T. F. Torrance on John 1:14

From his Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ (IVP, 2008), 61:

(ii) The meaning of ‘flesh’

“The Word was made flesh’ – but what is meant by flesh? John means that the Word fully participates in human nature and existence, for he became man in becoming flesh, true man and real man.  He was so truly man in the midst of mankind that it was not easy to recognize him as other than man or to distinguish him from other men.  He came to his own and his own received him not.  He became a particular man, Jesus, who stands among other men unsurpassed but unrecognized.  That is the way he became flesh, by becoming one particular man.  And yet this is the creator of all mankind, now himself become a man.

He has a lot more to say about John 1:14, and it is heavy! You might want to get the book!  😉

3 responses to “T. F. Torrance on John 1:14

  1. Thanks for the quote. As usual, he is focusing on the objective reality of the person Jesus Christ. His approach to theology has been deeply helpful for me in responding to the phenomenalism that so deeply saturates faith talk. I haven’t read “Incarnation,” but it sounds like another helpful volume.

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