In St. Athanasius’ treatise ‘On the Incarnation’, he writes to a certain Macarius who was a proselyte to Christianity. Being inexperienced in apologetics, St. Athanasius had instructed him through this work to guide him on the Church’s teaching regarding the Omnipotence of the Word and His Incarnation. This was a doctrine which was challenged by both Jews and Gentiles alike; as it was a radical change from what was taught by history’s greatest philosophers, and exceeded human rationality.
For this particular post, we will be examining St. Athanasius’ rebuttal of the Jews, and how he proved the Incarnation from Holy Writ.
To initiate his rebuttal, he first addressed the Jew’s skepticism of Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection. He opens by appealing to the Old Testament scriptures; as they are shared by both Christians and the Jews alike since both religions revere them as being God inspired and therefore: authoritative, infallible, and inerrant.
To cite him directly:
“First, then, we will consider the Jews. Their unbelief has its refutation in the Scriptures which even themselves read; for from cover to cover the inspired Book clearly teaches these things both in its entirety and in its actual words”
~ (On the Incarnation, Chapter VI).
Following this, he claims that the Prophets foretold Christ’s Virgin Birth; and cites prophets such like Isaiah and Moses.
Citing the Prophet Isaiah, he said:
“Prophets foretold the marvel of the Virgin and of the Birth from her, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name ‘Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us’ (Isaiah 7:14)”
~ ibid.
To fortify his argument, he presents the following question:
“Which of the righteous men and holy prophets and patriarchs of whom the Divine Scriptures tell ever had his bodily birth from a virgin only? Was not Abel born of Adam, Enoch of Jared, Noah of Lamech, Abraham of Terah, Isaac of Abraham, and Jacob of Isaac? … Had not each of these a father as author of his being? So, who is He that is born of a virgin only, that sign of which the prophet makes so much? Again, which of all those people had his birth announced to the whole world by a star in the heavens? When Moses was born his parents hid him. David was unknown even in his own neighborhood, so that mighty Samuel himself was ignorant of his existence and asked whether Jesse had yet another son. Abraham again became known to his neighbors as a great man only after his birth”
~ ibid.
But regarding Christ, he continues:
“it was otherwise. The witness to His birth was not man, but a star shining in the heavens whence He was coming down”
~ ibid.
He further proved from the Scriptures that the child whom the Virgin had gave birth to was, indeed, the God of all, by which idols fell. Again appealing to Old Testament:
“And scriptures proclaim further that He that is to come is the Lord of all! These are the words, ‘Behold, the Lord sitteth on an airy cloud and shall come into Egypt and the man-made images of Egypt shall be shaken’ (Isaiah 19:1). And it is from Egypt also that the Father calls him back, saying, ‘Out of Egypt have I called My Son’ (Hosea 11:1).”
~ ibid.
This concludes this post.
Faith Unto Ages 