THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

Over the past few days I have been participating in an interesting conversation with Bill Vallicella, the Maverick Philosopher, and others about God's incarnation as Jesus Christ.  Specifically, the Maverick raised the issue of whether or not there is a contradiction in Christ being a person who is both mortal and immortal.

Christian, in particular Catholic, teaching is that the Incarnation is a mystery.  In other words, full knowledge of the Incarnation is beyond human reason, so belief in its truth ultimately requires faith.  However, for a mystery to theologically pass muster, it cannot be refuted by reason.  Hence, the Maverick's query as to whether the mystery of the Incarnation embodies a logical contradiction.

Your humble correspondent has argued that Christ is a divine person -- i.e., God -- who had appeared on Earth in human substance -- i.e., with a human body and soul.  So long as it is possible for God to manifest Himself with human substance, there is no contradiction with that substance being mortal while his divine person remains immortal.

Check out both the Maverick's articles on this topic and the comments following them here, here, and here.