On The Incarnation 3

Study Guide Questions for Sections 11-19

If you are looking for the beginning of the study for Athanasius’ On The Incarnation then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Virtue vs. Vice, Deception

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. In what way did God not leave man “destitute?”

2. What is the first means by which God gave man knowledge of himself?

3. “Being again foolish,” what did mankind do rather than know and worship God?

4. What are two other means by which God has made himself known to mankind?

5. What did Athanasius say could come from “knowing the law” of God and obeying it?

6. What analogy did Athanasius use to explain why God would not simply allow humanity to reckon “others to be their makers?”

7. What alone did Athanasius say could restore to mankind the true knowledge of who the Father is?

8. What analogy did Athanasius use to illustrate how the incarnation of the Word could renew the “in the image” in man?

9. What did Athanasius say a “good teacher” always does?

10. How did the Word incarnate demonstrate himself to be greater than:

    1. Creation:

    2. Human Beings:

    3. Demons/gods:

    4. Dead Heroes of the Poets:

11. According to Athanasius, why did the Word “not immediately…complete the sacrifice on behalf of all” after coming into the world in human form?

12. What did Athanasius say is “the function of the soul?”

13. What kind of things did the incarnate Word do to demonstrate that he had “a real and not illusory body?”

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. What did Athanasius mean by saying “human beings are able to learn from humans more directly about higher things?”

2. Why couldn’t the “in the image” be restored “in any other way” than the incarnation of the Word? 

3. What did Athanasius mean by saying, “For he [the Word] was not enclosed in the body, nor was he in the body but not elsewhere?”

4. What was Athanasius trying to communicate when he wrote, “he [the Word] himself did not suffer when the virgin gave birth, nor by being in the body was defiled, but rather he sanctified the body also. Nor, being in all things, does he partake of all, but rather everything bore life and was nourished by him?”

5. In sections 18-19 Athanasius makes an inductive argument that it was the “Power and Word of God” accomplishing the works that Jesus did and no mere product of human power. How many lines of evidence (premises) did he offer in support of this conclusion and what are they?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Athanasius said that God gave man his law so that “knowing the law” he may begin “living the life of virtue?” What is the relationship between law and virtue? Why is it necessary to have law in order to be virtuous? What can we infer from this about the role knowledge plays in living a virtuous life? In light of these things, what is one thing we should do to help us pursue virtue?

2. Athanasius uses numerous analogies in his writing. What is the purpose of using analogies? Do you think analogies are effective as a method of teaching? Why or why not?

3. So far we have seen two different “divine dilemmas” (one in this lesson and one in the previous reading). How is it that God, being all powerful and all knowing, could even find himself in a dilemma at all? Do you think God was truly in a dilemma or not? Explain your answer carefully. 

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read 2 Corinthians 3. How does this passage relate to what Athanasius taught about God’s law and the need for the incarnation?

2. Read John 14:1-14. What connections should we make between this passage and our current reading assignment?