Why God Became Man — Athanasius on the Incarnation

Athanasius's thesis is famous: the Word became man so that we might be made divine. He reads John 1:14 as the divine remedy for human corruption and death, Athanasius — On the Incarnation.

The logic is soteriological: only the Creator can renew the image he made, so only God incarnate can save. Gregory of Nazianzus — Theological Orations, and Irenaeus — Against Heresies.

This deification theme connects to the image of God in Gen 1:27 and to the glory shared with believers in Rom 8:29-30. Council of Nicaea — Nicene Creed.