Friday, September 18, 2026

BOOK SUMMARY - ON THE INCARNATION - CHAPTER 1 - CREATION AND THE FALL


Athanasius explains why God created humanity: humans were given a special grace that animals do not have—the Image of God, meaning the ability to know God, reason, and live forever in communion with Him. But humanity turned away from God, choosing corruption and death. Because of this rebellion, humanity began to “unravel,” drifting toward non-existence.

Athanasius says God could not simply ignore this decay, because it would contradict His goodness and make creation pointless. Yet God also could not simply cancel the consequence of death, because He had already declared it. This creates what Athanasius calls the divine dilemma: humanity is perishing, but God’s goodness and truthfulness must both be upheld.

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