On the Incarnation

Preface to On the Incarnation: A Modern Translation, by Peter Northcutt

Year after year, we hear the familiar Christmas story: a virgin giving birth, angels announcing good news of great joy, shepherds gazing in awe, and wise men presenting their gifts. If we truly stop and reflect, we realize it’s a story unlike any other—undeniably strange and utterly extraordinary. Nothing like it had ever happened before, and nothing like it ever will again. Yet, as astonishing as the story of His birth is, the life of that virgin-born child is even more remarkable. He spoke with divine authority, performed miracles, and, at the height of His influence, died on a cross—only to rise again three days later. Today, the story of Jesus has become so deeply ingrained in our collective memory that we may not realize just how confusing—and even controversial—it once was.

Imagine living only a few generations after Jesus, in the immediate aftermath of this world-altering man. Back then, the familiar story was still fresh, and even within the Church, people struggled with its profound implications. Even centuries after Christ’s life, Christians were still fighting (sometimes with swords as much as with words) to grasp the true meaning of the Incarnation—the idea that God became human. They poured over the Scriptures, asking questions like, “Did God actually become human? Why would He do that? And if He did, what does that mean for us?” The answers to these questions were anything but obvious, and the search for them often led to life-and-death situations, sparking persecution and even martyrdom depending on one’s stance. It might surprise us now, but many of the core beliefs of Christianity, which we often take for granted, were hard-won truths forged in times of uncertainty and fierce conflict.

It was into this charged atmosphere that a young man named Athanasius stepped forward. He argued passionately and persuasively that not only did God become human, but that He had to for humanity to be freed from sin and death. His work would go on to help shape the foundation of Christian theology and remind us just how world-changing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus truly were.

Athanasius was born around 296 AD in Alexandria, Egypt, one of the most influential centers of early Christianity. As a young deacon, he attended the famous Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where he stood firmly against the teachings of Arius, a priest who argued that Jesus was not fully divine. Athanasius’s fierce commitment to defending Christ’s divinity quickly earned him a reputation as a bold and uncompromising leader. He later became the bishop of Alexandria and spent his life tirelessly resisting the persistent Arian heresy, often at great personal cost—he was exiled five times for his beliefs! This courage and resilience earned him the nickname Athanasius contra mundum, meaning “Athanasius against the world.”

Today, St. Athanasius is celebrated as one of the most pivotal figures in church history, particularly for his contributions to the doctrine of the Trinity and his staunch opposition to Arianism. His articulation of Christ as “co-equal in substance with the Father” helped lay the groundwork for Trinitarian theology, and his eloquent defense in On the Incarnation has cemented his legacy as its most prominent champion. Often referred to as the “Father of Orthodoxy,” Athanasius’s influence continues to shape what many now recognize as the core tenets of Christianity.

Remarkably, Athanasius wrote On the Incarnation in his early twenties, prior to his famous confrontation with Arius at Nicaea. Writing this work certainly helped prepare him for the theological battles ahead, as it addresses questions that lie at the very heart of the Christian faith: Why did God become man? Why did God choose to die on a cross? And why was it necessary for Christ to be God? His answers to these questions have helped form the bedrock of orthodox Christian understanding for almost two thousand years.

What makes On the Incarnation particularly compelling, especially to modern readers, is the sense of awe and wonder that permeates its pages. In an age where the mystery of God becoming flesh can sometimes be ignored or dismissed, Athanasius’s words rekindle an appreciation for the staggering significance of the Incarnation, reminding us of the profound love and purpose behind this miraculous event.

You might be surprised to learn that this ancient classic is a short and approachable read. C.S. Lewis once remarked, “When I first opened On the Incarnation, I discovered by a very simple test that I was reading a masterpiece, for only a mastermind could have written so deeply on such a subject with such classical simplicity.” At Modern Saints, we aimed to preserve that simplicity by creating a translation that is clear and engaging for a new generation of readers. Here’s how we approached the translation:

·       Sentence structures and vocabulary were revised to better suit modern readers.

·       Long paragraphs were broken up to enhance readability.

·       While remaining nearly word-for-word, small adjustments were made for clarity, flow, or added context where needed.

In short, this translation is fresh yet faithful, allowing you to spend less time untangling outdated language and more time immersing yourself in one of the most foundational Christian texts ever written.

As you read On the Incarnation, we hope you’ll be transported to a time when the Incarnation was a new and unimaginable wonder. Imagine yourself in the shoes of the early Church, grappling with the profound mystery that Athanasius approaches with such awe and reverence. His work reminds us that the Christian faith is rooted in an astonishing truth: the Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. It’s a reality so transformative that the world struggled for centuries to comprehend it—and when it finally did, everything changed. Whether you’re revisiting this text or encountering it for the first time, we hope it inspires you to see the Incarnation with fresh eyes and rekindles your wonder for the God who became man to redeem us all.

- Peter Northcutt, Editor