did not know their creator? When God created humanity, he created man in his image and restored humanity through the