“Practically, it means that Jesus conceived of creation and its complexities. Creation was his idea.” -Melick, The New American Commentary, 217.

Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul and a body. He is of the same reality as God as far as his deity is concerned and of the same reality as we ourselves as far as his humanness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these “last days,” for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness. We also teach that we apprehend this one and only Christ-Son, Lord, only-begotten – in two natures; and we do this without confusing the two natures, without transmuting one nature into the other, without dividing them into two separate categories, without contrasting them according to area or function. The distinctiveness of each nature is not nullified by the union. Instead, the “properties” of each nature are conserved and both natures concur in one “person” and in one reality. They are not divided or cut into two persons, but are together the one and only and only-begotten Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus have the prophets of old testified; thus the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us; thus the Symbol of Fathers has handed down to us.

“We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures…”

Lightbulb: What jumps out at you about this passage?

Question: What questions do you have about this passage?

Cross: How does this text relate to or anticipate Jesus and what He did for us on the cross?

Arrow: How can I apply this to my life today?

Talk Bubble: Who is someone who would be encouraged, curious, challenged by this passage?