87 of 88 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A True Christian Classic!, January 23, 2001
This review is from: On the Incarnation: De Incarnatione Verbi Dei (Popular Patristics Series) (Paperback)
In this day, when a Christian classic is often considered to be a book written 50 or 100 years ago, such as one of my favorites, "Mere Christianity," by C.S. Lewis, it may be a little intimidating for modern readers to consider a volume written during the 4th century by one of the acknowledged leaders of the ancient Christian Church. This is one such work that I've ashamedly ignored for over 30 years--until recently--despite the fact that I've been a huge fan of C.S. Lewis, who wrote the Introduction for this fine translation in about 1944.In both the introduction, and in the words of St. Athanasius, one can quickly see where Lewis developed many of his ideas for "Mere Christianity." Lewis writes here: "Measured against the ages "mere Christianity" turns out to be no insipid interdenominational transparency, but something positive, self-consistent, and inexhaustible."Another reviewer here refers to this book as Catholic, which, unfortunately, may possibly scare away some Protestant readers. However, one could also call it Orthodox (or orthodox), in the sense that St. Athanasius wrote at a time in history when there was only One Undivided Church, whether one calls it Catholic or Orthodox. He was responding to the heresies of his day (and I might add that many of those heresies are still around in one form or another). In doing so, St. Athanasius helped to codify what all Christians everywhere believed about the Incarnation of Christ in those days. As Lewis says in his introduction, some of the best devotional reading is in doctrinal books. This is one such book, but don't let it scare you away, like it did me for 30 years. It's well worth the read, and not as challenging as one would assume.An additional bonus to the St. Vladimir's Press 1996 edition is the appendix: "The Letter of St. Athanasius to Marcellinus on the Interpretation of the Psalms." In this gem, St. Athanasius provides delightful devotional and theological background to the Book of Psalms, which many call the Prayer Book of the Bible. This appendix alone is worth the purchase price of the book (but be sure you get the right edition).
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50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift, Embodied, June 9, 2004
This review is from: On the Incarnation: De Incarnatione Verbi Dei (Popular Patristics Series) (Paperback)
It is a shame that more people haven't read this book; after the New Testament, Athanasius' De Incarnatione Verbi Dei (On the Incarnation of the Word) is the most important synthesis of Christian thought up through the 4th century and has remained one of the most foundational of all Christian texts ever written. All later Christian thought on the sacraments and artwork (particularly icons) would eventually be an extension of the Christian teaching on the Incarnation; this work, then, not only shapes the basis of later Christian thought, but also determines its trajectory.
This is a simple work. Some of this is due to the work of the translator, breaking up the work into short sections and translating it into contemporary English without sacrificing its content; the majority of it has to do, however, with Athansius' own desire: to communicate simply the profound message of God-become-man. C. S. Lewis contributes a wonderful introduction, noting correctly that we would all do better to "read the old books", such as this one.
In short, Athanasius writes that "God became man so that man might become god". If taken out of its context, such a quote could easily be misinterpreted; it should be understood, however, in this way: by God's taking on a human body, the human body has been brought up into the very life of God. Rather than denigrating physical, created matter, the Incarnation vindicates its being created. The body then, is now understood as the site of the most profound of meanings: its being given life now and, at a future time, being given life again.
Understandings of the Incarnation as being purely juridical, with effects relegated to an ethereal world of purely legal justification, find no place here. Athanasius also does not focus upon the death of Christ or his sufferings as ends in and of themselves. Rather, the Incarnation is victory over death - death *not* being a curse but, instead, the natural result of man's turning away from God (the hermeneutic that Athanasius provides for understanding the Apostle Paul's writings is both fascinating and beautiful). The Incarnation opens us up to union with God, which is most perfectly demonstrated in the union of Christ to God the Father: their wills in perfect communion with each other, in and through love.
In this work, Athanasius strikes a perfect balance between the profound and the simple that is not often found in theological writings. We do well, as Lewis notes, to read the old books.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece!, February 17, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: On the Incarnation: De Incarnatione Verbi Dei (Popular Patristics Series) (Paperback)
The effects of this little book can be felt even today; over 15 centuries since it was written. It answers one of the most fundamental questions in Christianity, "Why did God have to come and take flesh in order to save mankind?" This book is inspiring in that it shows us the purpose of His Incarnation, His life, teachings, miracles, death and resurrection. In a time where the whole world was against him, St. Athanasius shines brigthly as one of the greatest leaders of the Christian Church. It is wise to hear his words. Other inspiring writings: AGAINST THE HEATHEN and THE LIFE OF ST. ANTHONY (a writing that converted even St. Augustine).
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