Jesse Sharpe PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText ...

Introduction 18
As is the case with the Nicene Creed, there is a great deal of repetitive phrasing as the
author attempts to define both the unity and distinctiveness of each member of the Trinity,
and in this, to properly portray the completely human and completely divine being that
Jesus is. Through the reading of these three creeds, it becomes apparent how important
and how difficult it is to the Christian faith to understand the doctrine of the Incarnation.
Jesus was eternal, and yet had a beginning and physically existed on the earth at a
particular point in history. He is divine glory, and yet was able to take on flesh. He is
infinite, and yet he existed in a womb. He is omnipotent, and yet had to be nursed and
reared by a human mother. The fact that God could become human – not merely appear
human – and live in flesh is the central point of belief for Christians, yet it is also one of
the most problematic intellectually as can be seen by the attempts to define the doctrine
without falling into any heresies that would give prominence to the human or divine
aspects of the Incarnation. Calvin too uses this language when he states
‘we ought not to understand the statement that “the Word was made flesh” (John
1:14) in the sense that the Word was turned into flesh or confusedly mingled with
flesh. Rather, it means that, because he chose for himself the virgin’s womb as a
temple in which to dwell, he who was the Son of God became the Son of Man –
not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For we affirm his divinity so
joined and united with his humanity that each retains its distinctive nature
unimpaired, and yet these two natures constitute one Christ’. 22
22 Institutes, p. 482.