21. Many at this day think of the Lord only as of an ordinary man like themselves, because they think only of His Human and not at the same time of His Divine; when yet His Divine and His Human cannot be separated. "For the Lord is God and Man; and God and Man in the Lord are not two, but one Person; indeed, all together one, as the soul and body are one man." This is according to the doctrine prevailing throughout the whole Christian world and received from its Councils, called the Athanasian Creed. Therefore, lest any one should henceforward separate in thought the Divine and the Human in the Lord, I entreat him to read the passages quoted above from Luke, as well as the following from Matthew:
The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph; but before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.... Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth her first born Son: and he called His name Jesus. Matt. i 18-25.
From these words, as well as from the relation of the Lord's nativity in Luke, and from the other passages adduced above, it is evident that the Son of God is Jesus, who was conceived of Jehovah the Father, and born of the Virgin Mary, concerning whom all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
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