What if I told you that the mystery of Christmas—the baby in the manger, God becoming man—is the answer to life’s deepest questions? Why are we here? What went wrong with the world? How can it be fixed? These are the questions St. Athanasius the Great tackles in his masterpiece, On the Incarnation, a book written nearly 1,700 years ago but still as relevant as ever. By the time you finish reading, you’ll see why this ancient work speaks directly to the heart of Christmas and has the power to transform your life today.
St. Athanasius and His Timeless Work
St. Athanasius lived in the 4th century, during one of the most turbulent times in Church history. He was a bishop of Alexandria, a fierce defender of the truth, and a man of unshakable faith. He faced exile multiple times for standing against heresy, especially the teachings of Arius, a priest who denied that Jesus is fully God.
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This Arian controversy shook the Church to its core, as it questioned the very nature of Christ. Was He truly God, or just a created being? St. Athanasius argued powerfully that Jesus is God Himself, come to save us, and his defense shaped the way Christians understand Christ even today.
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On the Incarnation is one of St. Athanasius’s most famous writings, and for good reason. It’s a masterpiece that explains why Jesus had to come as a man and how His life, death, and resurrection bring us back to God.
What makes this work even more extraordinary is that it was not written as a theological treatise, a letter to the Church, or for academics. Instead, it was written as a personal response to a pagan, non-Christian who was seeking to understand Christianity and was incredulous at the idea that God would condescend to become man. The non-Christian’s question to St. Athanasius was the same one many still ask today: why would God ever want to become man?
In other words, On the Incarnation was written for someone just like you, making its message as relevant now as it was then.
Why Did God Become Man?
St. Athanasius begins by asking why God became man. As mentioned above, this was a question posed by a non-believer to whom the book was written. And it is a question people still ask today: why would God take on human flesh? St. Athanasius reminds us of something simple yet profound: God created us in His image, to live in perfect communion with Him. But when humanity fell into sin, that image was damaged. Worse, sin brought death, and humanity was trapped in a cycle of corruption and separation from God.
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God, being both just and merciful, could not leave us in this state. As St. Athanasius explains, “It would, of course, have been unthinkable that God should go back upon His word and that man, having transgressed, should not die; but it was equally monstrous that beings which once had shared the nature of the Word should perish and turn back again into non-existence through corruption.” His justice required that sin and death be defeated, and His mercy sought to restore us to life. No mere human could do this. Only God Himself could restore what had been lost. And so, Jesus, fully God and fully man, entered our world. As St. Athanasius says, “God became man so that we might become God.”
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Through His death on the Cross, Jesus destroyed the power of sin and death. And through His resurrection, He brought us new life. By taking on our humanity, He made it possible for us to share in His divinity. This is the heart of the Gospel and the reason for our Christmas joy.
God became man so that we might become God.
Key Lessons from On the Incarnation
- The Love of God: St. Athanasius emphasizes that everything Jesus did was out of love. “The Word took to Himself a body capable of death, that it, by partaking of the Word who is above all, might be worthy to die in the stead of all, and might, because of the Word which had come to dwell in it, remain incorruptible,” he writes. This reflects John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God did not abandon us when we sinned. Instead, He came to us, even when it meant suffering and death.
- The Victory Over Death: Jesus’s death was not a defeat but a victory. St. Athanasius describes it like a great king entering a city. “When a great king has entered a large city and taken up his residence in one of its houses, such a city is at no longer at the mercy of its enemies, but rather is thought worthy of all respect because of the king’s presence,” he writes. In the same way, when Jesus entered death, He destroyed it from the inside. As 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 proclaims, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” By dying, He conquered death. St. Athanasius describes it like a great king entering a city. When the king comes, the enemies flee. In the same way, when Jesus entered death, He destroyed it from the inside.
- The Renewal of Creation: Jesus’s coming wasn’t just about individual salvation. As St. Athanasius writes, “The renewal of creation has been wrought by the self-same Word who made it in the beginning.” He restored the image of God in humanity and began the transformation of the entire world. This echoes the words of Romans 8:19-21: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” It was about renewing all of creation. He restored the image of God in humanity and began the transformation of the entire world.
- The Call to Holiness: St. Athanasius reminds us that Jesus didn’t just come to save us from sin; He came to make us holy. “For the Word of God became man so that we might learn from a man how to live a holy life,” he writes. This aligns with 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” By uniting ourselves to Him, we are called to live lives of love, purity, and devotion.
What This Means for Christmas
Christmas is more than a sentimental holiday. St. Athanasius uses a beautiful analogy to explain the mystery of the Incarnation: just as a great artist restores a painting that has been ruined, so God restored humanity through His coming. This act of love is profound and beyond human comprehension. It is the celebration of the Incarnation, the moment when God entered our world to save us. The baby in the manger is the King of the universe, come to die for our sins and give us eternal life. This truth should fill us with awe and gratitude.
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But it should also move us to action. St. Athanasius’s message is clear: Christ’s coming demands a response. We cannot remain the same once we grasp what He has done for us. So, what should we do?
- Embrace Christ Fully: If you haven’t already, commit your life to Christ. Believe in Him as your Savior and King. If you are already a believer, renew your commitment. Spend time in prayer, read the Gospels, and draw closer to Him.
- Join His Church: The Incarnation reminds us that salvation is not just an individual matter. Christ came to build His Church, His body on earth. If you are not part of the Orthodox Church, consider exploring it. Here you will find the fullness of the faith that St. Athanasius defended.
- Live the Faith Daily: Let the Incarnation shape how you live. Love others as Christ loved you. Fight against sin in your life. Share the Good News with those around you. Celebrate Christmas not just with gifts and decorations but by reflecting Christ’s love and holiness.
- Look to the New Year: As we enter a new year, let the truth of the Incarnation guide your goals and priorities. How can you grow in faith? How can you serve others more? Let this next year be a year where Christ is at the center of everything you do.
The Greatest Gift
St. Athanasius’s On the Incarnation is a reminder of the greatest gift ever given: God’s gift of Himself. This Christmas, let’s receive that gift with open hearts. Let’s worship the Christ who came to save us. And let’s live every day in the light of His love.
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“God became man so that we might become God.” These words of St. Athanasius sum up the heart of Christmas.
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Let’s celebrate this truth not just with words but with our lives. Christ is born! Glorify Him!
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