From: Subject: On the Incarnation Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 08:06:05 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C6BB8A.A9CF3D90" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2869 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C6BB8A.A9CF3D90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/ath-inc.htm On the Incarnation

Athanasius
On=20 the Incarnation

De Incarnatione Verbi Dei

With Introduction by C. S. = Lewis=20

Athanasius stood contra mundum ("against the = world")=20 in defense of the biblical doctrine of Christ. He opposed Arius = when it=20 seemed all the world would follow Arius's heresy. Athanasius's = work=20 remains even today one of the definitive statements of orthodox=20 Trinitarianism.

=20

Introduct= ion=20 by C. S. Lewis=20

Creation = and the Fall=20

The=20 Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the Incarnation=20

The=20 Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the Incarnation=97 = continued=20

The=20 Death of Christ=20

The=20 Resurrection=20

Refutatio= n=20 of the Jews=20

Refutatio= n=20 of the Gentiles=20

Refutatio= n=20 of the Gentiles=97continued=20

Conclusio= n=20

Introduction

by C. S.=20 Lewis

here=20 is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books = should be=20 read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should = content=20 himself with the modern books. Thus I have found as a tutor in = English=20 Literature that if the average student wants to find out something = about=20 Platonism, the very last thing he thinks of doing is to take a = translation=20 of Plato off the library shelf and read the Symposium. He would = rather=20 read some dreary modern book ten times as long, all about "isms" = and=20 influences and only once in twelve pages telling him what Plato = actually=20 said. The error is rather an amiable one, for it springs from = humility.=20 The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers = face to=20 face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not = understand him.=20 But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, = is much=20 more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest = student will=20 be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what = Plato=20 said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on = Platonism. It=20 has always therefore been one of my main endeavours as a teacher = to=20 persuade the young that firsthand knowledge is not only more worth = acquiring than secondhand knowledge, but is usually much easier = and more=20 delightful to acquire.
3D" This = mistaken=20 preference for the modern books and this shyness of the old ones = is=20 nowhere more rampant than in theology. Wherever you find a little = study=20 circle of Christian laity you can be almost certain that they are = studying=20 not St. Luke or St. Paul or St. Augustine or Thomas Aquinas or = Hooker or=20 Butler, but M. Berdyaev or M. Maritain or M. Niebuhr or Miss = Sayers or=20 even myself.
3D" Now this = seems to me=20 topsy-turvy. Naturally, since I myself am a writer, I do not wish = the=20 ordinary reader to read no modern books. But if he must read only = the new=20 or only the old, I would advise him to read the old. And I would = give him=20 this advice precisely because he is an amateur and therefore much = less=20 protected than the expert against the dangers of an exclusive = contemporary=20 diet. A new book is still on its trial and the amateur is not in a = position to judge it. It has to be tested against the great body = of=20 Christian thought down the ages, and all its hidden implications = (often=20 unsuspected by the author himself) have to be brought to light. = Often it=20 cannot be fully understood without the knowledge of a good many = other=20 modern books. If you join at eleven o'clock a conversation which = began at=20 eight you will often not see the real bearing of what is said. = Remarks=20 which seem to you very ordinary will produce laughter or = irritation and=20 you will not see why=97the reason, of course, being that the = earlier stages=20 of the conversation have given them a special point. In the same = way=20 sentences in a modern book which look quite ordinary may be = directed=20 at some other book; in this way you may be led to accept = what you=20 would have indignantly rejected if you knew its real significance. = The=20 only safety is to have a standard of plain, central Christianity = ("mere=20 Christianity" as Baxter called it) which puts the controversies of = the=20 moment in their proper perspective. Such a standard can be = acquired only=20 from the old books. It is a good rule, after reading a new book, = never to=20 allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in = between.=20 If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one = to every=20 three new ones.
3D" Every age = has its=20 own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and = specially=20 liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books = that=20 will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And = that means=20 the old books. All contemporary writers share to some extent the=20 contemporary outlook=97even those, like myself, who seem most = opposed to it.=20 Nothing strikes me more when I read the controversies of past ages = than=20 the fact that both sides were usually assuming without question a = good=20 deal which we should now absolutely deny. They thought that they = were as=20 completely opposed as two sides could be, but in fact they were = all the=20 time secretly united=97united with each other and against earlier = and later=20 ages=97by a great mass of common assumptions. We may be sure that = the=20 characteristic blindness of the twentieth century=97the blindness = about=20 which posterity will ask, "But how could they have thought = that?"=97lies=20 where we have never suspected it, and concerns something about = which there=20 is untroubled agreement between Hitler and President Roosevelt or = between=20 Mr. H. G. Wells and Karl Barth. None of us can fully escape this=20 blindness, but we shall certainly increase it, and weaken our = guard=20 against it, if we read only modern books. Where they are true they = will=20 give us truths which we half knew already. Where they are false = they will=20 aggravate the error with which we are already dangerously ill. The = only=20 palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries = blowing=20 through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. = Not, of=20 course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no = cleverer=20 then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not = the same=20 mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already=20 committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, = will not=20 endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is=20 infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same=20 direction. To be sure, the books of the future would be just as = good a=20 corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot = get at=20 them.
3D" I myself = was first=20 led into reading the Christian classics, almost accidentally, as a = result=20 of my English studies. Some, such as Hooker, Herbert, Traherne, = Taylor and=20 Bunyan, I read because they are themselves great English writers; = others,=20 such as Boethius, St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and Dante, because = they=20 were "influences." George Macdonald I had found for myself at the = age of=20 sixteen and never wavered in my allegiance, though I tried for a = long time=20 to ignore his Christianity. They are, you will note, a mixed bag,=20 representative of many Churches, climates and ages. And that = brings me to=20 yet another reason for reading them. The divisions of Christendom = are=20 undeniable and are by some of these writers most fiercely = expressed. But=20 if any man is tempted to think=97as one might be tempted who read = only con-=20 temporaries=97that "Christianity" is a word of so many meanings = that it=20 means nothing at all, he can learn beyond all doubt, by stepping = out of=20 his own century, that this is not so. Measured against the ages = "mere=20 Christianity" turns out to be no insipid interdenominational = transparency,=20 but something positive, self-consistent, and inexhaustible. I know = it,=20 indeed, to my cost. In the days when I still hated Christianity, I = learned=20 to recognise, like some all too familiar smell, that almost = unvarying=20 something which met me, now in Puritan Bunyan, now in Anglican = Hooker, now=20 in Thomist Dante. It was there (honeyed and floral) in Francois de = Sales;=20 it was there (grave and homely) in Spenser and Walton; it was = there (grim=20 but manful) in Pascal and Johnson; there again, with a mild, = frightening,=20 Paradisial flavour, in Vaughan and Boehme and Traherne. In the = urban=20 sobriety of the eighteenth century one was not safe=97Law and = Butler were=20 two lions in the path. The supposed "Paganism" of the Elizabethans = could=20 not keep it out; it lay in wait where a man might have supposed = himself=20 safest, in the very centre of The Faerie Queene and the Arcadia. = It was,=20 of course, varied; and yet=97after all=97so unmistakably the same; = recognisable, not to be evaded, the odour which is death to us = until we=20 allow it to become life:

an air that kills
From yon far country = blows.
We are=20 all rightly distressed, and ashamed also, at the divisions of = Christendom.=20 But those who have always lived within the Christian fold may be = too=20 easily dispirited by them. They are bad, but such people do not = know what=20 it looks like from without. Seen from there, what is left intact = despite=20 all the divisions, still appears (as it truly is) an immensely = formidable=20 unity. I know, for I saw it; and well our enemies know it. That = unity any=20 of us can find by going out of his own age. It is not enough, but = it is=20 more than you had thought till then. Once you are well soaked in = it, if=20 you then venture to speak, you will have an amusing experience. = You will=20 be thought a Papist when you are actually reproducing Bunyan, a = Pantheist=20 when you are quoting Aquinas, and so forth. For you have now got = on to the=20 great level viaduct which crosses the ages and which looks so high = from=20 the valleys, so low from the mountains, so narrow compared with = the=20 swamps, and so broad compared with the sheep-tracks.
3D"

The = present book is=20 something of an experiment. The translation is intended for the = world at=20 large, not only for theological students. If it succeeds, other=20 translations of other great Christian books will presumably = follow. In one=20 sense, of course, it is not the first in the field. Translations = of the=20 Theologia Germanica, the Imitation, the Scale of Perfection, and = the=20 Revelations of Lady Julian of Norwich, are already on the market, = and are=20 very valuable, though some of them are not very scholarly. But it = will be=20 noticed that these are all books of devotion rather than of = doctrine. Now=20 the layman or amateur needs to be instructed as well as to be = exhorted. In=20 this age his need for knowledge is particularly pressing. Nor = would I=20 admit any sharp division between the two kinds of book. For my own = part I=20 tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion = than the=20 devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience = may await=20 many others. I believe that many who find that "nothing happens" = when they=20 sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that = the heart=20 sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough = bit of=20 theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their = hand.
This is a=20 good translation of a very great book. St. Athanasius has suffered = in=20 popular estimation from a certain sentence in the "Athanasian = Creed." I=20 will not labour the point that that work is not exactly a creed = and was=20 not by St. Athanasius, for I think it is a very fine piece of = writing. The=20 words "Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, = without=20 doubt he shall perish everlastingly" are the offence. They are = commonly=20 misunderstood. The operative word is keep; not acquire, or even = believe,=20 but keep. The author, in fact, is not talking about unbelievers, = but about=20 deserters, not about those who have never heard of Christ, nor = even those=20 who have misunderstood and refused to accept Him, but of those who = having=20 really understood and really believed, then allow themselves, = under the=20 sway of sloth or of fashion or any other invited confusion to be = drawn=20 away into sub-Christian modes of thought. They are a warning = against the=20 curious modern assumption that all changes of belief, however = brought=20 about, are necessarily exempt from blame. But this is not my = immediate=20 concern. I mention "the creed (commonly called) of St. Athanasius" = only to=20 get out of the reader's way what may have been a bogey and to put = the true=20 Athanasius in its place. His epitaph is Athanasius contra mundum,=20 "Athanasius against the world." We are proud that our own country = has more=20 than once stood against the world. Athanasius did the same. He = stood for=20 the Trinitarian doctrine, "whole and undefiled," when it looked as = if all=20 the civilised world was slipping back from Christianity into the = religion=20 of Arius=97into one of those "sensible" synthetic religions which = are so=20 strongly recommended today and which, then as now, included among = their=20 devotees many highly cultivated clergymen. It is his glory that he = did not=20 move with the times; it is his reward that he now remains when = those=20 times, as all times do, have moved away.
3D"

When I = first opened=20 his De Incarnatione I soon discovered by a very simple test that I = was=20 reading a masterpiece. I knew very little Christian Greek except = that of=20 the New Testament and I had expected difficulties. To my = astonishment I=20 found it almost as easy as Xenophon; and only a master mind could, = in the=20 fourth century, have written so deeply on such a subject with such = classical simplicity. Every page I read confirmed this impression. = His=20 approach to the Miracles is badly needed today, for it is the = final answer=20 to those who object to them as "arbitrary and meaningless = violations of=20 the laws of Nature." They are here shown to be rather the = re-telling in=20 capital letters of the same message which Nature writes in her = crabbed=20 cursive hand; the very operations one would expect of Him who was = so full=20 of life that when He wished to die He had to "borrow death from = others."=20 The whole book, indeed, is a picture of the Tree of Life=97a sappy = and=20 golden book, full of buoyancy and confidence. We cannot, I admit,=20 appropriate all its confidence today. We cannot point to the high = virtue=20 of Christian living and the gay, almost mocking courage of = Christian=20 martyrdom, as a proof of our doctrines with quite that assurance = which=20 Athanasius takes as a matter of course. But whoever may be to = blame for=20 that it is not Athanasius.
3D"

The = translator knows=20 so much more Christian Greek than I that it would be out of place = for me=20 to praise her version. But it seems to me to be in the right = tradition of=20 English translation. I do not think the reader will find here any = of that=20 sawdusty quality which is so common in modern renderings from the = ancient=20 languages. That is as much as the English reader will notice; = those who=20 compare the version with the original will be able to estimate how = much=20 wit and talent is presupposed in such a choice, for example, as = "these=20 wiseacres" on the very first page.

C. S. = LEWIS.

1
Creation and the Fall

(1)
n our former book[1] = we=20 dealt fully enough with a few of the chief points about the = heathen=20 worship of idols, and how those false fears originally arose. We = also, by=20 God's grace, briefly indicated that the Word of the Father is = Himself=20 divine, that all things that are owe their being to His will and = power,=20 and that it is through Him that the Father gives order to = creation, by Him=20 that all things are moved, and through Him that they receive their = being.=20 Now, Macarius, true lover of Christ, we must take a step further = in the=20 faith of our holy religion, and consider also the Word's becoming = Man and=20 His divine Appearing in our midst. That mystery the Jews traduce, = the=20 Greeks deride, but we adore; and your own love and devotion to the = Word=20 also will be the greater, because in His Manhood He seems so = little worth.=20 For it is a fact that the more unbelievers pour scorn on Him, so = much the=20 more does He make His Godhead evident. The things which they, as = men, rule=20 out as impossible, He plainly shows to be possible; that which = they deride=20 as unfitting, His goodness makes most fit; and things which these=20 wiseacres laugh at as "human" He by His inherent might declares = divine.=20 Thus by what seems His utter poverty and weakness on the cross He=20 overturns the pomp and parade of idols, and quietly and hiddenly = wins over=20 the mockers and unbelievers to recognize Him as God.
3D" Now in = dealing with=20 these matters it is necessary first to recall what has already = been said.=20 You must understand why it is that the Word of the Father, so = great and so=20 high, has been made manifest in bodily form. He has not assumed a = body as=20 proper to His own nature, far from it, for as the Word He is = without body.=20 He has been manifested in a human body for this reason only, out = of the=20 love and goodness of His Father, for the salvation of us men. We = will=20 begin, then, with the creation of the world and with God its = Maker, for=20 the first fact that you must grasp is this: the renewal of = creation has=20 been wrought by the Self-same Word Who made it in the = beginning. There=20 is thus no inconsistency between creation and salvation for the = One Father=20 has employed the same Agent for both works, effecting the = salvation of the=20 world through the same Word Who made it in the beginning.
(2) In=20 regard to the making of the universe and the creation of all = things there=20 have been various opinions, and each person has propounded the = theory that=20 suited his own taste. For instance, some say that all things are = self-=20 originated and, so to speak, haphazard. The Epicureans are among = these;=20 they deny that there is any Mind behind the universe at all. This = view is=20 contrary to all the facts of experience, their own existence = included. For=20 if all things had come into being in this automatic fashion, = instead of=20 being the outcome of Mind, though they existed, they would all be = uniform=20 and without distinction. In the universe everything would be sun = or moon=20 or whatever it was, and in the human body the whole would be hand = or eye=20 or foot. But in point of fact the sun and the moon and the earth = are all=20 different things, and even within the human body there are = different=20 members, such as foot and hand and head. This distinctness of = things=20 argues not a spontaneous generation but a prevenient Cause; and = from that=20 Cause we can apprehend God, the Designer and Maker of all.
3D" Others=20 take the view expressed by Plato, that giant among the Greeks. He = said=20 that God had made all things out of pre-existent and uncreated = matter,=20 just as the carpenter makes things only out of wood that already = exists.=20 But those who hold this view do not realize that to deny that God = is=20 Himself the Cause of matter is to impute limitation to Him, just = as it is=20 undoubtedly a limitation on the part of the carpenter that he can = make=20 nothing unless he has the wood. How could God be called Maker and=20 Artificer if His ability to make depended on some other cause, = namely on=20 matter itself? If He only worked up existing matter and did not = Himself=20 bring matter into being, He would be not the Creator but only a=20 craftsman.
3D" Then, = again, there=20 is the theory of the Gnostics, who have invented for themselves an = Artificer of all things other than the Father of our Lord Jesus = Christ.=20 These simply shut their eyes to the obvious meaning of Scripture. = For=20 instance, the Lord, having reminded the Jews of the statement in = Genesis,=20 "He Who created them in the beginning made them male and female. . = . ,"=20 and having shown that for that reason a man should leave his = parents and=20 cleave to his wife, goes on to say with reference to the Creator, = "What=20 therefore God has joined together, let no man put = asunder."[2] = How=20 can they get a creation independent of the Father out of that? = And, again,=20 St. John, speaking all inclusively, says, "All things became by = Him and=20 without Him came nothing into being.[3] = How=20 then could the Artificer be someone different, other than the = Father of=20 Christ?
3D" (3)Such = are the=20 notions which men put forward. But the impiety of their foolish = talk is=20 plainly declared by the divine teaching of the Christian faith. = From it we=20 know that, because there is Mind behind the universe, it did not = originate=20 itself; because God is infinite, not finite, it was not made from=20 pre-existent matter, but out of nothing and out of non-existence = absolute=20 and utter God brought it into being through the Word. He says as = much in=20 Genesis: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the = earth;[4] = and=20 again through that most helpful book The Shepherd, "Believe = thou=20 first and foremost that there is One God Who created and arranged = all=20 things and brought them out of non-existence into being."[5] = Paul also indicates the same thing when he says, "By faith we = understand=20 that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things = which=20 we see now did not come into being out of things which had = previously=20 appeared."[6] = For=20 God is good=97or rather, of all goodness He is Fountainhead, and = it is=20 impossible for one who is good to be mean or grudging about = anything.=20 Grudging existence to none therefore, He made all things out of = nothing=20 through His own Word, our Lord Jesus Christ and of all these His = earthly=20 creatures He reserved especial mercy for the race of men. Upon = them,=20 therefore, upon men who, as animals, were essentially impermanent, = He=20 bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked=97namely the impress = of His=20 own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word = Himself, so=20 that, reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and = expressing the=20 Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree they might = continue=20 for ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in = paradise. But=20 since the will of man could turn either way, God secured this = grace that=20 He had given by making it conditional from the first upon two=20 things=97namely, a law and a place. He set them in His own = paradise, and=20 laid upon them a single prohibition. If they guarded the grace and = retained the loveliness of their original innocence, then the life = of=20 paradise should be theirs, without sorrow, pain or care, and after = it the=20 assurance of immortality in heaven. But if they went astray and = became=20 vile, throwing away their birthright of beauty, then they would = come under=20 the natural law of death and live no longer in paradise, but, = dying=20 outside of it, continue in death and in corruption. This is what = Holy=20 Scripture tells us, proclaiming the command of God, "Of every tree = that is=20 in the garden thou shalt surely eat, but of the tree of the = knowledge of=20 good and evil ye shall not eat, but in the day that ye do eat, ye = shall=20 surely die."[7] = "Ye shall surely die"=97not just die only, but remain in = the state of=20 death and of corruption.
3D" (4) You = may be=20 wondering why we are discussing the origin of men when we set out = to talk=20 about the Word's becoming Man. The former subject is relevant to = the=20 latter for this reason: it was our sorry case that caused the Word = to come=20 down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that = He made=20 haste to help us and to appear among us. It is we who were the = cause of=20 His taking human form, and for our salvation that in His great = love He was=20 both born and manifested in a human body. For God had made man = thus (that=20 is, as an embodied spirit), and had willed that he should remain = in=20 incorruption. But men, having turned from the contemplation of God = to evil=20 of their own devising, had come inevitably under the law of death. = Instead=20 of remaining in the state in which God had created them, they were = in=20 process of becoming corrupted entirely, and death had them = completely=20 under its dominion. For the transgression of the commandment was = making=20 them turn back again according to their nature; and as they had at = the=20 beginning come into being out of non-existence, so were they now = on the=20 way to returning, through corruption, to non-existence again. The = presence=20 and love of the Word had called them into being; inevitably, = therefore=20 when they lost the knowledge of God, they lost existence with it; = for it=20 is God alone Who exists, evil is non-being, the negation and = antithesis of=20 good. By nature, of course, man is mortal, since he was made from = nothing;=20 but he bears also the Likeness of Him Who is, and if he preserves = that=20 Likeness through constant contemplation, then his nature is = deprived of=20 its power and he remains incorrupt. So is it affirmed in Wisdom: = "The=20 keeping of His laws is the assurance of incorruption."[8] = And=20 being incorrupt, he would be henceforth as God, as Holy Scripture = says, "I=20 have said, Ye are gods and sons of the Highest all of you: but ye = die as=20 men and fall as one of the princes."[9]<= BR>(5) This,=20 then, was the plight of men. God had not only made them out of = nothing,=20 but had also graciously bestowed on them His own life by the grace = of the=20 Word. Then, turning from eternal things to things corruptible, by = counsel=20 of the devil, they had become the cause of their own corruption in = death;=20 for, as I said before, though they were by nature subject to = corruption,=20 the grace of their union with the Word made them capable of = escaping from=20 the natural law, provided that they retained the beauty of = innocence with=20 which they were created. That is to say, the presence of the Word = with=20 them shielded them even from natural corruption, as also Wisdom = says: God=20 created man for incorruption and as an image of His own eternity; = but by=20 envy of the devil death entered into the world."[10= ]=20 When this happened, men began to die, and corruption ran riot = among them=20 and held sway over them to an even more than natural degree, = because it=20 was the penalty of which God had forewarned them for transgressing = the=20 commandment. Indeed, they had in their sinning surpassed all = limits; for,=20 having invented wickedness in the beginning and so involved = themselves in=20 death and corruption, they had gone on gradually from bad to = worse, not=20 stopping at any one kind of evil, but continually, as with = insatiable=20 appetite, devising new kinds of sins. Adulteries and thefts were=20 everywhere, murder and rapine filled the earth, law was = disregarded in=20 corruption and injustice, all kinds of iniquities were perpetrated = by all,=20 both singly and in common. Cities were warring with cities, = nations were=20 rising against nations, and the whole earth was rent with factions = and=20 battles, while each strove to outdo the other in wickedness. Even = crimes=20 contrary to nature were not unknown, but as the martyr-apostle of = Christ=20 says: "Their women changed the natural use into that which is = against=20 nature; and the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, = flamed out=20 in lust towards each other, perpetrating shameless acts with their = own=20 sex, and receiving in their own persons the due recompense of = their=20 pervertedness."[11= ]

Chapter 1 Notes

i.e. the Contra Gentes.=20
Matt. xix. 4-6.=20
John i. 3.=20
Gen. i. 1.=20
T= he=20 Shepherd of Hermas, Book 2. par 1.=20
Heb. xi. 3.=20
Gen. ii. 16 f.=20
Wisdom vi. 18.=20
Psalm lxxxii. 6 f.=20
Wisdom ii. 23 f.=20
Rom. i. 26 f.

Go = back=20 to the top of Chapter 1

2
The Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the=20 Incarnation

(6)
e saw in the last chapter that, because death and = corruption=20 were gaining ever firmer hold on them, the human race was in = process of=20 destruction. Man, who was created in God's image and in his = possession of=20 reason reflected the very Word Himself, was disappearing, and the = work of=20 God was being undone. The law of death, which followed from the=20 Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape. = The=20 thing that was happening was in truth both monstrous and = unfitting. It=20 would, of course, have been unthinkable that God should go back = upon His=20 word and that man, having transgressed, should not die; but it was = equally=20 monstrous that beings which once had shared the nature of the Word = should=20 perish and turn back again into non-existence through corruption. = It was=20 unworthy of the goodness of God that creatures made by Him should = be=20 brought to nothing through the deceit wrought upon man by the = devil; and=20 it was supremely unfitting that the work of God in mankind should=20 disappear, either through their own negligence or through the = deceit of=20 evil spirits. As, then, the creatures whom He had created = reasonable, like=20 the Word, were in fact perishing, and such noble works were on the = road to=20 ruin, what then was God, being Good, to do? Was He to let = corruption and=20 death have their way with them? In that case, what was the use of = having=20 made them in the beginning? Surely it would have been better never = to have=20 been created at all than, having been created, to be neglected and = perish;=20 and, besides that, such indifference to the ruin of His own work = before=20 His very eyes would argue not goodness in God but limitation, and = that far=20 more than if He had never created men at all. It was impossible,=20 therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by = corruption,=20 because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself.
3D" (7) Yet, = true though=20 this is, it is not the whole matter. As we have already noted, it = was=20 unthinkable that God, the Father of Truth, should go back upon His = word=20 regarding death in order to ensure our continued existence. He = could not=20 falsify Himself; what, then, was God to do? Was He to demand = repentance=20 from men for their transgression? You might say that that was = worthy of=20 God, and argue further that, as through the Transgression they = became=20 subject to corruption, so through repentance they might return to=20 incorruption again. But repentance would not guard the Divine = consistency,=20 for, if death did not hold dominion over men, God would still = remain=20 untrue. Nor does repentance recall men from what is according to = their=20 nature; all that it does is to make them cease from sinning. Had = it been a=20 case of a trespass only, and not of a subsequent corruption, = repentance=20 would have been well enough; but when once transgression had begun = men=20 came under the power of the corruption proper to their nature and = were=20 bereft of the grace which belonged to them as creatures in the = Image of=20 God. No, repentance could not meet the case. What=97or rather = Who was=20 it that was needed for such grace and such recall as we required? = Who,=20 save the Word of God Himself, Who also in the beginning had made = all=20 things out of nothing? His part it was, and His alone, both to = bring again=20 the corruptible to incorruption and to maintain for the Father His = consistency of character with all. For He alone, being Word of the = Father=20 and above all, was in consequence both able to recreate all, and = worthy to=20 suffer on behalf of all and to be an ambassador for all with the=20 Father.
3D" (8) For = this=20 purpose, then, the incorporeal and incorruptible and immaterial = Word of=20 God entered our world. In one sense, indeed, He was not far from = it=20 before, for no part of creation had ever been without Him Who, = while ever=20 abiding in union with the Father, yet fills all things that are. = But now=20 He entered the world in a new way, stooping to our level in His = love and=20 Self-revealing to us. He saw the reasonable race, the race of men = that,=20 like Himself, expressed the Father's Mind, wasting out of = existence, and=20 death reigning over all in corruption. He saw that corruption held = us all=20 the closer, because it was the penalty for the Transgression; He = saw, too,=20 how unthinkable it would be for the law to be repealed before it = was=20 fulfilled. He saw how unseemly it was that the very things of = which He=20 Himself was the Artificer should be disappearing. He saw how the=20 surpassing wickedness of men was mounting up against them; He saw = also=20 their universal liability to death. All this He saw and, pitying = our race,=20 moved with compassion for our limitation, unable to endure that = death=20 should have the mastery, rather than that His creatures should = perish and=20 the work of His Father for us men come to nought, He took to = Himself a=20 body, a human body even as our own. Nor did He will merely to = become=20 embodied or merely to appear; had that been so, He could have = revealed His=20 divine majesty in some other and better way. No, He took = our body,=20 and not only so, but He took it directly from a spotless, = stainless=20 virgin, without the agency of human father=97a pure body, = untainted by=20 intercourse with man. He, the Mighty One, the Artificer of all, = Himself=20 prepared this body in the virgin as a temple for Himself, and took = it for=20 His very own, as the instrument through which He was known and in = which He=20 dwelt. Thus, taking a body like our own, because all our bodies = were=20 liable to the corruption of death, He surrendered His body to = death=20 instead of all, and offered it to the Father. This He did out of = sheer=20 love for us, so that in His death all might die, and the law of = death=20 thereby be abolished because, having fulfilled in His body that = for which=20 it was appointed, it was thereafter voided of its power for men. = This He=20 did that He might turn again to incorruption men who had turned = back to=20 corruption, and make them alive through death by the appropriation = of His=20 body and by the grace of His resurrection. Thus He would make = death to=20 disappear from them as utterly as straw from fire.
3D" (9) The = Word=20 perceived that corruption could not be got rid of otherwise than = through=20 death; yet He Himself, as the Word, being immortal and the = Father's Son,=20 was such as could not die. For this reason, therefore, He assumed = a body=20 capable of death, in order that it, through belonging to the Word = Who is=20 above all, might become in dying a sufficient exchange for all, = and,=20 itself remaining incorruptible through His indwelling, might = thereafter=20 put an end to corruption for all others as well, by the grace of = the=20 resurrection. It was by surrendering to death the body which He = had taken,=20 as an offering and sacrifice free from every stain, that He = forthwith=20 abolished death for His human brethren by the offering of the = equivalent.=20 For naturally, since the Word of God was above all, when He = offered His=20 own temple and bodily instrument as a substitute for the life of = all, He=20 fulfilled in death all that was required. Naturally also, through = this=20 union of the immortal Son of God with our human nature, all men = were=20 clothed with incorruption in the promise of the resurrection. For = the=20 solidarity of mankind is such that, by virtue of the Word's = indwelling in=20 a single human body, the corruption which goes with death has lost = its=20 power over all. You know how it is when some great king enters a = large=20 city and dwells in one of its houses; because of his dwelling in = that=20 single house, the whole city is honored, and enemies and robbers = cease to=20 molest it. Even so is it with the King of all; He has come into = our=20 country and dwelt in one body amidst the many, and in consequence = the=20 designs of the enemy against mankind have been foiled and the = corruption=20 of death, which formerly held them in its power, has simply ceased = to be.=20 For the human race would have perished utterly had not the Lord = and Savior=20 of all, the Son of God, come among us to put an end to = death.
(10) This=20 great work was, indeed, supremely worthy of the goodness of God. A = king=20 who has founded a city, so far from neglecting it when through the = carelessness of the inhabitants it is attacked by robbers, avenges = it and=20 saves it from destruction, having regard rather to his own honor = than to=20 the people's neglect. Much more, then, the Word of the All-good = Father was=20 not unmindful of the human race that He had called to be; but = rather, by=20 the offering of His own body He abolished the death which they had = incurred, and corrected their neglect by His own teaching. Thus by = His own=20 power He restored the whole nature of man. The Savior's own = inspired=20 disciples assure us of this. We read in one place: " For the love = of=20 Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge that, if One died on = behalf=20 of all, then all died, and He died for all that we should no = longer live=20 unto ourselves, but unto Him who died and rose again from the = dead, even=20 our Lord Jesus Christ."[1] = And=20 again another says: "But we behold Him Who hath been made a little = lower=20 than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death = crowned=20 with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He should taste of = death on=20 behalf of every man." The same writer goes on to point out why it = was=20 necessary for God the Word and none other to become Man: "For it = became=20 Him, for Whom are all things and through Whom are all things, in = bringing=20 many sons unto glory, to make the Author of their salvation = perfect=20 through suffering.[2] = He=20 means that the rescue of mankind from corruption was the proper = part only=20 of Him Who made them in the beginning. He points out also that the = Word=20 assumed a human body, expressly in order that He might offer it in = sacrifice for other like bodies: "Since then the children are = sharers in=20 flesh and blood, He also Himself assumed the same, in order that = through=20 death He might bring to nought Him that hath the power of death, = that is=20 to say, the Devil, and might rescue those who all their lives were = enslaved by the fear of death."[3] = For=20 by the sacrifice of His own body He did two things: He put an end = to the=20 law of death which barred our way; and He made a new beginning of = life for=20 us, by giving us the hope of resurrection. By man death has gained = its=20 power over men; by the Word made Man death has been destroyed and = life=20 raised up anew. That is what Paul says, that true servant of = Christ: For=20 since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the = dead.=20 Just as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made = alive,"[4] = and=20 so forth. Now, therefore, when we die we no longer do so as men = condemned=20 to death, but as those who are even now in process of rising we = await the=20 general resurrection of all, "which in its own times He shall = show,"[5] = even God Who wrought it and bestowed it on us.
3D" This, = then, is the=20 first cause of the Savior's becoming Man. There are, however, = other things=20 which show how wholly fitting is His blessed presence in our = midst; and=20 these we must now go on to consider.

Go = back=20 to the top of Chapter 2

3
The Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the=20 Incarnation=97continued

(11)
hen God the Almighty was making mankind through His = own Word,=20 He perceived that they, owing to the limitation of their nature, = could not=20 of themselves have any knowledge of their Artificer, the = Incorporeal and=20 Uncreated. He took pity on them, therefore, and did not leave them = destitute of the knowledge of Himself, lest their very existence = should=20 prove purposeless. For of what use is existence to the creature if = it=20 cannot know its Maker? How could men be reasonable beings if they = had no=20 knowledge of the Word and Reason of the Father, through Whom they = had=20 received their being? They would be no better than the beasts, had = they no=20 knowledge save of earthly things; and why should God have made = them at=20 all, if He had not intended them to know Him? But, in fact, the = good God=20 has given them a share in His own Image, that is, in our Lord = Jesus=20 Christ, and has made even themselves after the same Image and = Likeness.=20 Why? Simply in order that through this gift of Godlikeness in = themselves=20 they may be able to perceive the Image Absolute, that is the Word = Himself,=20 and through Him to apprehend the Father; which knowledge of their = Maker is=20 for men the only really happy and blessed life.
3D" But, as we = have=20 already seen, men, foolish as they are, thought little of the = grace they=20 had received, and turned away from God. They defiled their own = soul so=20 completely that they not only lost their apprehension of God, but = invented=20 for themselves other gods of various kinds. They fashioned idols = for=20 themselves in place of the truth and reverenced things that are = not,=20 rather than God Who is, as St. Paul says, "worshipping the = creature rather=20 than the Creator."[1] = Moreover, and much worse, they transferred the honor which is due = to God=20 to material objects such as wood and stone, and also to man; and = further=20 even than that they went, as we said in our former book. Indeed, = so=20 impious were they that they worshipped evil spirits as gods in=20 satisfaction of their lusts. They sacrificed brute beasts and = immolated=20 men, as the just due of these deities, thereby bringing themselves = more=20 and more under their insane control. Magic arts also were taught = among=20 them, oracles in sundry places led men astray, and the cause of = everything=20 in human life was traced to the stars as though nothing existed = but that=20 which could be seen. In a word, impiety and lawlessness were = everywhere,=20 and neither God nor His Word was known. Yet He had not hidden = Himself from=20 the sight of men nor given the knowledge of Himself in one way = only; but=20 rather He had unfolded it in many forms and by many ways.
(12) God=20 knew the limitation of mankind, you see; and though the grace of = being=20 made in His Image was sufficient to give them knowledge of the = Word and=20 through Him of the Father, as a safeguard against their neglect of = this=20 grace, He provided the works of creation also as means by which = the Maker=20 might be known. Nor was this all. Man's neglect of the indwelling = grace=20 tends ever to increase; and against this further frailty also God = made=20 provision by giving them a law, and by sending prophets, men whom = they=20 knew. Thus, if they were tardy in looking up to heaven, they might = still=20 gain knowledge of their Maker from those close at hand; for men = can learn=20 directly about higher things from other men. Three ways thus lay = open to=20 them, by which they might obtain the knowledge of God. They could = look up=20 into the immensity of heaven, and by pondering the harmony of = creation=20 come to know its Ruler, the Word of the Father, Whose all-ruling=20 providence makes known the Father to all. Or, if this was beyond = them,=20 they could converse with holy men, and through them learn to know = God, the=20 Artificer of all things, the Father of Christ, and to recognize = the=20 worship of idols as the negation of the truth and full of all = impiety. Or=20 else, in the third place, they could cease from lukewarmness and = lead a=20 good life merely by knowing the law. For the law was not given = only for=20 the Jews, nor was it solely for their sake that God sent the = prophets,=20 though it was to the Jews that they were sent and by the Jews that = they=20 were persecuted. The law and the prophets were a sacred school of = the=20 knowledge of God and the conduct of the spiritual life for the = whole=20 world.
3D" So great, = indeed,=20 were the goodness and the love of God. Yet men, bowed down by the=20 pleasures of the moment and by the frauds and illusions of the = evil=20 spirits, did not lift up their heads towards the truth. So = burdened were=20 they with their wickednesses that they seemed rather to be brute = beasts=20 than reasonable men, reflecting the very Likeness of the = Word.
(13) What=20 was God to do in face of this dehumanising of mankind, this = universal=20 hiding of the knowledge of Himself by the wiles of evil spirits? = Was He to=20 keep silence before so great a wrong and let men go on being thus = deceived=20 and kept in ignorance of Himself? If so, what was the use of = having made=20 them in His own Image originally? It would surely have been better = for=20 them always to have been brutes, rather than to revert to that = condition=20 when once they had shared the nature of the Word. Again, things = being as=20 they were, what was the use of their ever having had the knowledge = of God?=20 Surely it would have been better for God never to have bestowed = it, than=20 that men should subsequently be found unworthy to receive it. = Similarly,=20 what possible profit could it be to God Himself, Who made men, if = when=20 made they did not worship Him, but regarded others as their = makers? This=20 would be tantamount to His having made them for others and not for = Himself. Even an earthly king, though he is only a man, does not = allow=20 lands that he has colonized to pass into other hands or to desert = to other=20 rulers, but sends letters and friends and even visits them himself = to=20 recall them to their allegiance, rather than allow His work to be = undone.=20 How much more, then, will God be patient and painstaking with His=20 creatures, that they be not led astray from Him to the service of = those=20 that are not, and that all the more because such error means for = them=20 sheer ruin, and because it is not right that those who had once = shared His=20 Image should be destroyed.
3D" What, = then, was God=20 to do? What else could He possibly do, being God, but renew His = Image in=20 mankind, so that through it men might once more come to know Him? = And how=20 could this be done save by the coming of the very Image Himself, = our=20 Savior Jesus Christ? Men could not have done it, for they are only = made=20 after the Image; nor could angels have done it, for they are not = the=20 images of God. The Word of God came in His own Person, because it = was He=20 alone, the Image of the Father Who could recreate man made after = the=20 Image.
3D" In order = to effect=20 this re-creation, however, He had first to do away with death and=20 corruption. Therefore He assumed a human body, in order that in it = death=20 might once for all be destroyed, and that men might be renewed = according=20 to the Image. The Image of the Father only was sufficient for this = need.=20 Here is an illustration to prove it.
3D" (14) You = know what=20 happens when a portrait that has been painted on a panel becomes=20 obliterated through external stains. The artist does not throw = away the=20 panel, but the subject of the portrait has to come and sit for it = again,=20 and then the likeness is re-drawn on the same material. Even so = was it=20 with the All-holy Son of God. He, the Image of the Father, came = and dwelt=20 in our midst, in order that He might renew mankind made after = Himself, and=20 seek out His lost sheep, even as He says in the Gospel: "I came to = seek=20 and to save that which was lost.[2] = This also explains His saying to the Jews: "Except a man be born = anew . .=20 ."[3] = a=20 He was not referring to a man's natural birth from his mother, as = they=20 thought, but to the re-birth and re-creation of the soul in the = Image of=20 God.
3D" Nor was = this the=20 only thing which only the Word could do. When the madness of = idolatry and=20 irreligion filled the world and the knowledge of God was hidden, = whose=20 part was it to teach the world about the Father? Man's, would you = say? But=20 men cannot run everywhere over the world, nor would their words = carry=20 sufficient weight if they did, nor would they be, unaided, a match = for the=20 evil spirits. Moreover, since even the best of men were confused = and=20 blinded by evil, how could they convert the souls and minds of = others? You=20 cannot put straight in others what is warped in yourself. Perhaps = you will=20 say, then, that creation was enough to teach men about the Father. = But if=20 that had been so, such great evils would never have occurred. = Creation was=20 there all the time, but it did not prevent men from wallowing in = error.=20 Once more, then, it was the Word of God, Who sees all that is in = man and=20 moves all things in creation, Who alone could meet the needs of = the=20 situation. It was His part and His alone, Whose ordering of the = universe=20 reveals the Father, to renew the same teaching. But how was He to = do it?=20 By the same means as before, perhaps you will say, that is, = through the=20 works of creation. But this was proven insufficient. Men had = neglected to=20 consider the heavens before, and now they were looking in the = opposite=20 direction. Wherefore, in all naturalness and fitness. desiring to = do good=20 to men, as Man He dwells, taking to Himself a body like the rest; = and=20 through His actions done in that body, as it were on their own = level, He=20 teaches those who would not learn by other means to know Himself, = the Word=20 of God, and through Him the Father.
3D" (15) He = deals with=20 them as a good teacher with his pupils, coming down to their level = and=20 using simple means. St. Paul says as much: "Because in the wisdom = of God=20 the world in its wisdom knew not God, God thought fit through the=20 simplicity of the News proclaimed to save those who believe."[4] = Men=20 had turned from the contemplation of God above, and were looking = for Him=20 in the opposite direction, down among created things and things of = sense.=20 The Savior of us all, the Word of God, in His great love took to = Himself a=20 body and moved as Man among men, meeting their senses, so to = speak, half=20 way. He became Himself an object for the senses, so that those who = were=20 seeking God in sensible things might apprehend the Father through = the=20 works which He, the Word of God, did in the body. Human and human = minded=20 as men were, therefore, to whichever side they looked in the = sensible=20 world they found themselves taught the truth. Were they = awe-stricken by=20 creation? They beheld it confessing Christ as Lord. Did their = minds tend=20 to regard men as Gods? The uniqueness of the Savior's works marked = Him,=20 alone of men, as Son of God. Were they drawn to evil spirits? They = saw=20 them driven out by the Lord and learned that the Word of God alone = was God=20 and that the evil spirits were not gods at all. Were they inclined = to=20 hero-worship and the cult of the dead? Then the fact that the = Savior had=20 risen from the dead showed them how false these other deities = were, and=20 that the Word of the Father is the one true Lord, the Lord even of = death.=20 For this reason was He both born and manifested as Man, for this = He died=20 and rose, in order that, eclipsing by His works all other human = deeds, He=20 might recall men from all the paths of error to know the Father. = As He=20 says Himself, "I came to seek and to save that which was lost."[5]<= BR>(16)=20 When, then, the minds of men had fallen finally to the level of = sensible=20 things, the Word submitted to appear in a body, in order that He, = as Man,=20 might center their senses on Himself, and convince them through = His human=20 acts that He Himself is not man only but also God, the Word and = Wisdom of=20 the true God. This is what Paul wants to tell us when he says: = "That ye,=20 being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with = all the=20 saints what is the length and breadth and height and depth, and to = know=20 the love of God that surpasses knowledge, so that ye may be filled = unto=20 all the fullness of God."[6] = The=20 Self- revealing of the Word is in every dimension=97above, in = creation;=20 below, in the Incarnation; in the depth, in Hades; in the breadth, = throughout the world. All things have been filled with the = knowledge of=20 God.
3D" For this = reason He=20 did not offer the sacrifice on behalf of all immediately He came, = for if=20 He had surrendered His body to death and then raised it again at = once He=20 would have ceased to be an object of our senses. Instead of that, = He=20 stayed in His body and let Himself be seen in it, doing acts and = giving=20 signs which showed Him to be not only man, but also God the Word. = There=20 were thus two things which the Savior did for us by becoming Man. = He=20 banished death from us and made us anew; and, invisible and = imperceptible=20 as in Himself He is, He became visible through His works and = revealed=20 Himself as the Word of the Father, the Ruler and King of the whole = creation.
3D" (17) There = is a=20 paradox in this last statement which we must now examine. The Word = was not=20 hedged in by His body, nor did His presence in the body prevent = His being=20 present elsewhere as well. When He moved His body He did not cease = also to=20 direct the universe by His Mind and might. No. The marvelous truth = is,=20 that being the Word, so far from being Himself contained by = anything, He=20 actually contained all things Himself. In creation He is present=20 everywhere, yet is distinct in being from it; ordering, directing, = giving=20 life to all, containing all, yet is He Himself the Uncontained, = existing=20 solely in His Father. As with the whole, so also is it with the = part.=20 Existing in a human body, to which He Himself gives life, He is = still=20 Source of life to all the universe, present in every part of it, = yet=20 outside the whole; and He is revealed both through the works of = His body=20 and through His activity in the world. It is, indeed, the function = of soul=20 to behold things that are outside the body, but it cannot = energize=20 or move them. A man cannot transport things from one place to = another, for=20 instance, merely by thinking about them; nor can you or I move the = sun and=20 the stars just by sitting at home and looking at them. With the = Word of=20 God in His human nature, however, it was otherwise. His body was = for Him=20 not a limitation, but an instrument, so that He was both in it and = in all=20 things, and outside all things, resting in the Father alone. At = one and=20 the same time=97this is the wonder=97 as Man He was living a human = life, and=20 as Word He was sustaining the life of the universe, and as Son He = was in=20 constant union with the Father. Not even His birth from a virgin,=20 therefore, changed Him in any way, nor was He defiled by being in = the=20 body. Rather, He sanctified the body by being in it. For His being = in=20 everything does not mean that He shares the nature of everything, = only=20 that He gives all things their being and sustains them in it. Just = as the=20 sun is not defiled by the contact of its rays with earthly = objects, but=20 rather enlightens and purifies them, so He Who made the sun is not = defiled=20 by being made known in a body, but rather the body is cleansed and = quickened by His indwelling, "Who did no sin, neither was guile = found in=20 His mouth."[7]<= BR>(18) You=20 must understand, therefore, that when writers on this sacred theme = speak=20 of Him as eating and drinking and being born, they mean that the = body, as=20 a body, was born and sustained with the food proper to its nature; = while=20 God the Word, Who was united with it, was at the same time = ordering the=20 universe and revealing Himself through His bodily acts as not man = only but=20 God. Those acts are rightly said to be His acts, because the body = which=20 did them did indeed belong to Him and none other; moreover, it was = right=20 that they should be thus attributed to Him as Man, in order to = show that=20 His body was a real one and not merely an appearance. From such = ordinary=20 acts as being born and taking food, He was recognized as being = actually=20 present in the body; but by the extraordinary acts which He did = through=20 the body He proved Himself to be the Son of God. That is the = meaning of=20 His words to the unbelieving Jews: "If I do not the works of My = Father,=20 believe Me not; but if I do, even if ye believe not Me, believe My = works,=20 that ye may know that the Father is in Me and I in the = Father."
Invisible=20 in Himself, He is known from the works of creation; so also, when = His=20 Godhead is veiled in human nature, His bodily acts still declare = Him to be=20 not man only, but the Power and Word of God. To speak = authoritatively to=20 evil spirits, for instance, and to drive them out, is not human = but=20 divine; and who could see-Him curing all the diseases to which = mankind is=20 prone, and still deem Him mere man and not also God? He cleansed = lepers,=20 He made the lame to walk, He opened the ears of the deaf and the = eyes of=20 the blind, there was no sickness or weakness that-He did not drive = away.=20 Even the most casual observer can see that these were acts of God. = The=20 healing of the man born blind, for instance, who but the Father = and=20 Artificer of man, the Controller of his whole being, could thus = have=20 restored the faculty denied at birth? He Who did thus must surely = be=20 Himself the Lord of birth. This is proved also at the outset of = His=20 becoming Man. He formed His own body from the virgin; and that is = no small=20 proof of His Godhead, since He Who made that was the Maker of all = else.=20 And would not anyone infer from the fact of that body being = begotten of a=20 virgin only, without human father, that He Who appeared in it was = also the=20 Maker and Lord of all beside?
3D" Again, = consider the=20 miracle at Cana. Would not anyone who saw the substance of water=20 transmuted into wine understand that He Who did it was the Lord = and Maker=20 of the water that He changed? It was for the same reason that He = walked on=20 the sea as on dry land=97to prove to the onlookers that He had = mastery over=20 all. And the feeding of the multitude, when He made little into = much, so=20 that from five loaves five thousand mouths were filled=97did not = that prove=20 Him none other than the very Lord Whose Mind is over all?

Chapter 3 Notes

Rom. i. 25.=20
Luke xix. 10.=20
John iii. 3.=20
1 Cor. i. 21.=20
Luke xix. 10.=20
Eph. iii. 17 ff.=20
1 Peter ii. 22.

Go = back=20 to the top of Chapter 3

4
The Death of Christ

(19)
ll these things the Savior thought fit to do, so = that,=20 recognizing His bodily acts as works of God, men who were blind to = His=20 presence in creation might regain knowledge of the Father. For, as = I said=20 before, who that saw His authority over evil spirits and their = response to=20 it could doubt that He was, indeed, the Son, the Wisdom and the = Power of=20 God? Even the very creation broke silence at His behest and, = marvelous to=20 relate, confessed with one voice before the cross, that monument = of=20 victory, that He Who suffered thereon in the body was not man = only, but=20 Son of God and Savior of all. The sun veiled his face, the earth = quaked,=20 the mountains were rent asunder, all men were stricken with awe. = These=20 things showed that Christ on the cross was God, and that all = creation was=20 His slave and was bearing witness by its fear to the presence of = its=20 Master.
3D" Thus, = then, God the=20 Word revealed Himself to men through His works. We must next = consider the=20 end of His earthly life and the nature of His bodily death. This = is,=20 indeed, the very center of our faith, and everywhere you hear men = speak of=20 it; by it, too, no less than by His other acts, Christ is revealed = as God=20 and Son of God.
3D" (20) We = have dealt=20 as far as circumstances and our own understanding permit with the = reason=20 for His bodily manifestation. We have seen that to change the = corruptible=20 to incorruption was proper to none other than the Savior Himself, = Who in=20 the beginning made all things out of nothing; that only the Image = of the=20 Father could re-create the likeness of the Image in men, that none = save=20 our Lord Jesus Christ could give to mortals immortality, and that = only the=20 Word Who orders all things and is alone the Father's true and=20 sole-begotten Son could teach men about Him and abolish the = worship of=20 idols But beyond all this, there was a debt owing which must needs = be=20 paid; for, as I said before, all men were due to die. Here, then, = is the=20 second reason why the Word dwelt among us, namely that having = proved His=20 Godhead by His works, He might offer the sacrifice on behalf of = all,=20 surrendering His own temple to death in place of all, to settle = man's=20 account with death and free him from the primal transgression. In = the same=20 act also He showed Himself mightier than death, displaying His own = body=20 incorruptible as the first-fruits of the resurrection.
3D" You must = not be=20 surprised if we repeat ourselves in dealing with this subject. We = are=20 speaking of the good pleasure of God and of the things which He in = His=20 loving wisdom thought fit to do, and it is better to put the same = thing in=20 several ways than to run the risk of leaving something out. The = body of=20 the Word, then, being a real human body, in spite of its having = been=20 uniquely formed from a virgin, was of itself mortal and, like = other=20 bodies, liable to death. But the indwelling of the Word loosed it = from=20 this natural liability, so that corruption could not touch it. = Thus it=20 happened that two opposite marvels took place at once: the death = of all=20 was consummated in the Lord's body; yet, because the Word was in = it, death=20 and corruption were in the same act utterly abolished. Death there = had to=20 be, and death for all, so that the due of all might be paid. = Wherefore,=20 the Word, as I said, being Himself incapable of death, assumed a = mortal=20 body, that He might offer it as His own in place of all, and = suffering for=20 the sake of all through His union with it, " might bring to nought = Him=20 that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver = them=20 who all their lifetime were enslaved by the fear of death."[1]<= BR>(21) Have=20 no fears then. Now that the common Savior of all has died on our = behalf,=20 we who believe in Christ no longer die, as men died aforetime, in=20 fulfillment of the threat of the law. That condemnation has come = to an=20 end; and now that, by the grace of the resurrection, corruption = has been=20 banished and done away, we are loosed from our mortal bodies in = God's good=20 time for each, so that we may obtain thereby a better = resurrection. Like=20 seeds cast into the earth, we do not perish in our dissolution, = but like=20 them shall rise again, death having been brought to nought by the = grace of=20 the Savior. That is why blessed Paul, through whom we all have = surety of=20 the resurrection, says: "This corruptible must put on incorruption = and=20 this mortal must put on immortality; but when this corruptible = shall have=20 put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, = then=20 shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is = swallowed=20 up in victory. O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy=20 victory?"[2]<= BR>"Well=20 then," some people may say, "if the essential thing was that He = should=20 surrender His body to death in place of all, why did He not do so = as Man=20 privately, without going to the length of public crucifixion? = Surely it=20 would have been more suitable for Him to have laid aside His body = with=20 honor than to endure so shameful a death." But look at this = argument=20 closely, and see how merely human it is, whereas what the Savior = did was=20 truly divine and worthy of His Godhead for several reasons. The = first is=20 this. The death of men under ordinary circumstances is the result = of their=20 natural weakness. They are essentially impermanent, so after a = time they=20 fall ill and when worn out they die. But the Lord is not like = that. He is=20 not weak, He is the Power of God and Word of God and Very Life = Itself. If=20 He had died quietly in His bed like other men it would have looked = as if=20 He did so in accordance with His nature, and as though He was = indeed no=20 more than other men. But because He was Himself Word and Life and = Power=20 His body was made strong, and because the death had to be = accomplished, He=20 took the occasion of perfecting His sacrifice not from Himself, = but from=20 others. How could He fall sick, Who had healed others? Or how = could that=20 body weaken and fail by means of which others are made strong? = Here,=20 again, you may say, "Why did He not prevent death, as He did = sickness?"=20 Because it was precisely in order to be able to die that He had = taken a=20 body, and to prevent the death would have been to impede the = resurrection.=20 And as to the unsuitability of sickness for His body, as arguing = weakness,=20 you may say, "Did He then not hunger?" Yes, He hungered, because = that was=20 the property of His body, but He did not die of hunger because He = Whose=20 body hungered was the Lord. Similarly, though He died to ransom = all, He=20 did not see corruption. His body rose in perfect soundness, for it = was the=20 body of none other than the Life Himself.
3D" (22) = Someone else=20 might say, perhaps, that it would have been better for the Lord to = have=20 avoided the designs of the Jews against Him, and so to have = guarded His=20 body from death altogether. But see how unfitting this also would = have=20 been for Him. Just as it would not have been fitting for Him to = give His=20 body to death by His own hand, being Word and being Life, so also = it was=20 not consonant with Himself that He should avoid the death = inflicted by=20 others. Rather, He pursued it to the uttermost, and in pursuance = of His=20 nature neither laid aside His body of His own accord nor escaped = the=20 plotting Jews. And this action showed no limitation or weakness in = the=20 Word; for He both waited for death in order to make an end of it, = and=20 hastened to accomplish it as an offering on behalf of all. = Moreover, as it=20 was the death of all mankind that the Savior came to accomplish, = not His=20 own, He did not lay aside His body by an individual act of dying, = for to=20 Him, as Life, this simply did not belong; but He accepted death at = the=20 hands of men, thereby completely to destroy it in His own = body.
There are=20 some further considerations which enable one to understand why the = Lord's=20 body had such an end. The supreme object of His coming was to = bring about=20 the resurrection of the body. This was to be the monument to His = victory=20 over death, the assurance to all that He had Himself conquered = corruption=20 and that their own bodies also would eventually be incorrupt; and = it was=20 in token of that and as a pledge of the future resurrection that = He kept=20 His body incorrupt. But there again, if His body had fallen sick = and the=20 Word had left it in that condition, how unfitting it would have = been!=20 Should He Who healed the bodies of others neglect to keep His own = in=20 health? How would His miracles of healing be believed, if this = were so?=20 Surely people would either laugh at Him as unable to dispel = disease or=20 else consider Him lacking in proper human feeling because He could = do so,=20 but did not.
3D" (23) Then, = again,=20 suppose without any illness He had just concealed His body = somewhere, and=20 then suddenly reappeared and said that He had risen from the dead. = He=20 would have been regarded merely as a teller of tales, and because = there=20 was no witness of His death, nobody would believe His = resurrection. Death=20 had to precede resurrection, for there could be no resurrection = without=20 it. A secret and unwitnessed death would have left the = resurrection=20 without any proof or evidence to support it. Again, why should He = die a=20 secret death, when He proclaimed the fact of His rising openly? = Why should=20 He drive out evil spirits and heal the man blind from birth and = change=20 water into wine, all publicly, in order to convince men that He = was the=20 Word, and not also declare publicly that incorruptibility of His = mortal=20 body, so that He might Himself be believed to be the Life? And how = could=20 His disciples have had boldness in speaking of the resurrection = unless=20 they could state it as a fact that He had first died? Or how could = their=20 hearers be expected to believe their assertion, unless they = themselves=20 also had witnessed His death? For if the Pharisees at the time = refused to=20 believe and forced others to deny also, though the things had = happened=20 before their very eyes, how many excuses for unbelief would they = have=20 contrived, if it had taken place secretly? Or how could the end of = death=20 and the victory over it have been declared, had not the Lord thus=20 challenged it before the sight of all, and by the incorruption of = His body=20 proved that henceforward it was annulled and void?
3D" (24) There = are some=20 other possible objections that must be answered. Some might urge = that,=20 even granting the necessity of a public death for subsequent = belief in the=20 resurrection, it would surely have been better for Him to have = arranged an=20 honorable death for Himself, and so to have avoided the ignominy = of the=20 cross. But even this would have given ground for suspicion that = His power=20 over death was limited to the particular kind of death which He = chose for=20 Himself; and that again would furnish excuse for disbelieving the=20 resurrection. Death came to His body, therefore, not from Himself = but from=20 enemy action, in order that the Savior might utterly abolish death = in=20 whatever form they offered it to Him. A generous wrestler, virile = and=20 strong, does not himself choose his antagonists, lest it should be = thought=20 that of some of them he is afraid. Rather, he lets the spectators = choose=20 them, and that all the more if these are hostile, so that he may = overthrow=20 whomsoever they match against him and thus vindicate his superior=20 strength. Even so was it with Christ. He, the Life of all, our = Lord and=20 Savior, did not arrange the manner of his own death lest He should = seem to=20 be afraid of some other kind. No. He accepted and bore upon the = cross a=20 death inflicted by others, and those others His special enemies, a = death=20 which to them was supremely terrible and by no means to be faced; = and He=20 did this in order that, by destroying even this death, He might = Himself be=20 believed to be the Life, and the power of death be recognized as = finally=20 annulled. A marvelous and mighty paradox has thus occurred, for = the death=20 which they thought to inflict on Him as dishonor and disgrace has = become=20 the glorious monument to death's defeat. Therefore it is also, = that He=20 neither endured the death of John, who was beheaded, nor was He = sawn=20 asunder, like Isaiah: even in death He preserved His body whole = and=20 undivided, so that there should be no excuse hereafter for those = who would=20 divide the Church.
3D" (25) So = much for the=20 objections of those outside the Church. But if any honest = Christian wants=20 to know why He suffered death on the cross and not in some other = way, we=20 answer thus: in no other way was it expedient for us, indeed the = Lord=20 offered for our sakes the one death that was supremely good. He = had come=20 to bear the curse that lay on us; and how could He "become a = curse"[3] = otherwise than by accepting the accursed death? And that death is = the=20 cross, for it is written "Cursed is every one that hangeth on = tree."[4] = Again, the death of the Lord is the ransom of all, and by it "the = middle=20 wall of partition"[5] = is=20 broken down and the call of the Gentiles comes about. How could He = have=20 called us if He had not been crucified, for it is only on the = cross that a=20 man dies with arms outstretched? Here, again, we see the fitness = of His=20 death and of those outstretched arms: it was that He might draw = His=20 ancient people with the one and the Gentiles with the other, and = join both=20 together in Himself. Even so, He foretold the manner of His = redeeming=20 death, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Myself."[6] = Again, the air is the sphere of the devil, the enemy of our race = who,=20 having fallen from heaven, endeavors with the other evil spirits = who=20 shared in his disobedience both to keep souls from the truth and = to hinder=20 the progress of those who are trying to follow it. The apostle = refers to=20 this when he says, "According to the prince of the power of the = air, of=20 the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience."[7] = But=20 the Lord came to overthrow the devil and to purify the air and to = make "a=20 way" for us up to heaven, as the apostle says, "through the veil, = that is=20 to say, His flesh."[8] = This had to be done through death, and by what other kind of death = could=20 it be done, save by a death in the air, that is, on the cross? = Here,=20 again, you see how right and natural it was that the Lord should = suffer=20 thus; for being thus "lifted up," He cleansed the air from all the = evil=20 influences of the enemy. "I beheld Satan as lightning falling,"[9] = He=20 says; and thus He re-opened the road to heaven, saying again, = "Lift up=20 your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting = doors."[10= ]=20 For it was not the Word Himself Who needed an opening of the = gates, He=20 being Lord of all, nor was any of His works closed to their Maker. = No, it=20 was we who needed it, we whom He Himself upbore in His own = body=97that body=20 which He first offered to death on behalf of all, and then made = through it=20 a path to heaven.

Chapter 4 Notes

Heb. ii. 14 f=20
1 Cor. xv. 53 ff.=20
Gal. iii. 13.=20
Gal. iii. 13.=20
Eph. ii. 14.=20
John xii. 32.=20
Eph. ii. 2.=20
Heb. x. 20.=20
Luke x. 18.=20
Psalm xxiv. 7.

Go = back=20 to the top of Chapter 4

5
The Resurrection

(26)
itting indeed, then, and wholly consonant was the = death on the=20 cross for us; and we can see how reasonable it was, and why it is = that the=20 salvation of the world could be accomplished in no other way. Even = on the=20 cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all = creation=20 witness to the presence of its Maker. Then, having once let it be = seen=20 that it was truly dead, He did not allow that temple of His body = to linger=20 long, but forthwith on the third day raised it up, impassable and=20 incorruptible, the pledge and token of His victory.
3D" It was, of = course,=20 within His power thus to have raised His body and displayed it as = alive=20 directly after death. But the all-wise Savior did not do this, = lest some=20 should deny that it had really or completely died. Besides this, = had the=20 interval between His death and resurrection been but two days, the = glory=20 of His incorruption might not have appeared. He waited one whole = day to=20 show that His body was really dead, and then on the third day = showed it=20 incorruptible to all. The interval was no longer, lest people = should have=20 forgotten about it and grown doubtful whether it were in truth the = same=20 body. No, while the affair was still ringing in their ears and = their eyes=20 were still straining and their minds in turmoil, and while those = who had=20 put Him to death were still on the spot and themselves witnessing = to the=20 fact of it, the Son of God after three days showed His once dead = body=20 immortal and incorruptible; and it was evident to all that it was = from no=20 natural weakness that the body which the Word indwelt had died, = but in=20 order that in it by the Savior's power death might be done = away.
(27) A=20 very strong proof of this destruction of death and its conquest by = the=20 cross is supplied by a present fact, namely this. All the = disciples of=20 Christ despise death; they take the offensive against it and, = instead of=20 fearing it, by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ = trample on it=20 as on something dead. Before the divine sojourn of the Savior, = even the=20 holiest of men were afraid of death, and mourned the dead as those = who=20 perish. But now that the Savior has raised His body, death is no = longer=20 terrible, but all those who believe in Christ tread it underfoot = as=20 nothing, and prefer to die rather than to deny their faith in = Christ,=20 knowing full well that when they die they do not perish, but live = indeed,=20 and become incorruptible through the resurrection. But that devil = who of=20 old wickedly exulted in death, now that the pains of death are = loosed, he=20 alone it is who remains truly dead. There is proof of this too; = for men=20 who, before they believe in Christ, think death horrible and are = afraid of=20 it, once they are converted despise it so completely that they go = eagerly=20 to meet it, and themselves become witnesses of the Savior's = resurrection=20 from it. Even children hasten thus to die, and not men only, but = women=20 train themselves by bodily discipline to meet it. So weak has = death become=20 that even women, who used to be taken in by it, mock at it now as = a dead=20 thing robbed of all its strength. Death has become like a tyrant = who has=20 been completely conquered by the legitimate monarch; bound hand = and foot=20 the passers-by sneer at him, hitting him and abusing him, no = longer afraid=20 of his cruelty and rage, because of the king who has conquered = him. So has=20 death been conquered and branded for what it is by the Savior on = the=20 cross. It is bound hand and foot, all who are in Christ trample it = as they=20 pass and as witnesses to Him deride it, scoffing and saying, "O = Death,=20 where is thy victory? O Grave, where is thy sting?[1]<= BR>(28) Is=20 this a slender proof of the impotence of death, do you think? Or = is it a=20 slight indication of the Savior's victory over it, when boys and = young=20 girls who are in Christ look beyond this present life and train = themselves=20 to die? Every one is by nature afraid of death and of bodily = dissolution;=20 the marvel of marvels is that he who is enfolded in the faith of = the cross=20 despises this natural fear and for the sake of the cross is no = longer=20 cowardly in face of it. The natural property of fire is to burn. = Suppose,=20 then, that there was a substance such as the Indian asbestos is = said to=20 be, which had no fear of being burnt, but rather displayed the = impotence=20 of the fire by proving itself unburnable. If anyone doubted the = truth of=20 this, all he need do would be to wrap himself up in the substance = in=20 question and then touch the fire. Or, again, to revert to our = former=20 figure, if anyone wanted to see the tyrant bound and helpless, who = used to=20 be such a terror to others, he could do so simply by going into = the=20 country of the tyrant's conqueror. Even so, if anyone still doubts = the=20 conquest of death, after so many proofs and so many martyrdoms in = Christ=20 and such daily scorn of death by His truest servants, he certainly = does=20 well to marvel at so great a thing, but he must not be obstinate = in=20 unbelief and disregard of plain facts. No, he must be like the man = who=20 wants to prove the property of the asbestos, and like him who = enters the=20 conqueror's dominions to see the tyrant bound. He must embrace the = faith=20 of Christ, this disbeliever in the conquest of death, and come to = His=20 teaching. Then he will see how impotent death is and how = completely=20 conquered. Indeed, there have been many former unbelievers and = deriders=20 who, after they became believers, so scorned death as even = themselves to=20 become martyrs for Christ's sake.
3D" (29) If, = then, it is=20 by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ that death is = trampled=20 underfoot, it is clear that it is Christ Himself and none other = Who is the=20 Archvictor over death and has robbed it of its power. Death used = to be=20 strong and terrible, but now, since the sojourn of the Savior and = the=20 death and resurrection of His body, it is despised; and obviously = it is by=20 the very Christ Who mounted on the cross that it has been = destroyed and=20 vanquished finally. When the sun rises after the night and the = whole world=20 is lit up by it, nobody doubts that it is the sun which has thus = shed its=20 light everywhere and driven away the dark. Equally clear is it, = since this=20 utter scorning and trampling down of death has ensued upon the = Savior's=20 manifestation in the body and His death on the cross, that it is = He=20 Himself Who brought death to nought and daily raises monuments to = His=20 victory in His own disciples. How can you think otherwise, when = you see=20 men naturally weak hastening to death, unafraid at the prospect of = corruption, fearless of the descent into Hades, even indeed with = eager=20 soul provoking it, not shrinking from tortures, but preferring = thus to=20 rush on death for Christ's sake, rather than to remain in this = present=20 life? If you see with your own eyes men and women and children, = even, thus=20 welcoming death for the sake of Christ's religion, how can you be = so=20 utterly silly and incredulous and maimed in your mind as not to = realize=20 that Christ, to Whom these all bear witness, Himself gives the = victory to=20 each, making death completely powerless for those who hold His = faith and=20 bear the sign of the cross? No one in his senses doubts that a = snake is=20 dead when he sees it trampled underfoot, especially when he knows = how=20 savage it used to be; nor, if he sees boys making fun of a lion, = does he=20 doubt that the brute is either dead or completely bereft of = strength.=20 These things can be seen with our own eyes, and it is the same = with the=20 conquest of death. Doubt no longer, then, when you see death = mocked and=20 scorned by those who believe in Christ, that by Christ death was=20 destroyed, and the corruption that goes with it resolved and = brought to=20 end.
3D" (30) What = we have=20 said is, indeed, no small proof of the destruction of death and of = the=20 fact that the cross of the Lord is the monument to His victory. = But the=20 resurrection of the body to immortality, which results = henceforward from=20 the work of Christ, the common Savior and true Life of all, is = more=20 effectively proved by facts than by words to those whose mental = vision is=20 sound. For, if, as we have shown, death was destroyed and = everybody=20 tramples on it because of Christ, how much more did He Himself = first=20 trample and destroy it in His own body! Death having been slain by = Him,=20 then, what other issue could there be than the resurrection of His = body=20 and its open demonstration as the monument of His victory? How = could the=20 destruction of death have been manifested at all, had not the = Lord's body=20 been raised? But if anyone finds even this insufficient, let him = find=20 proof of what has been said in present facts. Dead men cannot take = effective action; their power of influence on others lasts only = till the=20 grave. Deeds and actions that energize others belong only to the = living.=20 Well, then, look at the facts in this case. The Savior is working = mightily=20 among men, every day He is invisibly persuading numbers of people = all over=20 the world, both within and beyond the Greek-speaking world, to = accept His=20 faith and be obedient to His teaching. Can anyone, in face of = this, still=20 doubt that He has risen and lives, or rather that He is Himself = the Life?=20 Does a dead man prick the consciences of men, so that they throw = all the=20 traditions of their fathers to the winds and bow down before the = teaching=20 of Christ? If He is no longer active in the world, as He must = needs be if=20 He is dead, how is it that He makes the living to cease from their = activities, the adulterer from his adultery, the murderer from = murdering,=20 the unjust from avarice, while the profane and godless man becomes = religious? If He did not rise, but is still dead, how is it that = He routs=20 and persecutes and overthrows the false gods, whom unbelievers = think to be=20 alive, and the evil spirits whom they worship? For where Christ is = named,=20 idolatry is destroyed and the fraud of evil spirits is exposed; = indeed, no=20 such spirit can endure that Name, but takes to flight on sound of = it. This=20 is the work of One Who lives, not of one dead; and, more than = that, it is=20 the work of God. It would be absurd to say that the evil spirits = whom He=20 drives out and the idols which He destroys are alive, but that He = Who=20 drives out and destroys, and Whom they themselves acknowledge to = be Son of=20 God, is dead.
3D" (31) In a = word,=20 then, those who disbelieve in the resurrection have no support in = facts,=20 if their gods and evil spirits do not drive away the supposedly = dead=20 Christ. Rather, it is He Who convicts them of being dead. We are = agreed=20 that a dead person can do nothing: yet the Savior works mightily = every=20 day, drawing men to religion, persuading them to virtue, teaching = them=20 about immortality, quickening their thirst for heavenly things, = revealing=20 the knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength in face of death,=20 manifesting Himself to each, and displacing the irreligion of = idols; while=20 the gods and evil spirits of the unbelievers can do none of these = things,=20 but rather become dead at Christ's presence, all their ostentation = barren=20 and void. By the sign of the cross, on the contrary, all magic is = stayed,=20 all sorcery confounded, all the idols are abandoned and deserted, = and all=20 senseless pleasure ceases, as the eye of faith looks up from earth = to=20 heaven. Whom, then, are we to call dead? Shall we call Christ = dead, Who=20 effects all this? But the dead have not the faculty to effect = anything. Or=20 shall we call death dead, which effects nothing whatever, but lies = as=20 lifeless and ineffective as are the evil spirits and the idols? = The Son of=20 God, "living and effective,[2] = is=20 active every day and effects the salvation of all; but death is = daily=20 proved to be stripped of all its strength, and it is the idols and = the=20 evil spirits who are dead, not He. No room for doubt remains, = therefore,=20 concerning the resurrection of His body.
3D" Indeed, it = would=20 seem that he who disbelieves this bodily rising of the Lord is = ignorant of=20 the power of the Word and Wisdom of God. If He took a body to = Himself at=20 all, and made it His own in pursuance of His purpose, as we have = shown=20 that He did, what was the Lord to do with it, and what was = ultimately to=20 become of that body upon which the Word had descended? Mortal and = offered=20 to death on behalf of all as it was, it could not but die; indeed, = it was=20 for that very purpose that the Savior had prepared it for Himself. = But on=20 the other hand it could not remain dead, because it had become the = very=20 temple of Life. It therefore died, as mortal, but lived again = because of=20 the Life within it; and its resurrection is made known through its = works.
3D" It is, = indeed, in=20 accordance with the nature of the invisible God that He should be = thus=20 known through His works; and those who doubt the Lord's = resurrection=20 because they do not now behold Him with their eyes, might as well = deny the=20 very laws of nature. They have ground for disbelief when works are = lacking; but when the works cry out and prove the fact so clearly, = why do=20 they deliberately deny the risen life so manifestly shown? Even if = their=20 mental faculties are defective, surely their eyes can give them=20 irrefragable proof of the power and Godhead of Christ. A blind man = cannot=20 see the sun, but he knows that it is above the earth from the = warmth which=20 it affords; similarly, let those who are still in the blindness of = unbelief recognize the Godhead of Christ and the resurrection = which He has=20 brought about through His manifested power in others. Obviously He = would=20 not be expelling evil spirits and despoiling idols, if He were = dead, for=20 the evil spirits would not obey one who was dead. If, on the other = hand,=20 the very naming of Him drives them forth, He clearly is not dead; = and the=20 more so that the spirits, who perceive things unseen by men, would = know if=20 He were so and would refuse to obey Him. But, as a matter of fact, = what=20 profane persons doubt, the evil spirits know=97namely that He is = God; and=20 for that reason they flee from Him and fall at His feet, crying = out even=20 as they cried when He was in the body, "We know Thee Who Thou art, = the=20 Holy One of God," and, "Ah, what have I in common with Thee, Thou = Son of=20 God? I implore Thee, torment me not."[3]<= BR>Both from=20 the confession of the evil spirits and from the daily witness of = His=20 works, it is manifest, then, and let none presume to doubt it, = that the=20 Savior has raised His own body, and that He is very Son of God, = having His=20 being from God as from a Father, Whose Word and Wisdom and Whose = Power He=20 is. He it is Who in these latter days assumed a body for the = salvation of=20 us all, and taught the world concerning the Father. He it is Who = has=20 destroyed death and freely graced us all with incorruption through = the=20 promise of the resurrection, having raised His own body as its=20 first-fruits, and displayed it by the sign of the cross as the = monument to=20 His victory over death and its corruption.

Chapter 5 Notes

Cor. xv. 55.=20
Heb.iv. 12.=20
Cf. Luke iv. 34 and Mark v. 7. =

Go = back=20 to the top of Chapter 5

6
Refutation of the Jews

(33)
e have dealt thus far with the Incarnation of our = Savior, and=20 have found clear proof of the resurrection of His Body and His = victory=20 over death. Let us now go further and investigate the unbelief and = the=20 ridicule with which Jews and Gentiles respectively regard these = same=20 facts. It seems that in both cases the points at issue are the = same,=20 namely the unfittingness or incongruity (as it seems to them) = alike of the=20 cross and of the Word's becoming man at all. But we have no = hesitation in=20 taking up the argument against these objectors, for the proofs on = our side=20 are extremely clear.
3D" First, = then, we will=20 consider the Jews. Their unbelief has its refutation in the = Scriptures=20 which even themselves read; for from cover to cover the inspired = Book=20 clearly teaches these things both in its entirety and in its = actual words.=20 Prophets foretold the marvel of the Virgin and of the Birth from = her,=20 saying, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they = shall=20 call his name Emmanuel, which means God is with = us."[1] = And=20 Moses, that truly great one in whose word the Jews trust so = implicitly, he=20 also recognized the importance and truth of the matter. He puts it = thus:=20 "There shall arise a star from Jacob and a man from Israel, and he = shall=20 break in pieces the rulers of Moab.[2] = And, again, "How lovely are thy dwellings, O Jacob, thy tents, O = Israel!=20 Like woodland valleys they give shade, and like parks by rivers, = like=20 tents which the Lord has pitched, like cedar-trees by streams. = There shall=20 come forth a Man from among his seed, and he shall rule over many=20 peoples."[3] = And, again, Isaiah says, "Before the Babe shall be old enough to = call=20 father or mother, he shall take the power of Damascus and the = spoils of=20 Samaria from under the eyes of the king of Assyria."[4] = These words, then, foretell that a Man shall appear. And Scripture = proclaims further that He that is to come is Lord of all. These = are the=20 words, "Behold, the Lord sitteth on an airy cloud and shall come = into=20 Egypt, and the man-made images of Egypt shall be shaken."[5] = And=20 it is from Egypt also that the Father calls him back, saying, "Out = of=20 Egypt have I called My Son."[6]<= BR>(34)=20 Moreover, the Scriptures are not silent even about His death. On = the=20 contrary, they refer to it with the utmost clearness. They have = not feared=20 to speak also of the cause of it. He endures it, they say, not for = His own=20 sake, but for the sake of bringing immortality and salvation to = all, and=20 they record also the plotting of the Jews against Him and all the=20 indignities which He suffered at their hands. Certainly nobody who = reads=20 the Scriptures can plead ignorance of the facts as an excuse for = error!=20 There is this passage, for instance: "A man that is afflicted and = knows=20 how to bear weakness, for His face is turned away. He was = dishonored and=20 not considered, He bears our sins and suffers for our sakes. And = we for=20 our part thought Him distressed and afflicted and ill-used; but it = was for=20 our sins that He was wounded and for our lawlessness that He was = made=20 weak. Chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His bruising = we are=20 healed."[7] = O=20 marvel at the love of the Word for men, for it is on our account = that He=20 is dishonored, so that we may be brought to honor. "For all we," = it goes=20 on, "have strayed like sheep, man has strayed from his path, and = the Lord=20 has given Him up for our sins; and He Himself did not open His = mouth at=20 the ill-treatment. Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and as a = lamb is=20 dumb before its shearer, so He opened not His mouth; in His = humiliation=20 His judgment was taken away."[8] = And=20 then Scripture anticipates the surmises of any who might think = from His=20 suffering thus that He was just an ordinary man, and shows what = power=20 worked in His behalf. "Who shall declare of what lineage He = comes?" it=20 says, "for His life is exalted from the earth. By the = lawlessnesses of the=20 people was He brought to death, and I will give the wicked in = return for=20 His burial and the rich in return for His death. For He did no=20 lawlessness, neither was deceit found in His mouth. And the Lord = wills to=20 heal Him of His affliction."[9]<= BR>(35) You=20 have heard the prophecy of His death, and now, perhaps, you want = to know=20 what indications there are about the cross. Even this is not = passed over=20 in silence: on the contrary, the sacred writers proclaim it with = the=20 utmost plainness. Moses foretells it first, and that right loudly, = when he=20 says, "You shall see your Life hanging before your eyes, and shall = not=20 believe."[10= ]=20 After him the prophets also give their witness, saying, "But I as = an=20 innocent lamb brought to be offered was yet ignorant of it. They = plotted=20 evil against Me, saying, 'Come, let us cast wood into His bread, = and wipe=20 Him out from the land of the living."[11= ]=20 And, again, "They pierced My hands and My feet, they counted all = My bones,=20 they divided My garments for themselves and cast lots for My = clothing."[12= ]=20 Now a death lifted up and that takes place on wood can be none = other than=20 the death of the cross; moreover, it is only in that death that = the hands=20 and feet are pierced. Besides this, since the Savior dwelt among = men, all=20 nations everywhere have begun to know God; and this too Holy Writ=20 expressly mentions. "There shall be the Root of Jesse," it says, = "and he=20 who rises up to rule the nations, on Him nations shall set their = hope."[13= ]
These are=20 just a few things in proof of what has taken place; but indeed all = Scripture teems with disproof of Jewish unbelief. For example, = which of=20 the righteous men and holy prophets and patriarchs of whom the = Divine=20 Scriptures tell ever had his bodily birth from a virgin only? Was = not Abel=20 born of Adam, Enoch of Jared, Noah of Lamech, Abraham of Terah, = Isaac of=20 Abraham, and Jacob of Isaac? Was not Judah begotten by Jacob and = Moses and=20 Aaron by Ameram? Was not Samuel the son of Elkanah, David of = Jesse,=20 Solomon of David, Hezekiah of Ahaz, Josiah of Amon, Isaiah of = Amos,=20 Jeremiah of Hilkiah and Ezekiel of Buzi? Had not each of these a = father as=20 author of his being? So who is He that is born of a virgin only, = that sign=20 of which the prophet makes so much? Again, which of all those = people had=20 his birth announced to the world by a star in the heavens? When = Moses was=20 born his parents hid him. David was unknown even in his own = neighborhood,=20 so that mighty Samuel himself was ignorant of his existence and = asked=20 whether Jesse had yet another son. Abraham again became known to = his=20 neighbors as a great man only after his birth. But with Christ it = was=20 otherwise. The witness to His birth was not man, but a star = shining in the=20 heavens whence He was coming down.
3D" (36) Then, = again,=20 what king that ever was reigned and took trophies from his enemies = before=20 he had strength to call father or mother? Was not David thirty = years old=20 when he came to the throne and Solomon a grown young man? Did not = Joash=20 enter on his reign at the age of seven, and Josiah, some time = after him,=20 at about the same age, both of them fully able by that time to = call father=20 or mother? Who is there, then, that was reigning and despoiling = his=20 enemies almost before he was born? Let the Jews, who have = investigated the=20 matter, tell us if there was ever such a king in Israel or = Judah=97a king=20 upon whom all the nations set their hopes and had peace, instead = of being=20 at enmity with him on every side! As long as Jerusalem stood there = was=20 constant war between them, and they all fought against Israel. The = Assyrians oppressed Israel, the Egyptians persecuted them, the = Babylonians=20 fell upon them, and, strange to relate, even the Syrians their = neighbors=20 were at war with them. And did not David fight with Moab and smite = the=20 Syrians, and Hezekiah quail at the boasting of Sennacherib? Did = not Amalek=20 make war on Moses and the Amorites oppose him, and did not the = inhabitants=20 of Jericho array themselves against Joshua the son of Nun? Did not = the=20 nations always regard Israel with implacable hostility? Then it is = worth=20 inquiring who it is, on whom the nations are to set their hopes. = Obviously=20 there must be someone, for the prophet could not have told a lie. = But did=20 any of the holy prophets or of the early patriarchs die on the = cross for=20 the salvation of all? Was any of them wounded and killed for the = healing=20 of all? Did the idols of Egypt fall down before any righteous man = or king=20 that came there? Abraham came there certainly, but idolatry = prevailed just=20 the same; and Moses was born there, but the mistaken worship was=20 unchanged.
3D" (37) = Again, does=20 Scripture tell of anyone who was pierced in hands and feet or hung = upon a=20 tree at all, and by means of a cross perfected his sacrifice for = the=20 salvation of all? It was not Abraham, for he died in his bed, as = did also=20 Isaac and Jacob. Moses and Aaron died in the mountain, and David = ended his=20 days in his house, without anybody having plotted against him. = Certainly=20 he had been sought by Saul, but he was preserved unharmed. Again = Isaiah=20 was sawn asunder, but he was not hung on a tree. Jeremiah was = shamefully=20 used, but he did not die under condemnation. Ezekiel suffered, but = he did=20 so, not on behalf of the people, but only to signify to them what = was=20 going to happen. Moreover, all these even when they suffered were = but men,=20 like other men; but He Whom the Scriptures declare to suffer on = behalf of=20 all is called not merely man but Life of all, although in point of = fact He=20 did share our human nature. "You shall see your Life hanging = before your=20 eyes," they say, and "Who shall declare of what lineage He comes?" = With=20 all the saints we can trace their descent from the beginning, and = see=20 exactly how each came to be; but the Divine Word maintains that we = cannot=20 declare the lineage of Him Who is the Life. Who is it, then, of = Whom Holy=20 Writ thus speaks? Who is there so great that even the prophets = foretell of=20 Him such mighty things? There is indeed no one in the Scriptures = at all,=20 save the common Savior of all, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus = Christ. He=20 it is that proceeded from a virgin, and appeared as man on earth, = He it is=20 Whose earthly lineage cannot be declared, because He alone derives = His=20 body from no human father, but from a virgin alone. We can trace = the=20 paternal descent of David and Moses and of all the patriarchs. But = with=20 the Savior we cannot do so, for it was He Himself Who caused the = star to=20 announce His bodily birth, and it was fitting that the Word, when = He came=20 down from heaven, should have His sign in heaven too, and fitting = that the=20 King of creation on His coming forth should be visibly recognized = by all=20 the world. He was actually born in Judea, yet men from Persia came = to=20 worship Him. He it is Who won victory from His demon foes and = trophies=20 from the idolaters even before His bodily appearing=97namely, all = the=20 heathen who from every region have abjured the tradition of their = fathers=20 and the false worship of idols and are now placing their hope in = Christ=20 and transferring their allegiance to Him. The thing is happening = before=20 our very eyes, here in Egypt; and thereby another prophecy is = fulfilled,=20 for at no other time have the Egyptians ceased from their false = worship=20 save when the Lord of all, riding as on a cloud, came down here in = the=20 body and brought the error of idols to nothing and won over = everybody to=20 Himself and through Himself to the Father. He it is Who was = crucified with=20 the sun and moon as witnesses; and by His death salvation has come = to all=20 men, and all creation has been redeemed. He is the Life of all, = and He it=20 is Who like a sheep gave up His own body to death, His life for = ours and=20 our salvation.
3D" (38) Yet = the Jews=20 disbelieve this. This argument does not satisfy them. Well, then, = let them=20 be persuaded by other things in their own oracles. Of whom, for = instance,=20 do the prophets say "I was made manifest to those who did not seek = Me, I=20 was found by those who had not asked for Me? I said, 'See, here am = I,' to=20 the nation that had not called upon My Name. I stretched out My = hands to a=20 disobedient and gainsaying people."[14= ]=20 Who is this person that was made manifest, one might ask the Jews? = If the=20 prophet is speaking of himself, then they must tell us how he was = first=20 hidden, in order to be manifested afterwards. And, again, what = kind of man=20 is this prophet, who was not only revealed after being hidden, but = also=20 stretched out his hands upon the cross? Those things happened to = none of=20 those righteous men: they happened only to the Word of God Who, = being by=20 nature without body, on our account appeared in a body and = suffered for us=20 all. And if even this is not enough for them, there is other = overwhelming=20 evidence by which they may be silenced. The Scripture says, "Be = strong,=20 hands that hang down and feeble knees, take courage, you of little = faith,=20 be strong and do not fear. See, our God will recompense judgment, = He=20 Himself will come and save us. Then the eyes of blind men shall be = opened=20 and the ears of deaf men shall hear, and stammerers shall speak=20 distinctly."[15= ]=20 What can they say to this, or how can they look it in the face at = all? For=20 the prophecy does not only declare that God will dwell here, it = also makes=20 known the signs and the time of His coming. When God comes, it = says, the=20 blind will see, the lame will walk, the deaf will hear and the = stammerers=20 will speak distinctly. Can the Jews tell us when such signs = occurred in=20 Israel, or when anything of the kind took place at all in Jewry? = The leper=20 Naaman was cleansed, it is true, but no deaf man heard nor did any = lame=20 man walk. Elijah raised a dead person and so did Elisha; but no = one blind=20 from birth received his sight. To raise a dead person is a great = thing=20 indeed, but it is not such as the Savior did. And surely, since = the=20 Scriptures have not kept silence about the leper and the dead son = of the=20 widow, if a lame man had walked and a blind man had received his = sight,=20 they would have mentioned these as well. Their silence on these = points=20 proves that the events never took place. When therefore did these = things=20 happen, unless when the Word of God Himself came in the body? Was = it not=20 when He came that lame men walked and stammerers spoke clearly and = men=20 blind from birth were given sight? And the Jews who saw it = themselves=20 testified to the fact that such things had never before occurred. = "Since=20 the world began," they said, "it has never been heard of that = anyone=20 should open the eyes of a man born blind. If this Man were not = from God,=20 He could do nothing."[16= ]
(39) But=20 surely they cannot fight against plain facts. So it may be that, = without=20 denying what is written, they will maintain that they are still = waiting=20 for these things to happen, and that the Word of God is yet to = come, for=20 that is a theme on which they are always harping most brazenly, in = spite=20 of all the evidence against them. But they shall be refuted on = this=20 supreme point more clearly than on any, and that not by ourselves = but by=20 the most wise Daniel, for he signifies the actual date of the = Savior's=20 coming as well as His Divine sojourn in our midst. "Seventy = weeks," he=20 says, "are cut short upon thy people and upon the holy city, to = make a=20 complete end of sin and for sins to be sealed up and iniquities = blotted=20 out, and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to seal vision = and=20 prophet, and to anoint a Holy One of holies. And thou shalt know = and=20 understand from the going forth of the Word to answer,[17= ]=20 and to build Jerusalem, until Christ the Prince."[18= ]=20 In regard to the other prophecies, they may possibly be able to = find=20 excuses for deferring their reference to a future time, but what = can they=20 say to this one? How can they face it at all? Not only does it = expressly=20 mention the Anointed One, that is the Christ, it even declares = that He Who=20 is to be anointed is not man only, but the Holy One of holies! And = it says=20 that Jerusalem is to stand till His coming, and that after it = prophet and=20 vision shall cease in Israel! David was anointed of old, and = Solomon, and=20 Hezekiah; but then Jerusalem and the place stood, and prophets = were=20 prophesying, Gad and Asaph and Nathan, and later Isaiah and Hosea = and Amos=20 and others. Moreover, those men who were anointed were called holy = certainly, but none of them was called the Holy of holies. Nor is = it any=20 use for the Jews to take refuge in the Captivity, and say that = Jerusalem=20 did not exist then, for what about the prophets? It is a fact that = at the=20 outset of the Exile Daniel and Jeremiah were there, and Ezekiel = and Haggai=20 and Zechariah also prophesied.
3D" (40) So = the Jews are=20 indulging in fiction, and transferring present time to future. = When did=20 prophet and vision cease from Israel? Was it not when Christ came, = the=20 Holy One of holies? It is, in fact, a sign and notable proof of = the coming=20 of the Word that Jerusalem no longer stands, neither is prophet = raised up=20 nor vision revealed among them. And it is natural that it should = be so,=20 for when He that was signified had come, what need was there any = longer of=20 any to signify Him? And when the Truth had come, what further need = was=20 there of the shadow? On His account only they prophesied = continually,=20 until such time as Essential Righteousness has come, Who was made = the=20 Ransom for the sins of all. For the same reason Jerusalem stood = until the=20 same time, in order that there men might premeditate the types = before the=20 Truth was known. So, of course, once the Holy One of holies had = come, both=20 vision and prophecy were sealed. And the kingdom of Jerusalem = ceased at=20 the same time, because kings were to be anointed among them only = until the=20 Holy of holies had been anointed. Moses also prophesies that the = kingdom=20 of the Jews shall stand until His time, saying, "A ruler shall not = fail=20 from Judah nor a prince from his loins, until the things laid up = for him=20 shall come and the Expectation of the nations Himself."[19= ]=20 And that is why the Savior Himself was always proclaiming "The law = and the=20 prophets prophesied until John."[20= ]=20 So if there is still king or prophet or vision among the Jews, = they do=20 well to deny that Christ is come; but if there is neither king nor = vision,=20 and since that time all prophecy has been sealed and city and = temple=20 taken, how can they be so irreligious, how can they so flaunt the = facts,=20 as to deny Christ Who has brought it all about? Again, they see = the=20 heathen forsaking idols and setting their hopes through Christ on = the God=20 of Israel; why do they yet deny Christ Who after the flesh was = born of the=20 root of Jesse and reigns henceforward? Of course, if the heathen = were=20 worshipping some other god, and not confessing the God of Abraham = and=20 Isaac and Jacob and Moses, then they would do well to argue that = God had=20 not come. But if the heathen are honoring the same God Who gave = the law to=20 Moses and the promises to Abraham=97the God Whose word too the = Jews=20 dishonored, why do they not recognize or rather why do they = deliberately=20 refuse to see that the Lord of Whom the Scriptures prophesied has = shone=20 forth to the world and appeared to it in a bodily form? Scripture = declares=20 it repeatedly. "The Lord God has appeared to us,"[21= ]=20 and again, "He sent forth His Word and healed them."[22= ]=20 And again, "It was no ambassador, no angel who saved us, but the = Lord=20 Himself."[23= ]=20 The Jews are afflicted like some demented person who sees the = earth lit up=20 by the sun, but denies the sun that lights it up! What more is = there for=20 their Expected One to do when he comes? To call the heathen? But = they are=20 called already. To put an end to prophet and king and vision? But = this too=20 has already happened. To expose the God-denyingness of idols? It = is=20 already exposed and condemned. Or to destroy death? It is already=20 destroyed. What then has not come to pass that the Christ must do? = What is=20 there left out or unfulfilled that the Jews should disbelieve so=20 light-heartedly? The plain fact is, as I say, that there is no = longer any=20 king or prophet nor Jerusalem nor sacrifice nor vision among them; = yet the=20 whole earth is filled with the knowledge of God, and the Gentiles, = forsaking atheism, are now taking refuge with the God of Abraham = through=20 the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.
3D" Surely, = then, it=20 must be plain even to the most shameless that the Christ has come, = and=20 that He has enlightened all men everywhere, and given them the = true and=20 divine teaching about His Father.
3D" Thus the = Jews may be=20 refuted by these and other arguments from the Divine teaching.

Chapter 6 Notes

Isaiah vii. 14.=20
Numbers xxiv. 17.=20
Numbers xxiv. 5-7.=20
Isaiah viii. 4=20
Isaiah xix. 1.=20
Hosea xi. 1.=20
Isaiah liii. 3-5=20
Isaiah liii. 6-8.=20
Isaiah liii. 8-10.=20
Deut. xxviii. 66.=20
Jer. xi. 19.=20
Psalm xxii. 16-18.=20
Isaiah xi. 10.=20
Isaiah lxv. 1, 2.=20
Isaiah xxxv. 3-6.=20
John ix. 32, 33."=20
"Answer" is LXX misreading for Hebrew = "restore."=20
Daniel ix. 24, 25.=20
Gen. xlix. 10.=20
Matt. xi. 13.=20
Psalm cxviii. 27.=20
Psalm cvii. 20.=20
Isaiah lxiii. 9.

Go = Back=20 to the top of Chapter 6

7
Refutation of the Gentiles

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e come now to the unbelief of the Gentiles; and this = is indeed=20 a matter for complete astonishment, for they laugh at that which = is no fit=20 subject for mockery, yet fail to see the shame and ridiculousness = of their=20 own idols. But the arguments on our side do not lack weight, so we = will=20 confute them too on reasonable grounds, chiefly from what we = ourselves=20 also see.
3D" First of = all, what=20 is there in our belief that is unfitting or ridiculous? Is it only = that we=20 say that the Word has been manifested in a body? Well, if they = themselves=20 really love the truth, they will agree with us that this involved = no=20 unfittingness at all. If they deny that there is a Word of God at = all,=20 that will be extraordinary, for then they will be ridiculing what = they do=20 not know. But suppose they confess that there is a Word of God, = that He is=20 the Governor of all things, that in Elim the Father wrought the = creation,=20 that by His providence the whole receives light and life and = being, and=20 that He is King over all, so that He is known by means of the = works of His=20 providence, and through Him the Father. Suppose they confess all = this,=20 what then? Are they not unknowingly turning the ridicule against=20 themselves? The Greek philosophers say that the universe is a = great body,=20 and they say truly, for we perceive the universe and its parts = with our=20 senses. But if the Word of God is in the universe, which is a = body, and=20 has entered into it in its every part, what is there surprising or = unfitting in our saying that He has entered also into human = nature? If it=20 were unfitting for Him to have embodied Himself at all, then it = would be=20 unfitting for Him to have entered into the universe, and to be = giving=20 light and movement by His providence to all things in it, because = the=20 universe, as we have seen, is itself a body. But if it is right = and=20 fitting for Him to enter into the universe and to reveal Himself = through=20 it, then, because humanity is part of the universe along with the = rest, it=20 is no less fitting for Him to appear in a human body, and to = enlighten and=20 to work through that. And surely if it were wrong for a part of = the=20 universe to have been used to reveal His Divinity to men, it would = be much=20 more wrong that He should be so revealed by the whole!
3D" (42) Take = a parallel=20 case. A man's personality actuates and quickens his whole body. If = anyone=20 said it was unsuitable for the man's power to be in the toe, he = would be=20 thought silly, because, while granting that a man penetrates and = actuates=20 the whole of his body, he denied his presence in the part. = Similarly, no=20 one who admits the presence of the Word of God in the universe as = a whole=20 should think it unsuitable for a single human body to be by Him = actuated=20 and enlightened.
3D" But is it, = perhaps,=20 because humanity is a thing created and brought into being out of=20 non-existence that they regard as unfitting the manifestation of = the=20 Savior in our nature? If so, it is high time that they spurned Him = from=20 creation too; for it, too, has been brought out of non-being into = being by=20 the Word. But if, on the other hand, although creation is a thing = that has=20 been made, it is not unsuitable for the Word to be present in it, = then=20 neither is it unsuitable for Him to be in man. Man is a part of = the=20 creation, as I said before; and the reasoning which applies to one = applies=20 to the other. All things derive from the Word their light and = movement and=20 life, as the Gentile authors themselves say, "In Him we live and = move and=20 have our being."[1] = Very well then. That being so, it is by no means unbecoming that = the Word=20 should dwell in man. So if, as we say, the Word has used that in = which He=20 is as the means of His self-manifestation, what is there = ridiculous in=20 that? He could not have used it had He not been present in it; but = we have=20 already admitted that He is present both in the whole and in the = parts.=20 What, then, is there incredible in His manifesting Himself through = that in=20 which He is? By His own power He enters completely into each and = all, and=20 orders them throughout ungrudgingly; and, had He so willed, He = could have=20 revealed Himself and His Father by means of sun or moon or sky or = earth or=20 fire or water. Had He done so, no one could rightly have accused = Him of=20 acting unbecomingly, for He sustains in one whole all things at = once,=20 being present and invisibly revealed not only in the whole, but = also in=20 each particular part. This being so, and since, moreover, He has = willed to=20 reveal Himself through men, who are part of the whole, there can = be=20 nothing ridiculous in His using a human body to manifest the truth = and=20 knowledge of the Father. Does not the mind of man pervade his = entire=20 being, and yet find expression through one part only, namely the = tongue?=20 Does anybody say on that account that Mind has degraded itself? Of = course=20 not. Very well, then, no more is it degrading for the Word, Who = pervades=20 all things, to have appeared in a human body. For, as I said = before, if it=20 were unfitting for Him thus to indwell the part, it would be = equally so=20 for Him to exist within the whole.
3D" (43) Some = may then=20 ask, why did He not manifest Himself by means of other and nobler = parts of=20 creation, and use some nobler instrument, such as sun or moon or = stars or=20 fire or air, instead of mere man? The answer is this. The Lord did = not=20 come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering = men. For=20 one who wanted to make a display the thing would have been just to = appear=20 and dazzle the beholders. But for Him Who came to heal and to = teach the=20 way was not merely to dwell here, but to put Himself at the = disposal of=20 those who needed Him, and to be manifested according as they could = bear=20 it, not vitiating the value of the Divine appearing by exceeding = their=20 capacity to receive it.
3D" Moreover, = nothing in=20 creation had erred from the path of God's purpose for it, save = only man.=20 Sun, moon, heaven, stars, water, air, none of these had swerved = from their=20 order, but, knowing the Word as their Maker and their King, = remained as=20 they were made. Men alone having rejected what is good, have = invented=20 nothings instead of the truth, and have ascribed the honor due to = God and=20 the knowledge concerning Him to demons and men in the form of = stones.=20 Obviously the Divine goodness could not overlook so grave a matter = as=20 this. But men could not recognize Him as ordering and ruling = creation as a=20 whole. So what does He do? He takes to Himself for instrument a = part of=20 the whole, namely a human body, and enters into that. Thus He = ensured that=20 men should recognize Him in the part who could not do so in the = whole, and=20 that those who could not lift their eyes to His unseen power might = recognize and behold Him in the likeness of themselves. For, being = men,=20 they would naturally learn to know His Father more quickly and = directly by=20 means of a body that corresponded to their own and by the Divine = works=20 done through it; for by comparing His works with their own they = would=20 judge His to be not human but Divine. And if, as they say, it were = unsuitable for the Word to reveal Himself through bodily acts, it = would be=20 equally so for Him to do so through the works of the universe. His = being=20 in creation does not mean that He shares its nature; on the = contrary, all=20 created things partake of His power. Similarly, though He used the = body as=20 His instrument, He shared nothing of its defect,[2] = but=20 rather sanctified it by His indwelling. Does not even Plato, of = whom the=20 Greeks think so much, say that the Author of the Universe, seeing = it=20 storm-tossed and in danger of sinking into the state of = dissolution, takes=20 his seat at the helm of the Life-force of the universe, and comes = to the=20 rescue and puts everything right? What, then, is there incredible = in our=20 saying that, mankind having gone astray, the Word descended upon = it and=20 was manifest as man, so that by His intrinsic goodness and His=20 steersmanship He might save it from the storm?
3D" (44) It = may be,=20 however, that, though shamed into agreeing that this objection is = void,=20 the Greeks will want to raise another. They will say that, if God = wanted=20 to instruct and save mankind, He might have done so, not by His = Word's=20 assumption of a body, but, even as He at first created them, by = the mere=20 signification of His will. The reasonable reply to that is that = the=20 circumstances in the two cases are quite different. In the = beginning,=20 nothing as yet existed at all; all that was needed, therefore, in = order to=20 bring all things into being, was that His will to do so should be=20 signified. But once man was in existence, and things that were, = not things=20 that were not, demanded to be healed, it followed as a matter of = course=20 that the Healer and Savior should align Himself with those things = that=20 existed already, in order to heal the existing evil. For that = reason,=20 therefore, He was made man, and used the body as His human = instrument. If=20 this were not the fitting way, and He willed to use an instrument = at all,=20 how otherwise was the Word to come? And whence could He take His=20 instrument, save from among those already in existence and needing = His=20 Godhead through One like themselves? It was not things = non-existent that=20 needed salvation, for which a bare creative word might have = sufficed, but=20 man=97man already in existence and already in process of = corruption and=20 ruin. It was natural and right, therefore, for the Word to use a = human=20 instrument and by that means unfold Himself to all.
3D" You must = know,=20 moreover, that the corruption which had set in was not external to = the=20 body but established within it. The need, therefore, was that life = should=20 cleave to it in corruption's place, so that, just as death was = brought=20 into being in the body, life also might be engendered in it. If = death had=20 been exterior to the body, life might fittingly have been the = same. But if=20 death was within the body, woven into its very substance and = dominating it=20 as though completely one with it, the need was for Life to be = woven into=20 it instead, so that the body by thus enduing itself with life = might cast=20 corruption off. Suppose the Word had come outside the body instead = of in=20 it, He would, of course, have defeated death, because death is = powerless=20 against the Life. But the corruption inherent in the body would = have=20 remained in it none the less. Naturally, therefore, the Savior = assumed a=20 body for Himself, in order that the body, being interwoven as it = were with=20 life, should no longer remain a mortal thing, in thrall to death, = but as=20 endued with immortality and risen from death, should thenceforth = remain=20 immortal. For once having put op corruption, it could not rise, = unless it=20 put on life instead; and besides this, death of its very nature = could not=20 appear otherwise than in a body. Therefore He put on a body, so = that in=20 the body He might find death and blot it out. And, indeed, how = could the=20 Lord have been proved to be the Life at all, had He not endued = with life=20 that which was subject to death? Take an illustration. Stubble is = a=20 substance naturally destructible by fire; and it still remains = stubble,=20 fearing the menace of fire which has the natural property of = consuming it,=20 even if fire is kept away from it, so that it is not actually = burnt. But=20 suppose that, instead of merely keeping the fire from it somebody = soaks=20 the stubble with a quantity of asbestos, the substance which is = said to be=20 the antidote to fire. Then the stubble no longer fears the fire, = because=20 it has put on that which fire cannot touch, and therefore it is = safe. It=20 is just the same with regard to the body and death. Had death been = kept=20 from it by a mere command, it would still have remained mortal and = corruptible, according to its nature. To prevent this, it put on = the=20 incorporeal Word of God, and therefore fears neither death nor = corruption=20 any more, for it is clad with Life as with a garment and in it = corruption=20 is clean done away.
3D" (45) The = Word of God=20 thus acted consistently in assuming a body and using a human = instrument to=20 vitalize the body. He was consistent in working through man to = reveal=20 Himself everywhere, as well as through the other parts of His = creation, so=20 that nothing was left void of His Divinity and knowledge. For I = take up=20 now the point I made before, namely that the Savior did this in = order that=20 He might fill all things everywhere with the knowledge of Himself, = just as=20 they are already filled with His presence, even as the Divine = Scripture=20 says, "The whole universe was filled with the knowledge of the = Lord."[3] = If=20 a man looks up to heaven he sees there His ordering; but if he = cannot look=20 so high as heaven, but only so far as men, through His works he = sees His=20 power, incomparable with human might, and learns from them that He = alone=20 among men is God the Word. Or, if a man has gone astray among = demons and=20 is in fear of them, he may see this Man drive them out and judge = therefrom=20 that He is indeed their Master. Again, if a man has been immersed = in the=20 element of water and thinks that it is God=97as indeed the = Egyptians do=20 worship water=97he may see its very nature changed by Him and = learn that the=20 Lord is Creator of all. And if a man has gone down even to Hades, = and=20 stands awestruck before the heroes who have descended thither, = regarding=20 them as gods, still he may see the fact of Christ's resurrection = and His=20 victory over death, and reason from it that, of all these, He = alone is=20 very Lord and God.
3D" For the = Lord touched=20 all parts of creation, and freed and undeceived them all from = every=20 deceit. As St. Paul says, "Having put off from Himself the = principalities=20 and the powers, He triumphed on the cross,"[4] = so=20 that no one could possibly be any longer deceived, but everywhere = might=20 find the very Word of God. For thus man, enclosed on every side by = the=20 works of creation and everywhere=97in heaven, in Hades, in men and = on the=20 earth, beholding the unfolded Godhead of the Word, is no longer = deceived=20 concerning God, but worships Christ alone, and through Him rightly = knows=20 the Father.
3D" On these = grounds,=20 then, of reason and of principle, we will fairly silence the = Gentiles in=20 their turn. But if they think these arguments insufficient to = confute=20 them, we will go on in the next chapter to prove our point from = facts.

Chapter 7 Notes

See Acts xvii. 28.=20
Literally, "He shared nothing of the things = of the=20 body."=20
Isaiah xi. 9.=20
Col. ii. 15.

Go = Back=20 to the top of Chapter 7

8
Refutation of the = Gentiles=97continued

(46)
hen did people begin to abandon the worship of idols, = unless it=20 were since the very Word of God came among men? When have oracles = ceased=20 and become void of meaning, among the Greeks and everywhere, = except since=20 the Savior has revealed Himself on earth? When did those whom the = poets=20 call gods and heroes begin to be adjudged as mere mortals, except = when the=20 Lord took the spoils of death and preserved incorruptible the body = He had=20 taken, raising it from among the dead? Or when did the = deceitfulness and=20 madness of demons fall under contempt, save when the Word, the = Power of=20 God, the Master of all these as well, condescended on account of = the=20 weakness of mankind and appeared on earth? When did the practice = and=20 theory of magic begin to be spurned under foot, if not at the=20 manifestation of the Divine Word to men? In a word, when did the = wisdom of=20 the Greeks become foolish, save when the true Wisdom of God = revealed=20 Himself on earth? In old times the whole world and every place in = it was=20 led astray by the worship of idols, and men thought the idols were = the=20 only gods that were. But now all over the world men are forsaking = the fear=20 of idols and taking refuge with Christ; and by worshipping Him as = God they=20 come through Him to know the Father also, Whom formerly they did = not know.=20 The amazing thing, moreover, is this. The objects of worship = formerly were=20 varied and countless; each place had its own idol and the = so-called god of=20 one place could not pass over to another in order to persuade the = people=20 there to worship him, but was barely reverenced even by his own. = Indeed=20 no! Nobody worshipped his neighbor's god, but every man had his = own idol=20 and thought that it was lord of all. But now Christ alone is = worshipped,=20 as One and the Same among all peoples everywhere; and what the = feebleness=20 of idols could not do, namely, convince even those dwelling close = at hand,=20 He has effected. He has persuaded not only those close at hand, = but=20 literally the entire world to worship one and the same Lord and = through=20 Him the Father.
3D" (47) = Again, in=20 former times every place was full of the fraud of the oracles, and = the=20 utterances of those at Delphi and Dordona and in Boeotia and Lycia = and=20 Libya and Egypt and those of the Kabiri and the Pythoness were = considered=20 marvelous by the minds of men. But now, since Christ has been = proclaimed=20 everywhere, their madness too has ceased, and there is no one left = among=20 them to give oracles at all. Then, too, demons used to deceive = men's minds=20 by taking up their abode in springs or rivers or trees or stones = and=20 imposing upon simple people by their frauds. But now, since the = Divine=20 appearing of the Word, all this fantasy has ceased, for by the = sign of the=20 cross, if a man will but use it, he drives out their deceits. = Again,=20 people used to regard as gods those who are mentioned in the = poets=97Zeus=20 and Kronos and Apollo and the heroes, and in worshipping them they = went=20 astray. But now that the Savior has appeared among men, those = others have=20 been exposed as mortal men, and Christ alone is recognized as true = God,=20 Word of God, God Himself. And what is one to say about the magic = that they=20 think so marvelous? Before the sojourn of the Word, it was strong = and=20 active among Egyptians and Chaldeans and Indians and filled all = who saw it=20 with terror and astonishment. But by the coming of the Truth and = the=20 manifestation of the Word it too has been confuted and entirely = destroyed.=20 As to Greek wisdom, however, and the philosophers' noisy talk, I = really=20 think no one requires argument from us; for the amazing fact is = patent to=20 all that, for all that they had written so much, the Greeks failed = to=20 convince even a few from their own neighborhood in regard to = immortality=20 and the virtuous ordering of life. Christ alone, using common = speech and=20 through the agency of men not clever with their tongues, has = convinced=20 whole assemblies of people all the world over to despise death, = and to=20 take heed to the things that do not die, to look past the things = of time=20 and gaze on things eternal, to think nothing of earthly glory and = to=20 aspire only to immortality.
3D" (48) These = things=20 which we have said are no mere words: they are attested by actual=20 experience. Anyone who likes may see the proof of glory in the = virgins of=20 Christ, and in the young men who practice chastity as part of = their=20 religion, and in the assurance of immortality in so great and glad = a=20 company[1] = of=20 martyrs. Anyone, too, may put what we have said to the proof of = experience=20 in another way. In the very presence of the fraud of demons and = the=20 imposture of the oracles and the wonders of magic, let him use the = sign of=20 the cross which they all mock at, and but speak the Name of = Christ, and he=20 shall see how through Him demons are routed, oracles cease, and = all magic=20 and witchcraft is confounded.
3D" Who, then, = is this=20 Christ and how great is He, Who by His Name and presence = overshadows and=20 confounds all things on every side, Who alone is strong against = all and=20 has filled the whole world with His teaching? Let the Greeks tell = us, who=20 mock at Him without stint or shame. If He is a man, how is it that = one man=20 has proved stronger than all those whom they themselves regard as = gods,=20 and by His own power has shown them to be nothing? If they call = Him a=20 magician, how is it that by a magician all magic is destroyed, = instead of=20 being rendered strong? Had He conquered certain magicians or = proved=20 Himself superior to one of them only, they might reasonably think = that He=20 excelled the rest only by His greater skill. But the fact is that = His=20 cross has vanquished all magic entirely and has conquered the very = name of=20 it. Obviously, therefore, the Savior is no magician, for the very = demons=20 whom the magicians invoke flee from Him as from their Master. Who = is He,=20 then? Let the Greeks tell us, whose only serious pursuit is = mockery!=20 Perhaps they will say that He, too, is a demon, and that is why He = prevailed. But even so the laugh is still on our side. for we can = confute=20 them by the same proofs as before. How could He be a demon, Who = drives=20 demons out? If it were only certain ones that He drove out, then = they=20 might reasonably think that He prevailed against them through the = power of=20 their Chief, as the Jews, wishing to insult Him, actually said. = But since=20 the fact is, here again, that at the mere naming of His Name all = madness=20 of the demons is rooted out and put to flight, obviously the = Greeks are=20 wrong here, too, and our Lord and Savior Christ is not, as they = maintain,=20 some demonic power.
3D" If, then, = the Savior=20 is neither a mere man nor a magician, nor one of the demons, but = has by=20 His Godhead confounded and overshadowed the opinions of the poets = and the=20 delusion of the demons and the wisdom of the Greeks, it must be = manifest=20 and will be owned by all that He is in truth Son of God, Existent = Word and=20 Wisdom and Power of the Father. This is the reason why His works = are no=20 mere human works, but, both intrinsically and by comparison with = those of=20 men, are recognized as being superhuman and truly the works of=20 God.
3D" (49) What = man that=20 ever was, for instance, formed a body for himself from a virgin = only? Or=20 what man ever healed so many diseases as the common Lord of all? = Who=20 restored that which was lacking in man's nature or made one blind = from=20 birth to see? Aesculapius was deified by the Greeks because he = practiced=20 the art of healing and discovered herbs as remedies for bodily = diseases,=20 not, of course, forming them himself out of the earth, but finding = them=20 out by the study of nature. But what is that in comparison with = what the=20 Savior did when, instead of just healing a wound, He both = fashioned=20 essential being and restored to health the thing that He had = formed?=20 Hercules, too, is worshipped as a god by the Greeks because he = fought=20 against other men and destroyed wild animals by craft. But what is = that to=20 what the Word did, in driving away from men diseases and demons = and even=20 death itself? Dionysus is worshipped among them, because he taught = men=20 drunkenness; yet they ridicule the true Savior and Lord of all, = Who taught=20 men temperance.
3D" That, = however, is=20 enough on this point. What will they say to the other marvels of = His=20 Godhead? At what man's death was the sun darkened and the earth = shaken?=20 Why, even to this day men are dying, and they did so also before = that=20 time. When did any such marvels happen in their case? Now shall we = pass=20 over the deeds done in His earthly body and mention those after = His=20 resurrection? Has any man's teaching, in any place or at any time, = ever=20 prevailed everywhere as one and the same, from one end of the = earth to the=20 other, so that his worship has fairly flown through every land? = Again, if,=20 as they say, Christ is man only and not God the Word, why do not = the gods=20 of the Greeks prevent His entering their domains? Or why, on the = other=20 hand, does the Word Himself dwelling in our midst make an end of = their=20 worship by His teaching and put their fraud to shame?
3D" (50) Many = before Him=20 have been kings and tyrants of the earth, history tells also of = many among=20 the Chaldeans and Egyptians and Indians who were wise men and = magicians.=20 But which of those, I do not say after his death, but while yet in = this=20 life, was ever able so far to prevail as to fill the whole world = with his=20 teaching and retrieve so great a multitude from the craven fear of = idols,=20 as our Savior has won over from idols to Himself? The Greek = philosophers=20 have compiled many works with persuasiveness and much skill in = words; but=20 what fruit have they to show for this such as has the cross of = Christ?=20 Their wise thoughts were persuasive enough until they died; yet = even in=20 their life- time their seeming influence was counterbalanced by = their=20 rivalry with one another, for they were a jealous company and = declaimed=20 against each other. But the Word of God, by strangest paradox, = teaching in=20 meaner language, has put the choicest sophists in the shade, and = by=20 confounding their teachings and drawing all men to Himself He has = filled=20 His own assemblies. Moreover, and this is the marvelous thing by = going=20 down as Man to death He has confounded ail the sounding utterances = of the=20 wise men about the idols. For whose death ever drove out demons, = or whose=20 death did ever demons fear, save that of Christ? For where the = Savior is=20 named, there every demon is driven out. Again, who has ever so rid = men of=20 their natural passions that fornicators become chaste and = murderers no=20 longer wield the sword and those who formerly were craven cowards = boldly=20 play the man? In a word, what persuaded the barbarians and heathen = folk in=20 every place to drop their madness and give heed to peace, save the = faith=20 of Christ and the sign of the cross? What other things have given = men such=20 certain faith in immortality as have the cross of Christ and the=20 resurrection of His body? The Greeks told all sorts of false = tales, but=20 they could never pretend that their idols rose again from death: = indeed it=20 never entered their heads that a body could exist again after = death at=20 all. And one would be particularly ready to listen to them on this = point,=20 because by these opinions they have exposed the weakness of their = own=20 idolatry, at the same time yielding to Christ the possibility of = bodily=20 resurrection, so that by that means He might be recognized by all = as Son=20 of God.
3D" (51) = Again, who=20 among men, either after his death or while yet living, taught = about=20 virginity and did not account this virtue impossible for human = beings? But=20 Christ our Savior and King of all has so prevailed with His = teaching on=20 this subject that even children not yet of lawful age promise that = virginity which transcends the law. And who among men has ever = been able=20 to penetrate even to Scythians and Ethiopians, or Parthians or = Armenians=20 or those who are said to live beyond Hyrcania, or even the = Egyptians and=20 Chaldeans, people who give heed to magic and are more than = naturally=20 enslaved by the fear of demons and savage in their habits, and to = preach=20 at all about virtue and self-control and against the worshipping = of idols,=20 as has the Lord of all, the Power of God, our Lord Jesus Christ? = Yet He=20 not only preached through His own disciples, but also wrought so=20 persuasively on men's understanding that, laying aside their = savage habits=20 and forsaking the worship of their ancestral gods, they learnt to = know Him=20 and through Him to worship the Father. While they were yet = idolaters, the=20 Greeks and Barbarians were always at war with each other, and were = even=20 cruel to their own kith and kin. Nobody could travel by land or = sea at all=20 unless he was armed with swords, because of their irreconcilable = quarrels=20 with each other. Indeed, the whole course of their life was = carried on=20 with the weapons, and the sword with them replaced the staff and = was the=20 mainstay of all aid. All this time, as I said before, they were = serving=20 idols and offering sacrifices to demons, and for all the = superstitious awe=20 that accompanied this idol worship, nothing could wean them from = that=20 warlike spirit. But, strange to relate, since they came over to = the school=20 of Christ, as men moved with real compunction they have laid aside = their=20 murderous cruelty and are war-minded no more. On the contrary, all = is=20 peace among them and nothing remains save desire for = friendship.
(52) Who,=20 then, is He Who has done these things and has united in peace = those who=20 hated each other, save the beloved Son of the Father, the common = Savior of=20 all, Jesus Christ, Who by His own love underwent all things for = our=20 salvation? Even from the beginning, moreover, this peace that He = was to=20 administer was foretold, for Scripture says, "They shall beat = their swords=20 into ploughshares and their spears into sickles, and nation shall = not take=20 sword against nation, neither shall they learn any more to wage = war."[2] = Nor=20 is this by any means incredible.
3D" The = barbarians of=20 the present day are naturally savage in their habits, and as long = as they=20 sacrifice to their idols they rage furiously against each other = and cannot=20 bear to be a single hour without weapons. But when they hear the = teaching=20 of Christ, forthwith they turn from fighting to farming, and = instead of=20 arming themselves with swords extend their hands in prayer. In a = word,=20 instead of fighting each other, they take up arms against the = devil and=20 the demons, and overcome them by their selfcommand and integrity = of soul.=20 These facts are proof of the Godhead of the Savior, for He has = taught men=20 what they could never learn among the idols. It is also no small = exposure=20 of the weakness and nothingness of demons and idols, for it was = because=20 they knew their own weakness that the demons were always setting = men to=20 fight each other, fearing lest, if they ceased from mutual strife, = they=20 would turn to attack the demons themselves. For in truth the = disciples of=20 Christ, instead of fighting each other, stand arrayed against = demons by=20 their habits and virtuous actions, and chase them away and mock at = their=20 captain the devil. Even in youth they are chaste, they endure in = times of=20 testing and persevere in toils. When they are insulted, they are = patient,=20 when robbed they make light of it, and, marvelous to relate, they = make=20 light even of death itself, and become martyrs of Christ.
(53) And=20 here is another proof of the Godhead of the Savior, which is = indeed=20 utterly amazing. What mere man or magician or tyrant or king was = ever able=20 by himself to do so much? Did anyone ever fight against the whole = system=20 of idol-worship and the whole host of demons and all magic and all = the=20 wisdom of the Greeks, at a time when all of these were strong and=20 flourishing and taking everybody in, as did our Lord, the very = Word of=20 God? Yet He is even now invisibly exposing every man's error, and=20 single-handed is carrying off all men from them all, so that those = who=20 used to worship idols now tread them under foot, reputed magicians = burn=20 their books and the wise prefer to all studies the interpretation = of the=20 gospels. They are deserting those whom formerly they worshipped, = they=20 worship and confess as Christ and God Him Whom they used to = ridicule as=20 crucified. Their so-called gods are routed by the sign of the = cross, and=20 the crucified Savior is proclaimed in all the world as God and Son = of God.=20 Moreover, the gods worshipped among the Greeks are now falling = into=20 disrepute among them on account of the disgraceful things they = did, for=20 those who receive the teaching of Christ are more chaste in life = than=20 they. If these, and the like of them, are human works, let anyone = who will=20 show us similar ones done by men in former time, and so convince = us. But=20 if they are shown to be, and are the works not of men but of God, = why are=20 the unbelievers so irreligious as not to recognize the Master Who = did=20 them? They are afflicted as a man would be who failed to recognize = God the=20 Artificer through the works of creation. For surely if they had = recognized=20 His Godhead through His power over the universe, they would = recognize also=20 that the bodily works of Christ are not human, but are those of = the Savior=20 of all, the Word of God. And had they recognized this, as Paul = says, "They=20 would not have crucified the Lord of glory."[3]<= BR>(54) As,=20 then, he who desires to see God Who by nature is invisible and not = to be=20 beheld, may yet perceive and know Him through His works, so too = let him=20 who does not see Christ with his understanding at least consider = Him in=20 His bodily works and test whether they be of man or God. If they = be of=20 man, then let him scoff; but if they be of God, let him not mock = at things=20 which are no fit subject for scorn, but rather let him recognize = the fact=20 and marvel that things divine have been revealed to us by such = humble=20 means, that through death deathlessness has been made known to us, = and=20 through the Incarnation of the Word the Mind whence all things = proceed has=20 been declared, and its Agent and Ordainer, the Word of God = Himself. He,=20 indeed, assumed humanity that we might become God. He manifested = Himself=20 by means of a body in order that we might perceive the Mind of the = unseen=20 Father. He endured shame from men that we might inherit = immortality. He=20 Himself was unhurt by this, for He is impassable and = incorruptible; but by=20 His own impassability He kept and healed the suffering men on = whose=20 account He thus endured. In short, such and so many are the = Savior's=20 achievements that follow from His Incarnation, that to try to = number them=20 is like gazing at the open sea and trying to count the waves. One = cannot=20 see all the waves with one's eyes, for when one tries to do so = those that=20 are following on baffle one's senses. Even so, when one wants to = take in=20 all the achievements of Christ in the body, one cannot do so, even = by=20 reckoning them up, for the things that transcend one's thought are = always=20 more than those one thinks that one has grasped.
3D" As we = cannot speak=20 adequately about even a part of His work, therefore, it will be = better for=20 us not to speak about it as a whole. So we will mention but one = thing=20 more, and then leave the whole for you to marvel at. For, indeed,=20 everything about it is marvelous, and wherever a man turns his = gaze he=20 sees the Godhead of the Word and is smitten with awe.
3D" (55) The = substance=20 of what we have said so far may be summarized as follows. Since = the Savior=20 came to dwell among us, not only does idolatry no longer increase, = but it=20 is getting less and gradually ceasing to be. Similarly, not only = does the=20 wisdom of the Greeks no longer make any progress, but that which = used to=20 be is disappearing. And demons, so far from continuing to impose = on people=20 by their deceits and oracle-givings and sorceries, are routed by = the sign=20 of the cross if they so much as try. On the other hand, while = idolatry and=20 everything else that opposes the faith of Christ is daily = dwindling and=20 weakening and falling, see, the Savior's teaching is increasing=20 everywhere! Worship, then, the Savior "Who is above all" and = mighty, even=20 God the Word, and condemn those who are being defeated and made to = disappear by Him. When the sun has come, darkness prevails no = longer; any=20 of it that may be left anywhere is driven away. So also, now that = the=20 Divine epiphany of the Word of God has taken place, the darkness = of idols=20 prevails no more, and all parts of the world in every direction = are=20 enlightened by His teaching. Similarly, if a king be reigning = somewhere,=20 but stays in his own house and does not let himself be seen, it = often=20 happens that some insubordinate fellows, taking advantage of his=20 retirement, will have themselves proclaimed in his stead; and each = of=20 them, being invested with the semblance of kingship, misleads the = simple=20 who, because they cannot enter the palace and see the real king, = are led=20 astray by just hearing a king named. When the real king emerges, = however,=20 and appears to view, things stand differently. The insubordinate = impostors=20 are shown up by his presence, and men, seeing the real king, = forsake those=20 who previously misled them. In the same way the demons used = formerly to=20 impose on men, investing themselves with the honor due to God. But = since=20 the Word of God has been manifested in a body, and has made known = to us=20 His own Father, the fraud of the demons is stopped and made to = disappear;=20 and men, turning their eyes to the true God, Word of the Father, = forsake=20 the idols and come to know the true God.
3D" Now this = is proof=20 that Christ is God, the Word and Power of God. For whereas human = things=20 cease and the fact of Christ remains, it is clear to all that the = things=20 which cease are temporary, but that He Who remains is God and very = Son of=20 God, the sole-begotten Word.

Chapter 8 Notes

Literally, "so great a chorus" = "choros"=20 (Gk.) being properly a band of dancers and singers.=20
Isaiah ii. 4.=20
Cor. ii. 8.

Go = Back=20 to the top of Chapter 8

9
Conclusion

(56)
ere, then, Macarius, is our offering to you who love = Christ, a=20 brief statement of the faith of Christ and of the manifestation of = His=20 Godhead to us. This will give you a beginning, and you must go on = to prove=20 its truth by the study of the Scriptures. They were written and = inspired=20 by God; and we, who have learned from inspired teachers who read = the=20 Scriptures and became martyrs for the Godhead of Christ, make = further=20 contribution to your eagerness to learn. From the Scriptures you = will=20 learn also of His second manifestation to us, glorious and divine = indeed,=20 when He shall come not in lowliness but in His proper glory, no = longer in=20 humiliation but in majesty, no longer to suffer but to bestow on = us all=20 the fruit of His cross=97 the resurrection and incorruptibility. = No longer=20 will He then be judged, but rather will Himself be Judge, judging = each and=20 all according to their deeds done in the body, whether good or = ill. Then=20 for the good is laid up the heavenly kingdom, but for those that = practice=20 evil outer darkness and the eternal fire. So also the Lord Himself = says,=20 "I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man seated on = the right=20 hand of power, coming on the clouds of heaven in the glory of the=20 Father."[1] = For=20 that Day we have one of His own sayings to prepare us, "Get ready = and=20 watch, for ye know not the hour in which He cometh"[2] = And=20 blessed Paul says, "We must all stand before the judgment seat of = Christ,=20 that each one may receive according as he practiced in the body, = whether=20 good or ill."[3]<= BR>(57) But=20 for the searching and right understanding of the Scriptures there = is need=20 of a good life and a pure soul, and for Christian virtue to guide = the mind=20 to grasp, so far as human nature can, the truth concerning God the = Word.=20 One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless = one has a=20 pure mind and is trying to imitate their life. Anyone who wants to = look at=20 sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at = any=20 rate, some approximation to the purity of that on which he looks; = and a=20 person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in order = to do=20 so. Similarly, anyone who wishes to understand the mind of the = sacred=20 writers must first cleanse his own life, and approach the saints = by=20 copying their deeds. Thus united to them in the fellowship of = life, he=20 will both understand the things revealed to them by God and, = thenceforth=20 escaping the peril that threatens sinners in the judgment, will = receive=20 that which is laid up for the saints in the kingdom of heaven. Of = that=20 reward it is written: "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither = hath=20 entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared"[4] = for=20 them that live a godly life and love the God and Father in Christ = Jesus=20 our Lord, through Whom and with Whom be to the Father Himself, = with the=20 Son Himself, in the Holy Spirit, honor and might and glory to ages = of=20 ages. Amen.

Chapter 9 Notes

Matt. xxvi. 64.=20
Matt. xxiv. 42.=20
2 Cor. v. 10.=20
1 Cor. ii. 9.

Go = Back=20 to the top of Chapter 9

3D"Go 3D"E-mail 3D"Who 3D"Phil's

. . . or why=20 not visit

on your way=20 out?

Copyright =A9 2001 by Phillip R. Johnson. All rights=20 reserved. = hits

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AthanasiusOn=20 the Incarnation

Contents

Introduction

1Creation and the Fall