Quote in context
Athanasius on God becoming human
Athanasius of Alexandria · On the Incarnation 54.3
“He was made man that we might be made God.”
Plain English
Athanasius is summarizing the purpose of the incarnation. The Word becomes human so humanity can share, by grace, in the life of God.
Why it matters
This became one of the most compact statements of patristic deification.
Who said it
Athanasius of Alexandria
c. 296 – 373 · Born in Alexandria · Egypt
Athanasius spent forty-five years as bishop of Alexandria and was exiled five times for refusing to compromise on the divinity of Christ. When the empire wanted unity-at-the-cost-of-doctrine, he chose doctrine and lost everything. He's why the creed says Jesus is 'one in being with the Father' rather than something fudgier. His short book On the Incarnation is the simplest, sharpest answer ever written to 'why did God become man,' and the reason C.S. Lewis insisted every modern Christian read at least one old book a year.
Book of the day
On the Incarnation
Athanasius of AlexandriaA reading pick tied to today's figure, quote, era, or event. Short, readable, and central: why God became man, written from inside the Nicene fight.
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