It was originally published with a byline that reads only translated and edited by a religious of c. Athanasius which defended the trinitarian doctrine and specifically the incarnation human embodiment of. Apr 22, 2010 excerpted from on the incarnation by athanasius on there is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Lewis, who suggested that contemporary christian audiences could benefit from reading more ancient classics. Incarnation of the divine agent, through whom the universe and man were created, could humanity be saved from corruption and death, and be revitalized through communion with the lifegiving word. I was pleased to find on the incarnation remarkably fresh and engaging, still fierce and still passionate too. On the incarnation of the word is a classic work of orthodox theology written by noted bishop of alexandria, st. For the lord touched all parts of creation, and freed and undeceived them all from every deceit. Athanasius s work remains even today the definitive statement of orthodox trinitarianism. Athanasius defends the incarnation of christ against the derision of 4th century nonbelievers. Athanasius explains why god chose to approach his fallen people in human form. Lewis would say, mere christianity, and covers such subjects as.
The son of god became a man to enable men to become sons of god. Well be reading athanasius, on the incarnation, which discusses the. Download this ebook in pdf format from church father athanasius, on the incarnation of the word. 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. While there have been many translations of on the incarnation, the newest one has a much easier rhythm than older translations. An edition with lewiss preface is in print from st. Reflections december 2015 cs lewis, cs lewis quote. The apostle paul identified the incarnation as a mystery. John of cross, and weve been meditating on the mystery of the incarnation, i thought we might look at what he had to say on the subject. He opposed arius when it seemed all the world would follow ariuss heresy. Michael patton of credo house ministries makes a thoughtprovoking case for why so many christians appreciate c. Addressed to a recent christian convert, this text demonstrates athanasius intellectual acumen and biblical wisdom. Such is rarely the case with works of theology, particularly when orthodoxy has robbed them even of the novelty of heresy, for dryasdust disquisitions on settled questions often summon our slumber, not our thoughts.
An early version of the nicene creed was hammered out at the council of nicea, a. Nov 18, 2011 the christian research institute has a brief, balanced and helpful assessment of lewis theology pdf. Lewis key components of lewiss view of scripture by duncan sprague. On the incarnation is the second half of a two part treatise and in it athanasius covers creation, the fall, and the incarnation and resurrection as well as some refutations to common objections from jews and greeks regarding the son, or as he calls him, the god word. Athanasius resolves the paradox of the incarnate by relying heavily on both scripture and the teachings of the early church. During the incarnation, irenaeus says this about the word since he believes that it was the word or logos which was incarnate. The christmas message of incarnation cs lewis, cs lewis. So that he came down from heaven can almost be transposed into heaven drew earth up into it, and locality, limitation, sleep, sweat, footsore weariness. There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read. But that is quite different from saying that the incarnation was simply an interpretation, or a change in our knowledge. Saint athanasius english, with an introduction by c.
During the fourth century, controversy raged in the church regarding the nature of jesus christ. Lewis placed great weight on the significance of the incarnation and wrote about it on a number of occasions. They believed that jesus had been created out of nonexistence and thus was not on the same level of dignity as god the father. The belief of the incarnation of god in the human form of christ is an acknowledgment and acceptance of the possibility of the highest god and the lowest human being united. Lewis, from the introduction by any standard, this is a classic of christian theology. He states, the death of all was consummated in the lords. It comes from his introduction to a translation of athanasiuss the incarnation of the. Athanasius stood contra mundum against the world in defense of the biblical doctrine of christ. On the incarnation begins with five chapters that describe creation and the fall of humankind with the resultant need for salvation. Lewis says elsewhere in mere christianity that belief in the blood atonement is optional. He accepted and bore upon the cross a death inflicted by others, and those other his special enemies, a death which. The death and resurrection of christ are then detailed and the three remaining chapters. Lewis, introduction to on the incarnation, on the incarnation, trans.
Next he illustrates the divine dilemma in seeking to mediate that salvation, with the derived solution being the incarnation. John of the cross on the incarnation posted on december 14, 2011 15 comments because today is the feast day of st. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this. Mar 28, 20 on the incarnation is the second half of a two part treatise and in it athanasius covers creation, the fall, and the incarnation and resurrection as well as some refutations to common objections from jews and greeks regarding the son, or as he calls him, the god word. How it was noticed by the glorious inhabitants of the heavenly world, appears by their joyful songs on this occasion, heard by the shepherds in the night. Preached originally as a sermon in the church of st mary the virgin, oxford, on june 8, 1942. Grc study qus wk 17 athanasius, on the incarnation the. That god became flesh it just blows my mind but yet still i love to meditate on it. Dec 09, 2008 for lewis, the crucifixion the shedding of christs blood, blood atonement, propitiation of the fathers wrath, penal substitution is merely one turning point. Lewis despite his decidedly questionable theology but nevertheless castigate rob bell for superficially similar failings patton makes a good argument. Popular patristics series numbers 44a and 44b on the incarnation, a new translation and introduction by archpriest john behr, dean of st. The thousand year golden age of the church in the middle east, africa, and asia and how it died. We also, by gods grace, briefly indicated that the word of the father is himself divine, that all things that are owe their being to his will and power, and that it is through. Something to note, there is one version that has the greek and english text on parallel pages.
Vladimirs seminary press, an orthodox press, as part of their popular patristics series. The of division doctors this mice are pills, discovery, these tumor. The incarnation 1 the purpose of the incarnation athanasius, on the incarnation introduction in this session in the emmanuel guided reading course were moving from the doctrine of sin to the doctrine of christ with the first of two sessions on the incarnation. 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. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. Athanasius which defended the trinitarian doctrine and specifically the incarnation human embodiment of the word of god. Oh yes, and if all that werent enough, we also have the little book that athanasius wrote, on the incarnation.
Lewis on reading the christian classics read the fathers. On the incarnation was written over 1500 years ago by the bishop of the church in alexandria, egypt. Modernized, abridged and introduced by stephen tomkins. Youll read the famous quote, the only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. This translation was made by sister penelope lawson, of the anglican community of st. When pythagoras discovered that the square on the hypotenuse was equal to the sum of the squares on the other sides he was discovering what had been just as true the day before though no one knew it. Athanasius in the fourth century, it expounds with simplicity the theological vision defended at the councils of nicaea and constantinople. The central miracle asserted by christians is the incarnation. Excerpted from on the incarnation by athanasius on there is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Sister penelope lawson, of the anglican community of st. Lewis 18981963 there is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. The incarnation of christ brian schwertley introduction when we speak of christianity or the gospel we must not only examine and understand what jesus did, but also who he was and is. Google cslewis introduction of on the incarnation to read it yourself. In 1944 lewis wrote the preface to an edition of athanasiuss on the incarnation.
In this kindlings muse podcast earl palmer, pastor of university presbyterian church in seattle and dick staub are joined by jennie spohr and brian luke in a discussion about c s lewis view of the incarnation through the following quote from lewis book, miracles. This page is designed to help make writings on and by c. On the reading of old books on the incarnation god in the. The next concomitant of christs incarnation is, the great notice that was taken of it in heaven, and on earth. Lewis in the incarnation god the son takes the body and human soul of jesus, and, through that, the whole environment of nature, all the creaturely predicament, into his own being. In the incarnation god the son takes the body and human soul of jesus, and, through that, the whole environment of nature, all the creaturely predicament, into his own being. Every year i just love to ponder and meditate on the incarnation of our lord. To fully understand and appreciate this book one has to understand why athanasius wrote itin defense of christs 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. Mark coptic orthodox church 427 west side ave, jersey city, nj 07304. I am preaching christmas eve on christs incarnation and so i am looking for good quotes and illustrations to help me mediatate on it and then preach it. For god is good or rather, of all goodness he is the fountainhead.
Discussion of themes and motifs in saint athanasius of alexandrias on the incarnation of the word of god. On the incarnation of the word, by saint athanasius. Lewis who is one of the most articulate literary proponents of the orthodox faith in his century, has left behind almost no contribution to. A year or two ago, i started to listen to a lecture series available for free on itunesu on c.
These are, in summary, the primary soteriological points propounded by st. In the introduction to the incarnation, lewis advises that, rather than read books about the great thinkers of the past, readers should go directly to the source and obtain firsthand knowledge, which is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire. For athanasias and the apostles the crucifixion is the focal point. On the other hand there must be a sense in which god, being outside time, is changeless and nothing ever happens to him. And this incarnation, according to irenaeus, fulfilled all the conditions of the human nature iii. Lewis once wrote, the only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Augustine or ambrose of milan and was named for the champion of the trinity, athanasius.
Transposition is also seen when an author, like lewis, takes a timeless. In attempting to present st athanasius multifaceted vision o f salvation, the. Jul 20, 2012 in 1944 lewis wrote the preface to an edition of athanasiuss on the incarnation. New popular patristics from svs press, available for order in december 2011. This edition contains a scholarly introduction with a. Lewis read from the apparent prefiguring of elements of the incarnation.
Thus i have found as a tutor in english literature that if the average student. Athanasius on the interpretation of the psalms added as. There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Saint athanasius the great the redemptive plan in on the.
Translated by the anglican sister penelope lawson, the book was something of. By any standard, this is a classic of christian theology. There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books shou ld be read only by the professionals, and that the. A fourth century treatise written by the early church father st. Oct 18, 2007 c s lewis on the incarnation, with guest rev. On the incarnation quotes by athanasius of alexandria. Complete summary of saint athanasius of alexandrias on the incarnation of the word of god. Lewis on christmas jon kennedy its a sad irony that charles dickens, who most likely did not believe in the deity of jesus christ, is the english writer most identified with christmas, while c. Lewis by any standard, this is a classic of christian theology. On the incarnation of the word was highly recommended by modern writer and christian apologist, c. This was the greatest event of providence that ever the angels had beheld. On one side were the arians, led by the bishop arius, who argued that father, son, and holy spirit were materially separate from one another. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Like he, the life of all, our lord and saviour, did not arrange the manner of his own death lest he should seem to be afraid of some other kind.
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