What was the idea of the Athanasius' teaching On the Incarnation.
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What was the idea of the Athanasius' teaching On the Incarnation.
![AOMINA
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The importance of the Incarnation, when God became human in Jesus Christ:
Athanasius, renowned Bishop of Alexandria at the time of the Council of Nicaea is a clear patristic
representative of the centrality of the incarnation and its importance for humankind. In his On the Incarnation of
the Word, Athanasius submits the belief that through the incarnation, Christ "was made man so that we might be
made God." (Athanasius, #54)The restoration by Christ re-orients humanity to eternal life and to incorruptibility
which was part of human nature before the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden. Athanasius recalls that this
fall, this transgression-event, is pivotal for humankind. As a result of it, the whole of humanity will now
experience death and "look for corruption into nothing in the course of time" (Athanasius, #4) where originally, "God formed us to be
imperishable; the image of his own nature he made us." (Wisdom 2:23 in Athanasius, # 5) In "loving-kindness," the Word of God
becomes human so that Christ dies once for all, that "the law involving the ruin of men might be undone" and humanity, which "had
turned toward corruption, he might turn them again toward incorruption" (Athanasius, #8)
God takes care of humans in order that "he did not leave them destitute of knowledge of himself, lest they should find no profit in
existing at all." (Athanasius, #9) Jesus Christ is the new Adam, restoring life to humanity, "since death came through a human being,
the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life."
(1 Cor. 15:21-22) Having created human beings in his own image, and granting restoration to the image of the Word of God through
Christ, they may through the same Christ "be able through him to get an idea of the Father, and, knowing their maker, live the happy
and truly blessed life." (Athanasius, #11) The incarnate Christ suffered death through the particularly horrific crucifixion, the victory over
which allows him now to every day do the works of "drawing men to religion, persuading them to virtue, teaching of immortality, leading
on to a desire for heavenly things, revealing the knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength to meet death..." (Athanasius, #31)
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Transcribed Image Text:AOMINA
CI
y
The importance of the Incarnation, when God became human in Jesus Christ:
Athanasius, renowned Bishop of Alexandria at the time of the Council of Nicaea is a clear patristic
representative of the centrality of the incarnation and its importance for humankind. In his On the Incarnation of
the Word, Athanasius submits the belief that through the incarnation, Christ "was made man so that we might be
made God." (Athanasius, #54)The restoration by Christ re-orients humanity to eternal life and to incorruptibility
which was part of human nature before the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden. Athanasius recalls that this
fall, this transgression-event, is pivotal for humankind. As a result of it, the whole of humanity will now
experience death and "look for corruption into nothing in the course of time" (Athanasius, #4) where originally, "God formed us to be
imperishable; the image of his own nature he made us." (Wisdom 2:23 in Athanasius, # 5) In "loving-kindness," the Word of God
becomes human so that Christ dies once for all, that "the law involving the ruin of men might be undone" and humanity, which "had
turned toward corruption, he might turn them again toward incorruption" (Athanasius, #8)
God takes care of humans in order that "he did not leave them destitute of knowledge of himself, lest they should find no profit in
existing at all." (Athanasius, #9) Jesus Christ is the new Adam, restoring life to humanity, "since death came through a human being,
the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life."
(1 Cor. 15:21-22) Having created human beings in his own image, and granting restoration to the image of the Word of God through
Christ, they may through the same Christ "be able through him to get an idea of the Father, and, knowing their maker, live the happy
and truly blessed life." (Athanasius, #11) The incarnate Christ suffered death through the particularly horrific crucifixion, the victory over
which allows him now to every day do the works of "drawing men to religion, persuading them to virtue, teaching of immortality, leading
on to a desire for heavenly things, revealing the knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength to meet death..." (Athanasius, #31)
Mic
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