On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria

Throughout On the Incarnation, Athanasius explains that in order to reconcile the fallen creation back to humanity, salvation had to occur through a wholly divine mediator, perfectly embodied in Christ. The reservations written about then are easily applicable to modern day. The death and resurrection of Christ are then detailed and the three remaining chapters refute common doubts brought up by two main groups: the Jews and Gentiles. Next he illustrates the divine dilemma in seeking to mediate that salvation, with the derived solution being the incarnation. On the Incarnation begins with five chapters that describe creation and the fall of humankind with the resultant need for salvation. Resultantly, Athanasius uses scriptures to resolve the paradox of how God is still God in human form. in favor of Christ’s full divinity, yet the Arians continued to champion their divergent doctrine to all those who would hear. The issue was ultimately “settled” at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. To fully understand and appreciate this book one has to understand why Athanasius wrote it- in defense of Christ’s full divinity and against Arianism, an emerging theology of the time that suggested Christ was begotten from the Father, therefore not eternal, and thus subordinate to the Father.

On the Incarnation was written over 1500 years ago by the bishop of the church in Alexandria, Egypt.

The bottom line: A powerful and persuasive apologetic exposition on the Incarnation and the divinity of Christ written by a theological genius.

On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria