Cross Quote by St. Athanasius
““He, the Life of all, our Lord and Saviour, did not arrange the manner of his own death lest He should seem to be afraid of some other kind. No. He accepted and bore upon the cross a death inflicted by others, and those other His special enemies, a death which to them was supremely terrible and by no means to be faced; and He did this in order that, by destroying even this death, He might Himself be believed to be the Life, and the power of death be recognised as finally annulled. A marvellous and mighty paradox has thus occurred, for the death which they thought to inflict on Him as dishonour and disgrace has become the glorious monument to death's defeat.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: On the Incarnation, 4th century
Christ embraced a death others would deem terrible to demonstrate his power over death and to become the source of life for believers.
In simple terms: He chose a painful death to show he conquers death.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that suffering can reveal deeper purpose.
Themes
faith
redemption
paradox
sacrifice
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal trials
- spiritual reflection
- teaching others
- overcoming fear
- finding meaning
Key Concepts
Christology
theology
spiritual triumph
Questions to Reflect On
- How does embracing hardship change your view of purpose?
- What does this paradox teach about strength?
A Different Perspective
Some may view the narrative as mythic rather than historical, limiting its persuasive power.
![“The most recent incarnation of [Bob] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along the Watchtower" sound like a Disney tune, hosts an old-school radio show, and turns up in some unusual places, like ads for Chrysler and Victoria's…” quote by Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/734/jay-michaelson-15590_ads_the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan_17700.jpg)
