On The Incarnation

by Athanasius of Alexandria

the Saviour works mightily every day, drawing men to religion, persuading them to virtue, teaching them about immortality, quickening their thirst for heavenly things, revealing the knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength in face of death, manifesting Himself to each, and displacing the irreligion of idols; while the gods and evil spirits of the unbelievers can do none of these things, but rather become dead at Christ’s presence, all their ostentation barren and void.

it would seem that he who disbelieves this bodily rising of the Lord is ignorant of the power of the Word and Wisdom of God.

they laugh at that which is no fit subject for mockery, yet fail to see the shame and ridiculousness of their own idols.

The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men.

What mere man or magician or tyrant or king was ever able by himself to do so much?

Did anyone ever fight against the whole system of idol-worship and the whole host of daemons and all magic and all the wisdom of the Greeks, at a time when all of these were strong and flourishing and taking everybody in, as did our Lord, the very Word of God?

through death deathlessness has been made known to us, and through the Incarnation of the Word the Mind whence all things proceed has been declared,

He manifested Himself by means of a body in order that we might perceive the Mind of the unseen Father.

No longer will He then be judged, but rather will Himself be judge, judging each and all