I'm reading a writing of Athanasius for class concerning the Incarnation of Christ. He, to an as of yet unmentioned audience, indicates the purpose, meaning, and reality of the incarnation. As I read these ancient documents, I am amazed at the deep clarity of thought of those early church theologians. Here are some quotes I enjoyed.

"For His it was once more to bring the corruptible to incorruption, and to maintain intact the just claim of the Father upon all. For being Word of the Father, and above all, He alone of natural fitness was both able to recreate everything, and worthy to suffer on behalf of all and to be ambassador for all with the Father."

"...He took pity on our race, and had mercy on our infirmity, and condescended to our corruption, and, unable to bear that death should have the mastery-lest the creature should perish, and His Father's handiwork in men be spent for nought-He takes unto Himself a body, and that of no different sort from ours."

"...while it was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and Son of the Father; to this end He takes to Himself a body capable of death."

"Whence, by offering unto death the body He Himself had taken, as an offering and sacrifice free from any stain, straightway He put away death from all His peers by the offering of an equivalent. For being over all, the Word of God naturally by offering His own temple and corporeal instrument for the life of all satisfied the debt by His death. And thus He, the incorruptible Son of God, being cojoined with al by a like nature, naturally clothed all with incorruption, by the promise of the resurrection."

That's all for now. I'll probably post some more. How do these quotes affect you? What do they mean to you?