Athanasius: On the Incarnation (of the Word)
| Latin Title: | Oratio de incarnatione Verbi |
| Reference: | CPG 2091 |
| Incipit: | Αὐταρκῶς ἐν τοῖς πρό τούτων ἐκ πολλῶν ὀλίγα διαλαβόντες |
| Date: | 326-328? |
| Text: | PG 25, 96-197 Robertson, ed., “On the Incarnation. The Greek Text.” London: David Nutt, 1891. F. L. Cross (London, 1939) G.J. Ryan and R. P. Casey (London/Philadelphia, 1945-46) |
| English Translation: | Archibald Robertson, , “On the Incarnation (De Incarnatione Verbi Dei)” in NPNF2, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids, 1980), pp. 36-82. T.H. Bindley (London, 1903) Anonymous w. intro. by C. S. Lewis (London/N.Y., 1944) John Behr (Popular Patristics 44b; SVS Press, 2012) |
| Other Translations: | German: J. Fisch [= BKV Athan. 1.117-195], 1872; A Stegmann [BKV2 31.11-81], 1917. French: P.Th.Camelot [=SCH 18] (Paris, 1947) |
This work is difficult to date. It contains no references to the Arian controversy, but if it was written before the Arian controversy began, Athanasius would still have been a teenager when he wrote them. But if he wrote it afterwards, why does he not refer to the Arian controversy, especially since the treatise deals with subjects under discussion in the controversy. Barnes (Athanasius and Constantius, 13) hypothesizes that Athanasius wrote it soon after the Council of Nicaea (between 326-328), when it briefly seemed that the controversy had been resolved. According to this view, Athanasius used this opportunity to show his theological skill as he anticipated that he would succeed Alexander as bishop of Alexandria (which he did in 328). He did not refer to the controversy because Arius was in exile and refuting him would have been superfluous.
Created by MS 10/21/2015
Last updated by GLT 2/12/2025
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