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Athanasius: On the Incarnation
Archibald Robertson; NPNF2-04 (1892) · Translated text
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Section 25 Edition note 1
And thus much in reply to those without who pile up arguments for themselves. But if any of our own people also inquire, not from love of debate, but from love of learning, why He suffered death in none other way save on the Cross, let him also be told that no other way than this was good for us, and that it was well that the Lord suffered this for our sakes. 2. For if He came Himself to bear the curse laid upon us, how else could He have “becomeEdition note 2 a curse,” unless He received the death set for a curse?
and that is the Cross. For this is exactly what is written: “CursedEdition note 3 is he that hangeth on a tree.” 3. Again, if the Lord’s death is the ransom of all, and by His death “the middleEdition note 4 wall of partition” is broken down, and the calling of the nations is brought about, how would He have called us to Him, had He not been crucified? For it is only on the cross that a man dies with his hands spread out. Whence it was fitting for the Lord to bear this also and to spread out His hands, that with the one He might draw the ancient people, and with the other those from the Gentiles, and unite both in Himself.
4. For this is what He Himself has said, signifying by what manner of death He was to ransom all: “I, whenEdition note 5 I am lifted up,” He saith, “shall draw all men unto Me.” 5. And once more, if the devil, the enemy of our race, having fallen from heaven, wanders about our lower atmosphere, and there bearing rule over his fellow-spirits, as his peers in disobedience, not only works illusions by their means in them that are deceived, but tries to hinder them that are going up (and about thisEdition note 6 the Apostle says: “According to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience”); while the Lord came to cast down the devil, and clear the air and prepare the way for us up into heaven, as said the Apostle: “ThroughEdition note 7 the veil, that is to say, His flesh”—and this must needs be by death—well, by what other kind of death could this have come to pass, than by one which took place in the air, I mean the cross?
for only he that is perfected on the cross dies in the air. Whence it was quite fitting that the Lord suffered this death. 6. For thus being lifted up He cleared the airEdition note 8 of the malignity both of the devil and of demons of all kinds, as He says: “I beheldEdition note 9 Satan as lightning fall from heaven;” and made a new opening of the way up into heaven as He says once more: “LiftEdition note 10 up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors.” For it was not the Word Himself that needed an opening of the gates, being Lord of all; nor were any of His works closed to their Maker; but we it was that needed it whom He carried up by His own body. For as He offered it to death on behalf of all, so by it He once more made ready the way up into the heavens.