Following the first work against the gentiles, this second treatise is regarded by many as the most definitive work of. This pdf file is from the christian classics ethereal library. In athanasiuss system, the son of god, the eternal word through whom god made the world, entered the world in human form to lead men back to the. Saint athanasius the great the redemptive plan in on the. Athanasius which defended the trinitarian doctrine and specifically the incarnation human embodiment of. This creed remains influential in the western church and is often recited by roman catholics, lutherans, anglicans, presbyterians, and others. He, the mighty one, the artificer of all, himself prepared this body in the virgin as a temple for himself, and took it for his very own, as the instrument through which he was known and in which he dwelt saint athanasius the great. Athanasiuss twopart work of apologetics, against the heathen and the incarnation of the word of god, completed about 335, was the first great classic of developed greek orthodox theology. In addition, christ, the son of godthe incarnate, redeeming wordis also the. On the incarnation of the word, by saint athanasius. The simplest answer to your question is that the main thesis is given in the title of the work itself. The tract against the gentiles leaves the reader face to face with the necessity of restoration by the divine word as the remedy for corrupt human nature. How this necessity is met in the incarnation is shewn in the pages which follow.
Athanasius short work, on the incarnation of the word is one of the greatest theological works. The incarnation of the word through a glass darkly. There is thus no inconsistency between creation and salvation for the one father. Completed probably early in his life, before the arian controversy, 31 they constitute the first classic work of developed orthodox theology. Athanasius explains why god chose to approach his fallen people in human form.
Athanasius writes, as man he was living a human life, and as word he was sustaining the life of the universe. Addressed to a recent christian convert, this text demonstrates athanasius intellectual acumen and biblical wisdom. For the modern reader, there is a twofold value in athanasiuss the incarnation of the word of god. St athanasius the great, on the incarnation of the word. On the incarnation of the word kindle edition by st. Athanasius of alexandria author of on the incarnation.
The incarnation of the word of god was the only fitting solution. Athanasius resolves the paradox of the incarnate by relying heavily on both scripture and the teachings of the early church. He saw the reasonable race, the race of men that, like himself, expressed the fathers mind, wasting out of existence, and death reigning over all in corruption. For example, only a few lines before the excerpt quoted above, athanasius writes that people fashioned for themselves the notion of idols, considering non existent things as real. Athanasius i of alexandria, st athanasius the confessor and primarily in the coptic orthodox church st. Athanasius is writing on the incarnation of the word. Apr 28, 2020 athanasiuss twopart work of apologetics, against the heathen and the incarnation of the word of god, completed about 335, was the first great classic of developed greek orthodox theology. St athanasius explains why god chose to approach his fallen. Modernized, abridged and introduced by stephen tomkins. Athanasius stood contra mundum against the world in defense of the. The translation is intended for the world at large, not only for theological students. Sister penelope lawson, of the anglican community of st.
The divine dilemma and its solution in the incarnation 6 we saw in the last chapter that, because death and corruption were gaining ever firmer hold on them, the human race was in process of destruction. Mar 26, 2018 athanasius, on the incarnation of the word grand rapids, mi. On the incarnation of the word is a classic work of orthodox theology written by. It has been said of athanasius that, he is, on the whole, one of the purest, most imposing, and most venerable personages in the history of the church 4 in the treatise, on the incarnation of the word, athanasius. On the incarnation, though completed before the full force of the arian controversy over the trinity was felt, provided the first major theological articulation of the doctrine of the incarnation and defense of orthodox trinitarianism. Pdf athanasius on the incarnation of the word onyenuru. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Aug 23, 2014 written by noted bishop of alexandria, st. St athanasius explains why god chose to approach his fallen people in human form. He the word has been manifested in a human body for this reason. Athanasius is one of the great champions of christian orthodoxy. Jun 25, 2019 athanasius of alexandria is revered today as one of the most important voices in the early christian church, but during his lifetime his courageous stand against heresy had harsh repercussions.
Athanasius, uses the redemption of man as a bases for presenting his polemic work on the reasonableness of the coming of god as man. On the incarnation of the word the theological exposition on the incarnation is the second part of two works composed by athanasius in the early fourth century. Complete summary of saint athanasius of alexandrias on the incarnation of the word of god. In on the incarnation of the word, athanasius, patriarch of alexandria in the fourth century, offers a comprehensive apology for an orthodox understanding of the incarnation of christ. Athanasius also answers several objections to his account, many of which are still raised against christians today by those outside the church. It was natural and right, therefore, for the word to use a human instrument and by that means unfold himself to all. On the incarnation of the word of god marian catechist. Written just before the rise of arianism in ad 319, on the incarnation of the word of god is the bestknown work of athanasius of alexandria and a pillar of the doctrine of the incarnation and the divinity of jesus. This translation was made by sister penelope lawson, of the anglican community of st. Our creation and gods incarnation most intimately connected. On the incarnation of the word of god is an ancient text by saint athanasius, who expounds upon the divine and eternal wisdom offered by lord first penned during the early 4th century ad, this early book of christian wisdom is both an inspiring reflection upon the spiritual tenets of the faith, and a stern rebuke to the ideas of arianism which at the time were opposed widely by. Athanasius on the image of god southwestern center for. Im beginning think that the idea of evil as a non entity used to be really prevalent because here it was.
On the incarnation of the word of god is an ancient text by saint athanasius, who expounds upon the divine and eternal wisdom offered by lord. Athanasiuss on the incarnation could be broken down into two parts. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading st. Download this ebook in pdf format from church father athanasius, on the incarnation of the word. Athanasius incarnation of the word internet archive. The incarnate word was at the creation one with human nature, but at the fall, humanity lost this rare privilege. It was originally published with a byline that reads only translated and edited by a religious of c. St athanasius on the incarnation pdf 427 west side ave, jersey city, nj 07304. As by the word man was called from nonexistence into being, and further received the grace of a divine life, so by the one fault which forfeited that life they again incurred corruption and untold sinand misery filled the world. In the fourth century, during the time of constantine, the church was rocked by a controversy started by arius, a deacon of the influential church of alexandria in egypt. Hans boersma and matthew levering, foundations of theological exegesis and christian spirituality grand rapids, mi. On the incarnation of word, the which explicates more precisely the new anthropology on which his theological framework is based. On the incarnation of the word is a classic work of orthodox theology written by noted bishop of alexandria, st. Athanasius which defended the trinitarian doctrine and specifically the incarnation human embodiment of the word of god.
Athanasius on the incarnation his treatise on the incarnation of the word of god, though written quite early in his life, and before the rise of arianism, is the best example of his theology, and is of special interest in modern times from its breadth. Knowing doing winter 2017 was a human, he was also fully god. Athanasius stooping to our level in his love and selfrevealing to us. It was not things non existent that needed salvation, for which a bare creative word might have sufficed, but manman already in existence and already in process of corruption and ruin. Athanasius also authored a twopart work, against the heathen and the incarnation of the word of god. First penned during the early 4th century ad, this early book of christian wisdom is both an inspiring reflection upon the spiritual tenets of the faith, and a stern rebuke to the ideas of arianism which at the time were opposed widely by the early. Onto logically it is clearly always a definite idea of man which enables christians to explain the christ of their faith. This edition contains a scholarly introduction with a. He was exiled five times for defending biblical church doctrines.
Word man was called from non existence into being, and further received the grace of a divine life, so by the one fault which forfeited that life they again incurred corruption and untold sin and misery filled the world. Athanasius defends the incarnation of christ against the. A fourth century treatise written by the early church father st. The first part lays out his thoughts on why god became man, while the second addresses rhetorical concerns. What is the main thesis of on the incarnation of the word by. Saint athanasius of alexandria and the nativity of christ. How the incarnation did not limit the ubiquity of the word, nor diminish. In his introduction, lewis refers to the sensible synthetic religions which are so strongly recommended today. Athanasius defends the incarnation of christ against the derision of 4th century non believers. There is thus no inconsistency between creation and salvation for the one.
As by the word man was called from non existence into being, and further received the grace of a divine life, so by the one fault which forfeited that life they again incurred corruption and untold sin and misery filled the world. Man, who was created in gods image and in his possession of reason reflected the very word himself, was disappearing, and the work of god was being undone. Saint athanasius of alexandria and the nativity of christ images courtesy of the icon gallery of the greek orthodox archdiocese of america saint athanasius the great the redemptive plan in on the incarnation presented by. Athanasius of alexandria is revered today as one of the most important voices in the early christian church, but during his lifetime his courageous stand against heresy had harsh repercussions.