Why God Became Man/The Virgin Conception and Original Sin

by Anselm of Canterbury

English, Latin (translation)

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Religion, Classics

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Italian-born English monk, abbot, theologian, Archbishop of Canterbury and Doctor of the Church. Helped inaugurate scholasticism in the medieval period, being credited as the "father of scholasticism", and became known for what became known as the "ontological argument" for the existence of God.

He entered the Benedictine order at the abbey of Bec at the age of 27 years in 1060 and served as abbot in 1079.

Anselm of Canterbury, also known as Anselm of Aosta or Anselm of Bec, was a monk and abbot at the Benedictine abbey of Bec. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury under William II from 1093 to his death on 1109.

As a result of the investiture controversy, the most significant conflict between Church and state in Medieval Europe, Henry I again from 1105 exiled him to 1107.

A bull of Clement XI, pope, proclaimed Anselm a doctor of the Church in 1720 . We celebrate his feast day annually on 21 April.

Reviews

[Kaiden Tolkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus' atoning work is like onions. And Shrek.... it's all about the layers.

Why isn't it enough to just say "Jesus died and rose, and through that we're reconciled to God"? Why dig deeper?
Because we get to delight in understanding and contemplating the fittingness of our redemption!

What happens when you consider something by considering what would happen if you took it away (Anselm's method)? You demonstrate its fittingness!

Loved being taught by Anselm not only WHY God became man but also HOW to contemplate that reality and keep uncovering new layers of its fittingness, leading to delight.

Also love being repeatedly reminded by both Anselm and Dr. J that Jesus' atoning work in his incarnation, death, and resurrection is supremely fitting because of God's character. We look to God's attributes to understand "necessity" within the economy of salvation.

Also also loved exploring how Anselm's thoughts on the atonement are not a deviation from patristic thought (popular opinion) but entirely in line with Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, etc. His death isn't the gift, it's the vehicle for the gift.

Thank you, Mr. Canterbury <3

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiinţă eminamente raţională, întruchipare a dreptăţii desăvârşite, dispunând de o voinţă imuabilă, Dumnezeu este Creatorul, Stăpânul a toate. El a creat lumea din nimic. A orânduit universul şi a creat natura raţională. A făcut toate acestea în mod raţional, cu infinită înţelepciune şi pentru un anumit scop. Naturile raţionale (om şi Înger) erau destinate să între gească acea cetate cerească, concepută după un număr desăvârşit, În care se vor putea bucura de supremul bine, adică de Dumnezeu.

[Scott Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply enriching in some portions while an elongated drag in others. Reading this as an immediate followup to “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius makes it a bit less exciting than the former. Still, it is an excellent treatise of why Christ was incarnate for the salvation of men.

[Brittany]

human's inability to reform our own souls-recommended in the vanishing american adult (fundamental anthropology)

[George Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little work concerning the necessity of the incarnation. Easy to follow, logical reasoning.

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A theological classic, important for developing the necessity of the incarnation and the theology of the atonement, but with some strange ideas floating around the edges.