Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts

On the Incarnation or the real meaning of Christmas. Conversation with Russell Jefford & Mark Vernon


Listen Later

Christmas risks losing its meaning not only because of the commercial frenzy but because of the way it is talked about in churches.

In this conversation, Russell Jefford talks about his discovery of the understanding of the incarnation conveyed in the writings of the early church fathers. They were unknown to him as an evangelical Christian and have refreshed his love of Christianity now.

Together with Mark Vernon, they consider the iconography of the nativity. Why is Jesus born in a cave? Is that a coffin rather than a manger? They consider phrases of three key figues in particular:

St Nazianzus "He who Is, comes into being, and the uncreated is created" (Oration 38.13)

St Irenaeus "He sanctified every age by the resemblance we have with him" (Against Heresies 2.22.4)

St Athanasius "He became man that we might become God" (On the Incarnation 54)

The humanification of God enables the deification of humanity. Salvation is thought of as recapitulation, the divine sanctifying humanity through the various stages of life. The work of atonement is the work of incarnation, as both are manifestations of God, grabbing our attention as to our true nature through the life of the body. 

For more on Russell’s work and teaching days see https://ordinarytheology.com/

For more on Mark’s work see https://www.markvernon.com/

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Inner Life, Talks and ThoughtsBy Mark Vernon

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

12 ratings


More shows like Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts

View all
Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

162 Listeners

Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

Philosophy Bites

1,532 Listeners

Nomad Podcast by Nomad

Nomad Podcast

424 Listeners

Ultraculture With Jason Louv by Jason Louv

Ultraculture With Jason Louv

385 Listeners

The Sacred by Theos

The Sacred

86 Listeners

Weird Studies by SpectreVision Radio

Weird Studies

586 Listeners

This Jungian Life Podcast by Joseph Lee, Deborah Stewart, Lisa Marchiano

This Jungian Life Podcast

1,563 Listeners

The Symbolic World by Jonathan Pageau

The Symbolic World

823 Listeners

Hermitix by Hermitix

Hermitix

342 Listeners

Rupert Spira Podcast by Rupert Spira

Rupert Spira Podcast

243 Listeners

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal by Theories of Everything

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

470 Listeners

Decoding the Gurus by Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne

Decoding the Gurus

949 Listeners

UnHerd with Freddie Sayers by UnHerd

UnHerd with Freddie Sayers

225 Listeners

Sounds of SAND by Science and Nonduality

Sounds of SAND

110 Listeners

History of Philosophy Audio Archive by William Engels

History of Philosophy Audio Archive

45 Listeners