On the Incarnation 56.1–57.3
Greek text: Robertson (Greek text: Archibald Robertson, St. Athanasius: On the Incarnation (London: David Nutt, 1891), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0). Compare: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 4 (1892).
Chapter 56
56.1Robertson
Ταῦτα μέν σοι παρʼ ἡμῶν διʼ ὀλίγων, ὅσον πρὸς στοιχείωσιν καὶ χαρακτῆρα τῆς κατὰ Χριστὸν πίστεως καὶ τῆς θείας αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐπιφανείας ἀνατεθείσθω, ὦ φιλόχριστε ἄνθρωπε. σὺ δὲ τὴν πρόφασιν ἐκ τούτων λαβών, εἰ ἐντυγχάνοις τοῖς τῶν γραφῶν γράμμασι, γνησίως αὐτοῖς ἐφιστάνων τὸν νοῦν, γνώσῃ παρʼ αὐτῶν τελειότερον μὲν καὶ τρανότερον τῶν λεχθέντων τὴν ἀκρίβειαν.
Tauta men soi parʼ hēmōn diʼ oligōn, hoson pros stoicheiōsin kai charaktēra tēs kata Christon pisteōs kai tēs theias autou pros hēmas epiphaneias anatetheisthō, ō philochriste anthrōpe. sy de tēn prophasin ek toutōn labōn, ei entynchanois tois tōn graphōn grammasi, gnēsiōs autois ephistanōn ton noun, gnōsę̄ parʼ autōn teleioteron men kai tranoteron tōn lechthentōn tēn akribeian.
Let this, then, be set before you by us briefly, as an elementary outline of the faith of Christ and of his divine appearing to us, O lover of Christ. But taking your start from these things, if you read the texts of the Scriptures and apply your mind to them sincerely, you will learn from them more completely and more clearly the exact truth of what has been said.
Notes and citation
Summary: Athanasius offers this as an outline and urges the reader to study the Scriptures for fuller knowledge.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 56.1 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-56-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
56.2Robertson
Ἐκεῖναι μὲν γὰρ διὰ θεολόγων ἀνδρῶν παρὰ Θεοῦ λαλήθησαν καὶ ἐγράφησαν. ἡμεῖς δὲ παρὰ τῶν αὐταῖς ἐντυγχανόντων θεοπνεύστων διδασκάλων, οἵ καὶ μάρτυρες τῆς Χριστοῦ θεότητος γεγόνασι, μαθόντες μεταδίδομεν καὶ τῇ σῇ φιλομαθεία.
Ekeinai men gar dia theologōn andrōn para Theou lalēthēsan kai egraphēsan. hēmeis de para tōn autais entynchanontōn theopneustōn didaskalōn, hoi kai martyres tēs Christou theotētos gegonasi, mathontes metadidomen kai tę̄ sę̄ philomatheia.
For they were spoken and written by God through men who spoke of God; and we, having learned from the inspired teachers who read them, who also became witnesses of the divinity of Christ, pass it on in turn to your love of learning.
2 Pet 1:21 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Scriptures were given by God, and Athanasius passes on what he learned from inspired teachers.
- The “witnesses” (μάρτυρες) may be martyrs in the technical sense.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 56.2 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-56-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
56.3Robertson
Γνώσῃ δὲ καὶ τὴν δευτέραν αὐτοῦ πάλιν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἔνδοξον καὶ θείαν ἀληθῶς ἐπιφάνειαν, ὅτε οὐκ ἔτι μετὰ ταπεινότητος, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ δόξῃ· ὅτε οὐκ ἔτι μετʼ εὐτελείας, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ μεγαλειότητι· ὅτε οὐκ ἔτι παθεῖν, ἀλλὰ λοιπὸν τοῦ ἰδίου σταυροῦ τὸν καρπὸν ἀποδοῦναι πᾶσιν ἔρχεται· φημὶ δὴ τὴν ἀνάστασιν καὶ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν· καὶ οὐκ ἔτι μὲν κρίνεται, κρινεῖ δὲ τοὺς πάντας, πρὸς ἃ ἕκαστος ἔπραξε διὰ τοῦ σώματος, εἴτε ἀγαθὰ, εἴτε φαῦλα· ἔνθα τοῖς μὲν ἀγαθοῖς ἀπόκειται βασιλεία οὐρανῶν, τοῖς δὲ τὰ φαῦλα πράξασι, πῦρ αἰώνιον καὶ σκότος ἐξώτερον.
Gnōsę̄ de kai tēn deuteran autou palin pros hēmas endoxon kai theian alēthōs epiphaneian, hote ouk eti meta tapeinotētos, allʼ en tę̄ idią doxę̄; hote ouk eti metʼ euteleias, allʼ en tę̄ idią megaleiotēti; hote ouk eti pathein, alla loipon tou idiou staurou ton karpon apodounai pasin erchetai; phēmi dē tēn anastasin kai tēn aphtharsian; kai ouk eti men krinetai, krinei de tous pantas, pros ha hekastos epraxe dia tou sōmatos, eite agatha, eite phaula; entha tois men agathois apokeitai basileia ouranōn, tois de ta phaula praxasi, pyr aiōnion kai skotos exōteron.
You will learn also of his second glorious and truly divine appearing to us, when he comes no longer in lowliness but in his own glory, no longer in humble estate but in his own majesty, no longer to suffer but thereafter to render to all the fruit of his own cross, I mean the resurrection and incorruption; and he is no longer judged, but will judge all according to what each has done through the body, whether good or evil. Then the kingdom of heaven is laid up for the good, but for those who have done evil, eternal fire and outer darkness.
2 Cor 5:10 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 25:34 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 25:41 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 8:12 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Christ will come again in glory to raise and judge all, giving the kingdom to the good and eternal fire to the wicked.
- 2 Cor 5:10; Matt 25:34, 41; Matt 8:12.
Topics: Eschatology, Christology
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 56.3 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-56-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
56.4Robertson
Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριός φησι· λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπʼ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν Υίὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καθήμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ ἐρχόμενον ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ Πατρός.
Houtō gar kai autos ho Kyrios phēsi; legō hymin, apʼ arti opsesthe ton Uion tou anthrōpou kathēmenon ek dexiōn tēs dynameōs, kai erchomenon epi tōn nephelōn tou ouranou, en tę̄ doxę̄ tou Patros.
For so the Lord himself says: “I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven in the glory of the Father.”
Matt 26:64 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 16:27 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Jesus foretold his coming on the clouds in the Father's glory.
- Matt 26:64, combined with Matt 16:27 (“in the glory of the Father”).
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 56.4 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-56-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
56.5Robertson
Διὸ δὴ καὶ σωτήριός ἐστι λόγος εὐτρεπίζων ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐκείνην τὴν ἡμέραν καὶ λέγων· γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι καὶ γρηγορεῖτε, ὅτι ᾗ ὥρᾳ οὐκ οἴδατε ἔρχεται. κατὰ γὰρ τὸν μακάριον Παῦλον, τοὺς πάντας ἡμᾶς παραστῆναι δεῖ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ βήματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κομίσηται ἕκαστος, πρὸς ἃ διὰ τοῦ σώματος ἔπραξεν, εἴτε ἀγαθόν, εἴτε φαῦλον.
Dio dē kai sōtērios esti logos eutrepizōn hēmas eis ekeinēn tēn hēmeran kai legōn; ginesthe hetoimoi kai grēgoreite, hoti hę̄ hōrą ouk oidate erchetai. kata gar ton makarion Paulon, tous pantas hēmas parastēnai dei emprosthen tou bēmatos tou Christou, hina komisētai hekastos, pros ha dia tou sōmatos epraxen, eite agathon, eite phaulon.
Therefore there is also a saving word that prepares us for that day and says: “Be ready and keep watch, for he comes at an hour you do not know.” For according to the blessed Paul, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive according to what he has done through the body, whether good or evil.”
Matt 24:42 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 24:44 (quotation, high confidence) · 2 Cor 5:10 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Believers must be ready, since all will stand before Christ's judgment seat.
- Matt 24:42, 44; 2 Cor 5:10.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 56.5 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-56-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
Chapter 57
57.1Robertson
Ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὴν ἐκ τῶν γραφῶν ἔρευναν καὶ γνῶσιν ἀληθῆ, χρεία βίου καλοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς καθαρᾶς καὶ τῆς κατὰ Χριστὸν ἀρετῆς, ἵνα διʼ αὐτῆς ὁδεύσας ὁ νοῦς, τυχεῖν ὧν ὀρέγεται καὶ καταλαβεῖν δυνηθῇ, καθʼ ὅσον ἐφικτόν ἐστι τῇ ἀνθρώπων φύσει περὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγου μανθάνειν.
Alla pros tēn ek tōn graphōn ereunan kai gnōsin alēthē, chreia biou kalou kai psychēs katharas kai tēs kata Christon aretēs, hina diʼ autēs hodeusas ho nous, tychein hōn oregetai kai katalabein dynēthę̄, kathʼ hoson ephikton esti tę̄ anthrōpōn physei peri tou Theou Logou manthanein.
But for the searching of the Scriptures and true knowledge there is need of a good life, a pure soul, and the virtue that is according to Christ, so that the mind, journeying by it, may be able to attain and grasp what it longs for, as far as it is attainable for human nature to learn about the Word of God.
Notes and citation
Summary: Understanding Scripture requires a good life and a pure soul.
Topics: Scripture and canon, Ethics
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 57.1 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-57-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
57.2Robertson
Ἄνευ γὰρ καθαρᾶς διανοίας, καὶ τῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἁγίους τοῦ βίου μιμήσεως, οὐκ ἄν τις καταλαβεῖν δυνηθείη τοὺς τῶν ἁγίων λόγους.
Aneu gar katharas dianoias, kai tēs pros tous hagious tou biou mimēseōs, ouk an tis katalabein dynētheiē tous tōn hagiōn logous.
For without a pure mind and imitation of the life of the saints, no one could grasp the words of the saints.
Notes and citation
Summary: Only those who imitate the saints can understand their words.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 57.2 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-57-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.
57.3Robertson
Ὥσπερ γὰρ εἴ τις ἐθελήσειεν ἰδεῖν τὸ τοῦ ἡλίου φῶς, πάντως τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἀποσμήχει καὶ λαμπρύνει, σχεδὸν ὅμοιον τῷ ποθουμένῳ ἑαυτὸν διακαθαίρων, ἵνα οὕτως φῶς γενόμενος ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς τὸ τοῦ ἡλίου φῶς ἴδῃ, ἢ ὡς εἴ τις θελήσειεν ἰδεῖν πόλιν ἢ χώραν, πάντως ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον ἀφικνεῖται τῆς θέας ἕνεκεν· οὕτως ὁ θέλων τῶν θεολόγων τὴν διάνοιαν καταλαβεῖν, προαπονίψαι καὶ προαποπλῦναι τῷ βίῳ τὴν ψυχὴν ὀφείλει, καὶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἁγίους ἀφικέσθαι τῇ ὁμοιότητι τῶν πράξεων αὐτῶν ἵνα σὺν αὐτοῖς τῇ ἀγωγῇ τῆς συζήσεως γενόμενος, τὰ καὶ αὐτοῖς ἀποκαλυφθέντα παρὰ Θεοῦ κατανοήσῃ, καὶ λοιπὸν ὡς ἐκείνοις συναφθεὶς ἐκφύγῃ μὲν τὸν τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν κίνδυνον καὶ τὸ τούτων πῦρ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα τῆς κρίσεως, ἀπολάβῃ δὲ τὰ τοῖς ἀγίοις ἀποκείμενα ἐν τῇ τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείᾳ, ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν, οὐδὲ οὖς ἤκουσεν, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπων ἀνέβη, ὅσα ἡτοίμασται τοῖς κατʼ ἀρετὴν βιοῦσι, καὶ ἀγαπῶσι τὸν Θεὸν καὶ Πατέρα, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, διʼ οὗ καὶ μεθʼ οὖ αὐτῷ τῷ Πατρὶ σὺν αὐτῷ τῷ Υἱῷ ἐν ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, τιμὴ καὶ κράτος καὶ δόξα ἐς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.
Hōsper gar ei tis ethelēseien idein to tou hēliou phōs, pantōs ton ophthalmon aposmēchei kai lamprynei, schedon homoion tǭ pothoumenǭ heauton diakathairōn, hina houtōs phōs genomenos ho ophthalmos to tou hēliou phōs idę̄, ē hōs ei tis thelēseien idein polin ē chōran, pantōs epi ton topon aphikneitai tēs theas heneken; houtōs ho thelōn tōn theologōn tēn dianoian katalabein, proaponipsai kai proapoplynai tǭ biǭ tēn psychēn opheilei, kai pros autous tous hagious aphikesthai tę̄ homoiotēti tōn praxeōn autōn hina syn autois tę̄ agōgę̄ tēs syzēseōs genomenos, ta kai autois apokalyphthenta para Theou katanoēsę̄, kai loipon hōs ekeinois synaphtheis ekphygę̄ men ton tōn hamartōlōn kindynon kai to toutōn pyr en tę̄ hēmera tēs kriseōs, apolabę̄ de ta tois agiois apokeimena en tę̄ tōn ouranōn basileią, ha ophthalmos ouk eiden, oude ous ēkousen, oude epi kardian anthrōpōn anebē, hosa hētoimastai tois katʼ aretēn biousi, kai agapōsi ton Theon kai Patera, en Christǭ Iēsou tǭ Kyriǭ hēmōn, diʼ hou kai methʼ ou autǭ tǭ Patri syn autǭ tǭ Huiǭ en hagiǭ Pneumati, timē kai kratos kai doxa es tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn. Amēn.
For as, if someone wished to see the light of the sun, he would surely wipe and clear his eye, purifying himself so as to be almost like what he desires, so that the eye, having become light, may see the light of the sun; or as, if someone wished to see a city or country, he would surely go to the place in order to see it: so one who wishes to grasp the mind of those who spoke of God must first wash and cleanse his soul by his way of life, and approach the saints themselves by likeness to their deeds, so that, joined with them in the conduct of a common life, he may understand what was revealed to them by God, and thereafter, being joined with them, may escape the danger of sinners and their fire on the day of judgment, and receive what is laid up for the saints in the kingdom of heaven, “which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man,” whatever has been prepared for those who live virtuously and love the God and Father, in Christ Jesus our Lord; through whom and with whom, to the Father himself, with the Son himself, in the Holy Spirit, be honor and might and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Cor 2:9 (quotation, high confidence) · Isa 64:4 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: To grasp the Scriptures one must purify one's life and imitate the saints, so as to share the good things prepared for those who love God; the work ends with a doxology to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- 1 Cor 2:9 (compare Isa 64:4).
Topics: Scripture and canon, Eschatology, Trinity
Cite (SBL): Athanasius, Inc. 57.3 (Robertson; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-incarnatione/56-1/#p-57-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Robertson (1891); made independently of existing English translations and compared afterwards with NPNF² 4.