Incarnation (Christianity)

In Christian theology, the incarnation is the belief that the pre-existent divine person of Jesus Christ, God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, became a human being. This happened when Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, also known as the Theotokos, which means "God-bearer" or "Mother of God" in Greek.

According to this belief, Jesus was both fully God and fully human at the same time. This idea was officially defined by early Christian leaders at important meetings called the Council of Chalcedon and the Council of Ephesus. Most Christians today hold this view as a central part of their faith.

The event of the incarnation is remembered and celebrated each year during Christmas. Another special day, called the Feast of the Annunciation, also honors different parts of this wonderful story.

Etymology

The word incarnation comes from a Latin verb called incarno. This verb means "to make into flesh" or "to be made flesh". It is based on two parts: in-, meaning "in" or "into", and caro, meaning "flesh". The verb incarno is not found in the Latin Bible, but the idea comes from the Gospel of John. In this book, it says, "and the Word was made flesh".

Description and development of the traditional doctrine

Incarnation means that the divine Son of God became a human being. Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God, but for many years, people argued about exactly how this was true. Leaders like Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr helped explain these ideas.

Important Christian statements of belief, like the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed, talk about the Incarnation. They say that Jesus was born from the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and that he was both fully God and fully human. Big meetings of church leaders helped decide what most Christians believe about Jesus. These meetings taught that Jesus was fully God and fully human at the same time, with both natures joined together in one person.

The Incarnation shows that Jesus shared in all human experiences, like feeling hungry, tired, and even facing death. This helps Christians understand how Jesus can connect with people. Some modern Christian thinkers talk about why it was important that Jesus became a human — to show God's love and to help save people.

Hymns and prayers

Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic

The idea of the incarnation has been very important in Christian history and is celebrated in many hymns and prayers. One example is from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, used by Eastern Orthodox Christians and Byzantine Catholics. It says:

O only begotten Son and Word of God,
Who, being immortal,
Deigned for our salvation
To become incarnate
Of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary,
And became man without change;
You were also crucified,
O Christ our God,
And by death have trampled Death,
Being one of the Holy Trinity,
Glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit—
Save us!

Another example is from the Divine Liturgy of Saint James, which includes a chant called "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence":

Let all mortal flesh be silent,
and stand with fear and trembling,
and meditate nothing earthly within itself:—
For the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Christ our God, comes forward to be sacrificed,
and to be given for food to the faithful;
and the bands of angels go before Him
with every power and dominion,
the many-eyed cherubim,
and the six-winged seraphim,
covering their faces,
and crying aloud the hymn,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

West Syriac Churches

The West Syriac Churches have their own special hymns for worship. They use a poetic hymn called a ma‛neetho, which praises Jesus for becoming human. It says:

I exalt Thee, Lord and King,
Only-begotten Son and Word
of the heavenly Father,
immortal by nature, Thou came down by grace
for salvation
and life for all human race; was incarnate
of the holy
glorious, pure Virgin
Mary, Mother of God
and became man without any change;
was crucified for us.
O Christ, our God,
Who by Thy death trampled and slaughtered our death,
Who are One of the Holy Trinity,
worshipped and honored with
the Father and the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us all.

Alternative views

Michael Servetus

During a time of big changes in religious ideas, Michael Servetus taught about Jesus in a different way. He did not believe in the usual idea of three parts making one God. Instead, he thought Jesus was a special way that God showed Himself, like a powerful idea or message, rather than a person who always existed.

English Arians

Some people after the big changes in religion, called Arians, thought Jesus existed in a special way before He was born. They believed Jesus was like a wise idea or word from God before He became a person.

Jacob Bauthumley

Another person named Jacob Bauthumley had a different idea. He thought God was not just in Jesus, but also lived in every person and all things.

Socinian and Unitarian

Some other thinkers did not believe Jesus was God. They thought Jesus was specially chosen by God and born to a virgin mother. They believed Jesus was truly human and could face challenges like any person.

Oneness Pentecostalism

Some groups believe there is only one God, not three parts. They think Jesus was both fully God and fully human, but that God showed Himself in different ways. They believe Jesus was God’s Spirit made human for a special purpose.

Jehovah's Witnesses

The group called Jehovah’s Witnesses believes Jesus was created by God and was not God Himself. They think Jesus was temporarily human and then returned to a spiritual form after rising again.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism)

Main articles: Mormonism and List of Latter Day Saint movement topics

People who follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe God the Father and Jesus both have real bodies. They think of God as three separate beings who work together perfectly. They believe Jesus was like other humans in many ways but also had a special connection to God.