For the Word, realizing that in no other way would the corruption of human beings be undone except, simply, by dying, yet being immortal and the Son of the Father of the Word was not able to die, for this reason he takes to himself a body capable of death, in order that it, participating in the Word who is above all, might be sufficient for death on behalf of all, and through the indwelling Word would remain incorruptible, and so corruption might henceforth cease from all by the grace of the resurrection. Athanasius Of Alexandria
About This Quote

This excerpt from the book of John is a complex and somewhat technical discussion about the resurrection of Jesus, and it is difficult to summarize. However, what is clear from the text is that the Word became flesh so as to be able to die. In order for all humanity to be redeemed, Jesus would have to take on a physical body as human beings do. Therefore, he was born as a human being, and he had to experience death. The phrase “for this reason” suggests that Jesus had to take on a fleshly body in order to redeem people; we cannot redeem ourselves.

Source: On The Incarnation

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