I wholeheartedly agree with C. S. Lewis.

For my own part I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that “nothing happens” when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand (13).

If devotional books leave you feeling dry, why not change it up—try some early church theology! Athanasius’ On the Incarnation is the best place to start.

Athanasius (c. 297–373) was the long-term bishop of Alexandria, a major theological centre of the early church. He is most famous for his refutation of Arius who argued that Jesus was a creation of the Father. If Jesus assumed human flesh, then how could he be God? Enter Athanasius.

On The Incarnation faces the scandal of Jesus’ human nature head on. Jesus did what was humanly impossible: ”[B]y the love for humankind and goodness of his own Father he appeared to us in a human body for our salvation” (50).

This quote brings up an important point: Christology (who Jesus is) is inextricably related to Soteriology (how Jesus saves). Athanasius underscores the significance of Jesus’ incarnation for our salvation in his famous maxim, “[Jesus] was incarnate that we might be made god” (35). This doctrine, alternately called deification or theosis, is cherished in the Orthodox tradition.

So do yourself a favour. When you’re making your New Year’s resolution to ‘do devotions’ faithfully again next year, try slipping some Athanasius into the mix. You might find your heart along with your head singing unbidden.

Athanasius, On the Incarnation. Popular Patristics Series 44b. Yonkers: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2011.