From Spirit to Flesh

[Sacred_Heart_1]

If it is possible that Jesus manifested himself, being God, manifested himself in the flesh then it is also possible that the Father and Holy Spirit can manifest themselves in the flesh. The Church would probably consider this heresy, however, who are they to limit the power of God?

 

[edward_george]

“They” are the teaching authority of the Church, entrusted with the deposit of faith which was handed down by the apostles. I suppose it is possible that the Father and the Holy Spirit could have become incarnate, but the fact is that they didn’t. If the Church says as much, it’s not limiting the power of God, it’s simply declaring the truth of what is. It’s not limiting God if we don’t sign off on a hypothetical. Asking “who are they” to call something heresy is like asking “who is the referee to tell me how to play football?” The referee has a job, namely to make sure the game stays within the bounds of what’s been handed down as football. If we fail to follow the laws of the game, we aren’t really playing football. And if we go outside of the bounds of what has been revealed by Christ to the apostles and handed down by them, then it is not really the truth that we believe. The magisterium of the Church exists to safeguard what is handed on as true, not to make up new things or pass on their own opinions.

Notice too that the language with which the Incarnation is described is never that of necessity, what God had to do (as this would place limits on his sovereign will), but rather the language of what was most fitting.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[GEddie]

Our LORD became a human being, fully bodied.. This is unique for all eternity and is not just a “manifestation.”

ICXC NIKA

 

[Hatikvah]

Our LORD became a human being, fully bodied.. This is unique for all eternity and is not just a “manifestation.”

ICXC NIKA

Some of the more syncretic Gnostic Christian cults believed that Jesus was just one of many “manifestations” of Divinity in order to combat the Demiurge. So it does have a heretical historical precedent, as well…

The Father and Holy Spirit could “manifest” Themselves in the flesh, but why would that happen? Our Lord has fulfilled His duty in such a matter, and now all that need to happen is the Last Judgment and the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth. Can’t wait for that!

Also, if another Person of the Trinity were to have “manifested” themselves, there would be an imbalance. If the Father was to become a man, the Son would have precedence over Him while He’s not using His attributes of the God nature.

That’s not right. And what would the Son have said at the Father’s baptism? “I am your Son and today You have begotten Me?” The Father is a Father and the Son is a Son; that is how it has been for all eternity, and this is how it will always be. God does not change.

It’s just… against the nature of our Trinitarian God for such a thing to happen.

 

[hasantas]

Jesus was just a man and that is all. So do not overstrain that argument.

And you say Jesus incarnated so could not Father and Holy Spirit do? That imply as if there are distinct three gods. NO!

 

[Bob_Crowley]

If it is possible that Jesus manifested himself, being God, manifested himself in the flesh then it is also possible that the Father and Holy Spirit can manifest themselves in the flesh. The Church would probably consider this heresy, however, who are they to limit the power of God?

I’ve always been curious who the three “men” were who appeared to Abrahanm at the Tree of Mamre. The claim is made that God appeared to Abraham at the start of the passage, and then moves on to three men.

However for all intents and purposes, they simply materialised on the spot, whereas Christ went the whole way from being a fertilised ova to a foetus to an infant, young adult and finally a man. He grew up in a human home, lived in a human community, worked at a trade, went to the Synagogue like any good Jew, and did all those things that count as human (and specifically a Jewish human) on a day to day basis for thirty years or so.

 

[GEddie]

Jesus was just a man and that is all. So do not overstrain that argument.

And you say Jesus incarnated so could not Father and Holy Spirit do? That imply as if there are distinct three gods. NO!

I’d tread lightly amigo. The forum is not a venue for promoting non-Christian theology.

ICXC NIKA