Summary and Review: On the Incarnation of the Word of God by St. Athanasius

Introduction

Written around 318 A.D. when he was just 23 years old, On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius of Alexandria remains one of the most influential works in Christian theology. Addressed to a young inquirer named Macarius—possibly a catechumen or a pagan convert—it is a powerful reflection on the mystery of the Word made flesh. In clear and reasoned language, Athanasius unfolds why God became man, and why the Incarnation was both necessary and fitting for the salvation of the human race.

The Divine Dilemma

Athanasius begins by contemplating the tragedy of the Fall. Humanity, created in the image of God, chose disobedience, resulting in the defacement of that image and a tragic return to corruption and death—a slide back toward non-being.

This sets up the divine dilemma:

• God’s Goodness: If God allowed humanity to perish, His goodness would be called into question. Why create man in His own image if He would let that image be lost?

• God’s Truthfulness: Yet if God revoked the penalty of death decreed for sin, He would appear untruthful and inconsistent with His own justice.

The solution had to both restore humanity and uphold God’s nature as Good and True.

Could human repentance suffice? No—it was noble, but it could not restore the divine image or conquer death.

Could God simply will forgiveness? No—He would not override the created order or contradict the consequences He had established.

The Divine Solution!

Only one solution preserves both divine goodness and truth: the Incarnation of the Word. By becoming man, the eternal Logos could both restore the divine image and suffer death in our place—abolishing its power from within.

3 Key Soteriological Points:

1. Restoration of the Divine Image: Only the true Image of the Father could restore the defaced image in humanity. Christ, the perfect Image, renews us from within.
2. Victory Over Death: Only through the death of the human body assumed by the Word Himself could the penalty of death be lifted from mankind without compromising the veracity of God, the Father of Truth. By assuming a mortal body, the Word was able to suffer death—and in doing so, destroy death’s dominion for all humanity. The justice of God was satisfied, and His mercy poured out.
3. Recreation Through the Creator: Only through the Incarnation of the Divine Agent, through Whom the universe and man were created, could humanity be saved from corruption and death, and be revitalized through communion with the life-giving Word. The One who created humanity is the only one capable of re-creating and redeeming it. 

Athanasius famously captures this mystery with the line:

“He became man so that we might become God.”

Refutations and Apologetics

In the second part of the treatise, Athanasius addresses objections from both Jews and Gentiles:

• To the Jews: He demonstrates how Old Testament prophecies point to Christ.

• To the Gentiles: He uses their own philosophical language—drawing especially on Platonic cosmology—to reveal the coherence and superiority of the Christian understanding of God and salvation.

Review: Why This Work Matters Today

On the Incarnation remains one of the most vital works for grasping the very heart of the Christian Gospel: that God became man to save us. With its remarkable clarity, theological precision, and reverent synthesis of reason and revelation, this work speaks across the centuries—not merely as a historical document, but as a living witness to the mystery of our salvation.

Whether you’re studying Christology, beginning a theological education, or seeking to deepen your personal faith, On the Incarnation offers both spiritual nourishment and intellectual depth. Its pages unfold the beauty of divine love in a way that is both accessible and awe-inspiring.

Modern readers are fortunate to have excellent editions available, including the classic translation by T. Herbert Bindley and editions with a foreword by C.S. Lewis, who praised Athanasius’ work as essential reading for every Christian.

To read On the Incarnation is to encounter the timeless proclamation of a God who did not abandon His creation—but entered into it, in love, to redeem and restore it. That message remains as urgent today as ever.