The Christian year restarted on Sunday with the first Sunday of advent, beginning a period of expectant hope in the second coming of Christ.

One of my resolutions this Advent is to contemplate more the incarnation through the book On the Incarnation by Athanasius (298-373), one of the most important books in church history. The reading plan is formatted to be approximately ~20 minutes total per day.

CS Lewis, in his preface to this book said “There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. […] The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds by reading old books.”

If you’re interested I invite you along for the journey!

Reading Files: 

PDF (Formatted for iPad): On the Incarnation.pdf

MOBI (Can open in Kindle or Apple Books): On the Incarnation.epub
(send to kindle: https://www.amazon.com/sendtokindle)

This is the public domain version of On the Incarnation translated by Penelope Lawson in 1944 with some archaisms removed and paragraph breaks added

Week 1:  Creation, Fall, and the Divine Dilemma (December 1-6)

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

• Mon Dec 1
  Athanasius: §§ 1-3
  Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31; John 1:1-3
• Tue Dec 2
  Athanasius: §§ 4-5
  Scripture: Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-14
• Wed Dec 3
  Athanasius: §§ 6-8
  Scripture: Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 2:14-18
• Thu Dec 4
  Athanasius: §§ 9-10
  Scripture: John 3:16-21; Galatians 4:4-7
• Fri Dec 5
  Athanasius: §§ 11-13
  Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
• Sat Dec 6
  Athanasius: §§ 14-15
  Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11
• Sun Dec 7
  Rest Day

Week 2: Death and Resurrection (December 8-14)

Prayer for the week: Blessed Lord, who has caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such a way hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

• Mon Dec 8
  Athanasius: §§ 16-18
  Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-10
• Tue Dec 9
  Athanasius: §§ 19-21
  Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-53:6
• Wed Dec 10
  Athanasius: §§ 22-25
  Scripture: John 12:27-33; Galatians 3:10-14
• Thu Dec 11
  Athanasius: §§ 26-28
  Scripture: Luke 24:1-12
• Fri Dec 12
  Athanasius: §§ 29-32
  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Romans 6:1-11
• Was Sat Dec 13
  Athanasius: §§ 33-36
  Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14; Matthew 1:18-23
• Sun Dec 14
  Rest Day

Week 3: Israel and the Nations (December 15-21)

Prayer for the week: O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may also so prepare and make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

•  Mon Dec 15
  Athanasius: §§ 37-40
  Scripture: Psalm 22:1-18; Luke 24:25-27
• Tue Dec 16
  Athanasius: §§ 41-43
  Scripture: Acts 17:22-31
• Wed Dec 17
  Athanasius: §§ 44-45
  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
• Thu Dec 18
  Athanasius: §§ 46-49
  Scripture: Mark 1:21-28
• Fri Dec 19
  Athanasius: §§ 50-52
  Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10
• Sat Dec 20
  Athanasius: §§ 53-55
  Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-18
• Sun Dec 21
  Rest Day

Week 4: Conclusion and Doxology (December 22-24)

Prayer for the week: O Lord, raise up your power, and come among us, and with great might assist us; that where, through our sins and wickedness, we are so often delayed and hindered in running the race that is set before us, your abundant grace and mercy may quickly help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

• Mon Dec 22
  Athanasius: §§ 56-57
  Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-24

Skip the remainder if you’re only interested in On the Incarnation

• Tue Dec 23 – Union with Christ
  Sinclair Ferguson: “What Does It Mean to Be ‘In Christ’?”
  Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14
• Wed Dec 24 – Ending Advent with Doxology
  Reading: Gregory of Nazianzus: Oration 38 §§ 1-4
  Oration 38 – Gregory Nazianzen 1-4
  Worship: (read / listen to the following hymn): Come Thou Redeemer of the Earth
  Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth
  Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14

More Information for On the Incarnation

Part 1 On the Incarnation (The background): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqWdq-eznY&t=1245s

Part 2 of a lecture of On the Incarnation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iME3zAA6I98&t=3s