The Incarnation: God Becoming Human in Christian Theology
The Incarnation refers to the act by which the divine Son of God took on human nature, uniting it with his divine Person [1]. This concept is central to Christian thought, asserting that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human [1].
The biblical foundation for the Incarnation is found in various passages. The Apostle John states, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Other New Testament texts affirm this dual nature, such as 1 Timothy 3:16, which speaks of God "manifested in the flesh," and Galatians 4:4, noting that God sent his Son, "born of a woman" [1]. The human attributes and actions of Christ are predicated of him, yet the one of whom they are predicated is God [1]. This union is described as "hypostatical," meaning it is personal, with the two natures—divine and human—united without being mixed or confused, and this union is perpetual [1].
The necessity of Christ's human nature is linked to his mediatorial office [2]. As a mediator, he needed to partake in both divine and human realities. His human nature is evidenced by his conception in the Virgin Mary's womb (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:31), his birth (Matthew 1:16, 25; Luke 2:7, 11), and his physical experiences [2]. He partook of "flesh and blood" (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14), possessed a human soul (Matthew 26:38; Luke 23:46), and experienced human development, such as increasing in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52) [2]. Christ also exhibited human emotions and physical needs, including weeping (Luke 19:41; John 11:35), hungering (Matthew 4:2; 21:18), thirsting (John 4:7; 19:28), sleeping (Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:38), and weariness (John 4:6) [2].
The mystery of Christ's Incarnation is considered profound. John Gill describes it as a "mystery of godliness," which, though revealed and to be believed, cannot be fully comprehended by human reason [6]. Matthew Henry similarly notes that the "mystery of Christ's incarnation is to be adored, not pried into" [10]. The Incarnation is understood as God taking on human nature, not the nature of angels, specifically "the seed of Abraham" [9]. This act allowed Christ to become truly human while remaining truly divine [9].
The declaration of Jesus as the Son of God is understood not as a beginning of his divine Sonship, but as a manifestation of his eternal Sonship in the flesh [8]. His divine Sonship and deity were made evident through his power, seen in creation, providence, and his resurrection [8]. The Incarnation is also connected to the concept of new birth for believers. Just as Christ took on human nature, believers are called to become "new creatures" through faith in him [7, 3]. This transformation allows individuals to become children of God [11]. The Incarnation thus provides the basis for humanity's reconciliation with God and the hope of eternal life [5, 4].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
- 2 Corinthians “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
- 1 John “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. -- 1 John 5:20”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,.... What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical g”
- Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 33:25: His flesh shall be fresher than a child's - He shall be born a new creature. He shall return to the days of his youth - He shall be born again, and become a child of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 1:4: And declared to be the Son of God,.... Not made as he is said to be before, when his incarnation is spoken of; nor did he begin to be the Son of God, when he was made of the seed of David, but he, the Son of God, who existed as such, from everlasting, was manifested in the flesh, or human nature: and this his divine sonship, and proper deity, are declared and made evident, with, or "by" his power; which has appeared in the creation of all things out of nothing; in upholding all things in their beings; in the government of the world, and works of Providence; in the ”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 2:14: Here the apostle proceeds to assert the incarnation of Christ, as taking upon him not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; and he shows the reason and design of his so doing. I. The incarnation of Christ is asserted (Heb 2:16): Verily he took not upon him the nature of angels, but he took upon him the seed of Abraham. He took part of flesh and blood. Though as God he pre-existed from all eternity, yet in the fulness of time he took our nature into union with his divine nature, and became really and truly man. He did not lay hold of angels, but he laid h”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 1:18: The mystery of Christ's incarnation is to be adored, not pried into. If we know not the way of the Spirit in the formation of common persons, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of any one that is with child (Ecc 11:5), much less do we know how the blessed Jesus was formed in the womb of the blessed virgin. When David admires how he himself was made in secret, and curiously wrought (Psa 139:13-16), perhaps he speaks in the spirit of Christ's incarnation. Some circumstances attending the birth of Christ we find here which are not in Luke, though it is more la”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 1:12: 1:12 Only through divine renewal can people follow the light and enter God’s family (3:1-17). • Individuals must believe in Christ to become children of God (12:35-36).”