Patristic Book Report
“On the Incarnation” by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria is an in depth look at the life and death of Jesus Christ. Athanasius presents the reader with practical and believable insight as to why Jesus’ death and life occurred in the manner that it did. Jesus not only died for the sins of mankind but did so in a way that could bear witness to the world. God being holy could not accept his creation as it was tainted so Jesus acted as the bridge between created and creator. Believers in Jesus Christ as their lord and savior should rejoice in the magnitude of his sacrifice. It is Athanasius’ mission to bring to light and convey how great of a gift Jesus is to mankind.
In the first chapter, Creation and the Fall, Athanasius of Alexandria wrote that we know God created the world because, God is infinite and not finite. He then used several Bible verses to back this statement up. Athanasius sets out to discuss the “Word’s becoming Man.” Athanasius states that Man “by nature” is mortal, “since he was made from nothing. Athanasius also states that man [by nature] is corrupt, which I do agree; He says, “the grace of their union with the Word made them capable of escaping from the natural law.” …show more content…
By, “The Divine Dilemma,” Athanasius is referring to the corruption as spoken of in the previous chapter. Athanasius states, “It was impossible, therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by corruption, because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself.” By this, Athanasius is stating that was God’s duty to bring the “corruptible to incorruption,” in which he did with the incarnation. Athanasius states that without the incarnation, “For the human race would have perished utterly had not the Lord and Savior of all, the Son of God, come among us to put an end to death.” It was for this reason that the Lord was
“On the Incarnation” by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria is an in depth look at the life and death of Jesus Christ. Athanasius presents the reader with practical and believable insight as to why Jesus’ death and life occurred in the manner that it did. Jesus not only died for the sins of mankind but did so in a way that could bear witness to the world. God being holy could not accept his creation as it was tainted so Jesus acted as the bridge between created and creator. Believers in Jesus Christ as their lord and savior should rejoice in the magnitude of his sacrifice. It is Athanasius’ mission to bring to light and convey how great of a gift Jesus is to mankind.
In the first chapter, Creation and the Fall, Athanasius of Alexandria wrote that we know God created the world because, God is infinite and not finite. He then used several Bible verses to back this statement up. Athanasius sets out to discuss the “Word’s becoming Man.” Athanasius states that Man “by nature” is mortal, “since he was made from nothing. Athanasius also states that man [by nature] is corrupt, which I do agree; He says, “the grace of their union with the Word made them capable of escaping from the natural law.” …show more content…
By, “The Divine Dilemma,” Athanasius is referring to the corruption as spoken of in the previous chapter. Athanasius states, “It was impossible, therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by corruption, because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself.” By this, Athanasius is stating that was God’s duty to bring the “corruptible to incorruption,” in which he did with the incarnation. Athanasius states that without the incarnation, “For the human race would have perished utterly had not the Lord and Savior of all, the Son of God, come among us to put an end to death.” It was for this reason that the Lord was