Athanasius On the Incarnation

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW241769225 BCX4"> <p><span data-contrast="none">A few years ago, my colleague</span> <a href= "https://www.breakpoint.org/gods-plan-at-christmas-athanasius-on-the-incarnation-of-the-word-of-god-part-i/"> <span data-contrast="none">Dr. Glenn Sunshine wrote an introduction</span></a> <span data-contrast="none">to one of the greatest works of Christian antiquity,</span> <a href= "http://www.onthewing.org/user/Athanasius%20-%20On%20the%20Incarnation.pdf"> <span data-contrast="none">Athanasius’</span> <em><span data-contrast="none">On the Incarnation of the Word</span></em></a><span data-contrast="none">. Athanasius (born in Alexandria in the 290s) is best known for defending the divinity of Christ against the heresy of</span> <a href= "https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/who-was-athanasius-and-why-was-he-important/"> <span data-contrast="none">Arius,</span></a> <span data-contrast= "none">who taught that Jesus was not equal with God the Father but a lesser, created being. Arianism had gained significant ground in the Church, but Athanasius fought to preserve the biblical view that Jesus is “</span><a href= "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202%3A6&version=ESV"><span data-contrast="none">in very nature God</span></a><span data-contrast="none">.” In the process, he became known as</span> <em><span data-contrast= "none">Athanasius Contra Mundum:</span></em> <a href= "https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/one-mans-joy-stood-against-the-whole-world"> <span data-contrast="none">“Athanasius Against the World.” </span></a><span data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":480}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">In his introduction, Dr. Sunshine</span> <span data-contrast="none">describes Athanasius’ teaching:</span><span data-ccp-props= "{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":480}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">"[T]he Image of God made it possible for us to know the Word of God; with sin the Im