Incarnation (Christianity) facts for kids
The Incarnation is a core Christian belief. It means that Jesus is God who took on a human body. The word "incarnate" comes from Latin and means "in the flesh." This teaching is very important in Christianity and is found in the New Testament of the Bible.
Christians believe that Jesus, who is the second person of the triune God, became fully human while remaining fully God. This means he lived as a man, experiencing life just like us, but he was also divine. The Bible, in the Gospel of John (John 1:14), says: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." This means God's divine "Word" (Jesus) became a human being.
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Jesus: Both God and Human
The Incarnation teaches that Jesus has two natures: a divine nature (he is God) and a human nature (he is a man). These two natures are joined together in one person, Jesus Christ. He is truly God and truly man at the same time. This idea is central to understanding who Jesus is for Christians.
The Holy Trinity
To understand the Incarnation, it helps to know about the Holy Trinity. The Trinity is the Christian belief that there is one God who exists as three "persons":
These three are distinct but are all one God. The Incarnation focuses on God the Son, Jesus, becoming human. The Holy Spirit is also important. For example, the Bible describes the Holy Spirit giving Jesus's disciples the power to speak different languages. This helped them share Jesus's message with many people.
Who Believes in the Incarnation?
The belief in the Incarnation is a central part of traditional Christian faith. It is held by many major Christian groups around the world. These include the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion, and most Protestant churches. While some groups have had different ideas in the past, the idea of the Incarnation is widely accepted by mainstream Christianity.
Related Ideas
- God-man (mystic): This term can refer to a divine being who takes on human form.
- Avatar: In Hinduism, an avatar is when a god or goddess comes down to Earth in a physical form.
Images for kids
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The Incarnation shown with scenes from the Old Testament and the Gospels. The Trinity is in the middle, by Fridolin Leiber, 19th century.
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The "Heavenly Trinity" connected to the "Earthly Trinity" through the Incarnation of the Son. This painting is The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities, by Murillo, around 1677.
See also
In Spanish: Encarnación para niños
