The theology of the incarnation

the long version

A study of the central event of Christian history. All preaching and teaching should be related to that event. Thus all doctrine may be called 'Christocentric', provided that it is understood that Christ is the way to the Father; for the event of self-communication of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If this is understood, we may say that all Christian doctrine is founded on the Incarnation. It is an event, but not an isolated event; this self-communication is further expressed in the educational work of a historical community, by which our understanding of the fact of the Incarnation has been deepened. How do the facts of life of Jesus stand in relation to the development of that commmunity and to the development of its doctrine? Consideration of this question will help show how the Incarnation is situated in theology.