Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 2: Divine Attributes vs. Human Limitations
1. Introduction
Christian theology proclaims that God is all-sufficient—He depends on nothing and no one for His existence or function (Acts 17:25). Yet in the incarnation, Jesus Christ—fully God—entered a human womb and was carried, nourished, and birthed by Mary. This paradox presses against our understanding of divine independence. How can the self-sustaining Creator rely on a human creature to enter the world?
2. God’s All-Sufficiency
2.1 Scriptural Foundations
- Acts 17:25 – “Neither is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
- Psalm 50:12 – “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”
- Isaiah 40:28 – “The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator… fainteth not, neither is weary.”
2.2 Theological Meaning
- God is aseitic (self-existent and self-sustaining),
- He has no external needs,
- His being is independent of creation.
3. Christ’s Dependence on Mary
3.1 Scriptural Evidence
- Luke 1:31 – “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son.”
- Galatians 4:4 – “God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”
- Luke 2:7 – “She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes.”
3.2 Human Vulnerability of Christ
- Christ was conceived, carried, and delivered like all human beings,
- He depended on Mary for nourishment, protection, and sustenance,
- His body developed according to human biology, despite His divine identity.
4. Theological Resolution: Incarnation without Diminution
4.1 Hypostatic Union
- Christ was fully God and fully man (John 1:14),
- His divine nature remained unchanged,
- His human nature was real, dependent, and vulnerable.
4.2 Not Need, but Mission
- God’s dependence in Christ was voluntary, not inherent—He chose to become dependent as part of His redemptive mission (Philippians 2:7).
4.3 Divine Humility
- This paradox reflects God’s willingness to stoop without ceasing to be God (Isaiah 57:15; Philippians 2:6–8).
5. Historical Theological Perspectives
5.1 Early Church
- Ignatius of Antioch: Christ was “born of Mary” to ensure full humanity.
- Athanasius: God became dependent, not because He lacked, but because He loved.
5.2 Patristic and Medieval
- Augustine: Christ’s dependence magnifies God’s humility, not His deficiency.
- Anselm: The God-Man had to be truly man to redeem men, and truly God to offer perfect atonement.
5.3 Reformation
- Luther: God became a baby, showing unimaginable condescension.
- Calvin: Christ’s dependence fulfilled prophecy and displayed true human solidarity.
6. Clarifying the Paradox
| Divine Attribute | Apparent Contradiction |
|---|---|
| God is self-sufficient | Yet Christ depended on Mary for life and birth |
| God needs nothing | Yet God the Son required human care and sustenance |
| God is Creator | Yet the Creator was nurtured by a creature |
Resolution: Christ’s dependence as a human does not imply divine weakness, but reveals the mystery of incarnation—God entering the created order while retaining His full deity.
7. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
7.1 Deeper View of Humility
- God’s humility is not theoretical—it is embodied in Christ’s infant helplessness.
7.2 Affirmation of Human Dignity
- God’s willingness to be carried by a woman elevates the dignity of motherhood and humanity.
7.3 Encouragement in Dependence
- Believers who feel weak can rest in the knowledge that even Christ embraced true dependence (Hebrews 2:17).
8. Conclusion
The paradox of the All-Sufficient God being carried by Mary does not diminish divine majesty but enhances it. In Christ’s incarnation, the self-existent God chose to be dependent, to share in human experience, and to accomplish redemption not through display of raw power, but through submission, humility, and love.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Athanasius, On the Incarnation
- Augustine, Sermons on the Gospels
- Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Luther, Sermons on the Nativity
- Anselm, Cur Deus Homo
- Torrance, T.F., Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ