1 Athan. here assumes, for the purpose of his argument, the principles of the Neo-platonist schools. They were influenced, in regard to the Logos, by Philo, but even on this subject the germ of their teaching may be traced in Plato, especially in the Timoeus, (See Drummond’s Philo, i. 65–88. Bigg’s Bamp. Lect. 14, 18, 248–253, and St. Aug. Confess. in ‘Nicene Fathers,’ Series 1, vol. 1, p. 107 and notes.)
1 Especially Plato, Tim. 30, &c.
1 epibebhkenai , cf. above, 20. 4, 6. The Union of God and Man in Christ is of course ‘hypostatic’ or personal, and thus ( supra 17. 1), different in kind from the union of the Word with Creation. His argument is ad homines. It was not for thinkers who identified the Universe with God to take exception to the idea of Incarnation.
1 See Acts. xvii. 28.
1 epibainwn , see supra, note 3.
1 The superfluous pepoihkenai is ignored, being untranslateable as the text stands. For a less simple conjecture, see the Bened. note.
1 This thought is beautifully expressed by Keble :—
‘All true, all faultless, all in tune, Creation’s wondrous choir
Opened in mystic unison, to last till time expire.
And still it lasts: by day and night with one consenting voice
All hymn Thy glory Lord, aright, all worship and rejoice:
Man only mars the sweet accord” ….
(‘Christian Year,’ Fourth Sunday after Trinity.)
1 Cf. 41. 5, note 3.
1 Cf. Orig. c. Cels. vi. 64, where there is the same contrast between metecein and metecesqai .
1 Ath. paraphrases loosely Plat. Politic. 273 D. See Jowett’s Plato (ed. 2) vol. iv. pp. 515, 553.
1 Lit. “sate down”, as four lines above.
1 With this discussion compare that upon ‘repentance’ above 7. (esp. 7. 4).
1 Restoration by a mere fiat would have shewn God’s power, the Incarnation shews His Love. See Orat. i. 52, note 1, ii. 68, note 1.
1 Cf. Orat. i. 56, note 5, 65, note 3.
1 See above 28. 3. He appears not to have seen the substance.
1 Isa. xi. 9. For the arguments, compare §§11–14.
1 See Döllinger, Gentile and Jew, i. 449.
1 Col. ii. 15.
1 The Incarnation completes the circle of God’s self-witness and of man’s responsibility.