This is one of those books that’s quoted everywhere but I had never read it for myself. Athanasius is one of the most influential voices in Christian theology, largely responsible for the Nicene creed and a major proponent for what ultimately became Trinitarian theology. Hearing him speak for himself was refreshing for me. Some of his arguments for the divinity of Jesus fall flat, mostly because our modern worldview is so much different than the one he was operating in, but his exposition of the necessity of the incarnation, as a function of God’s goodness, is still crucial for us to understand. I’m becoming a big fan of reading original texts rather than commentators. In these words, not only did I hear Athanasius’ theological discussion, but (and this is where commentators and quotes don’t suffice) I also could hear his devotion and love for Jesus.
This particular edition is a great one. It includes a fantastic preface by C.S. Lewis on the importance of reading original texts and getting over our prejudice that newer is better. This alone should be required reading. It also includes a lengthy introduction by Dr. John Behr, a renowned Orthodox theologian, that gives helpful context to both Athanasius himself, as well as the circumstances around the writing of On the Incarnation. There’s a lot of meat packed into just about a hundred pages.
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