What you'll learn
This topic explores one of Christianity's most fundamental doctrines: the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. Understanding the Incarnation and the nature of Jesus is essential for WJEC GCSE Religious Education, appearing regularly in exam questions worth 2-15 marks. You'll examine how Christians understand Jesus as both fully divine and fully human, the biblical basis for these beliefs, and their significance for Christian faith and practice.
Key terms and definitions
Incarnation — the Christian belief that God became human in Jesus Christ; literally means "in flesh" (from Latin incarnatio)
Messiah — the anointed one; the saviour promised in Jewish scripture whom Christians believe is Jesus Christ
Son of God — the title used to express Jesus' unique divine relationship with God the Father
Hypostatic union — the theological doctrine that Jesus Christ is one person with two complete natures: fully divine and fully human
Logos — the Word of God; used in John's Gospel to describe Jesus as the eternal divine Word made flesh
Virgin Birth — the belief that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary without a human father
Christ — Greek translation of Messiah; means "anointed one"
Son of Man — a title Jesus used for himself, emphasising his humanity and linking to Old Testament prophecy
Core concepts
The biblical basis for the Incarnation
The doctrine of the Incarnation is rooted in several key biblical passages that WJEC examiners expect students to reference:
John 1:1-14 presents the most explicit theological statement: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." This passage identifies Jesus as the eternal Logos who existed with God from the beginning and became human. The phrase "full of grace and truth" emphasises both Jesus' divine nature and his role in revealing God to humanity.
Luke 1:26-38 describes the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive through the Holy Spirit. Gabriel declares the child will be "the Son of the Most High" and "the Son of God," establishing Jesus' divine identity from conception. This passage supports the Virgin Birth doctrine, which underlines that Jesus' arrival was a divine intervention rather than ordinary human reproduction.
Philippians 2:5-11 contains an early Christian hymn describing Jesus "being in very nature God" but taking "the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." This passage demonstrates early Christian understanding of Jesus' dual nature and voluntary act of becoming human.
Matthew 1:18-25 provides the other Gospel account of Jesus' miraculous conception, emphasising that Joseph was not the biological father and that Jesus fulfils Old Testament prophecy as "Immanuel" (God with us).
Jesus as fully divine
Christians believe Jesus possessed all the attributes of divinity:
Titles and claims to divinity:
- Jesus accepted worship, which Jewish law reserved for God alone
- He forgave sins, a power belonging exclusively to God (Mark 2:5-7)
- He claimed "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30)
- He used the divine name "I AM" when speaking to religious authorities (John 8:58)
Miracles demonstrating divine power:
- Control over nature (calming storms, walking on water)
- Power over death (raising Lazarus, the widow's son, and Jairus' daughter)
- Creation miracles (feeding the 5,000, turning water into wine)
- Authority over spiritual forces (casting out demons)
The Resurrection provides the ultimate evidence of Jesus' divinity for Christians. His rising from death demonstrated power over death itself and validated his claims about his identity.
Jesus as fully human
Christian orthodoxy insists Jesus was completely human, not merely appearing human:
Physical humanity:
- Born as a baby through natural gestation
- Experienced hunger, thirst, and fatigue
- Felt physical pain and bled when injured
- Died a real physical death on the cross
Emotional and psychological humanity:
- Experienced joy, sorrow, anger, and compassion
- Wept at Lazarus' death (John 11:35)
- Felt distress in Gethsemane, praying "let this cup pass from me" (Matthew 26:39)
- Experienced temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)
Social and cultural humanity:
- Grew up in a specific culture and time period
- Learned carpentry from Joseph
- Participated in Jewish religious practices
- Had human relationships with family and friends
The humanity of Jesus matters theologically because Christians believe he needed to be truly human to represent humanity and to understand human experience. The writer of Hebrews emphasises: "we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses" (Hebrews 4:15).
The significance of the Incarnation for Christians
The Incarnation carries profound implications for Christian belief and practice:
Salvation becomes possible: Christian theology teaches that only God could save humanity, but a human representative was needed to atone for human sin. The Incarnation makes both possible in one person.
God's love is demonstrated: John 3:16 states "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son." The Incarnation represents God's ultimate self-giving love, choosing to enter human suffering rather than remain distant.
Humanity is dignified: By taking human nature, God affirmed the value and worth of human life. This underpins Christian teachings on human dignity and the sanctity of life.
A model for Christian living: Jesus provides a practical example of how to live according to God's will. His teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount, offer concrete guidance for ethical behaviour.
Access to God: Christians believe Jesus bridges the gap between God and humanity. As both divine and human, he mediates between the two, making relationship with God possible.
Different Christian understandings
While most Christians accept the dual nature of Christ, emphasis and interpretation vary:
Catholic and Orthodox traditions stress the mystery of the Incarnation, accepting it as beyond full human comprehension while affirming both natures coexist perfectly. They emphasise Mary's role as Theotokos (God-bearer), honouring her as the mother of God incarnate.
Protestant traditions generally focus more on Jesus' humanity and accessibility, emphasising personal relationship with Christ. They maintain orthodox belief in the dual nature but often express it in less technical theological language.
Liberal Christian interpretations may view the Incarnation more symbolically, seeing Jesus as supremely filled with God's Spirit rather than literally being God. However, this position stands outside traditional Christian orthodoxy.
The Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) established the orthodox position: Jesus is "truly God and truly man," with two natures "without confusion, without change, without division, without separation." This formula remains definitive for most Christian denominations.
Titles of Jesus and their significance
WJEC exam questions often ask about the meaning and significance of Jesus' titles:
Son of God emphasises Jesus' unique divine relationship with the Father. While biblical language sometimes calls others "sons of God," Jesus is the Son in a unique, eternal sense. This title appears at his baptism and transfiguration when God declares "This is my Son."
Son of Man was Jesus' preferred self-designation, appearing over 80 times in the Gospels. It emphasises his humanity and links to Daniel 7:13-14, where "one like a son of man" receives eternal dominion from God.
Christ/Messiah identifies Jesus as the promised saviour. Jews expected a political-military Messiah to liberate Israel; Jesus redefined messiahship in terms of spiritual salvation through suffering.
Lord (Kyrios in Greek) was used for God in the Septuagint. Applying it to Jesus indicated early Christian belief in his divinity.
Emmanuel ("God with us") from Matthew 1:23 explicitly states the Incarnation's meaning: God dwelling among humanity.
Worked examples
Example 1: 2-mark question
Question: Give two reasons why Christians believe Jesus was divine.
Answer:
- Jesus performed miracles that only God could do, such as raising people from death and controlling nature by calming storms.
- Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion, demonstrating power over death that only God possesses.
Examiner comment: Each point clearly identifies a reason and provides a relevant example. Two distinct reasons = 2 marks.
Example 2: 5-mark question
Question: Explain Christian beliefs about the Incarnation. [5 marks]
Answer:
Christians believe the Incarnation means God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. The term comes from Latin meaning "in flesh," referring to God taking physical human form.
The Gospel of John describes this: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). This teaches that Jesus, the eternal Word (Logos), existed with God from eternity but chose to become human.
Christians believe Jesus was both fully divine and fully human simultaneously. He possessed divine attributes like the power to forgive sins and perform miracles, while also experiencing genuine human limitations like hunger, fatigue, and physical suffering.
The Virgin Birth supports this belief, as Luke's Gospel describes Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit, indicating divine origin while being born fully human through Mary.
Christians see the Incarnation as essential for salvation because they believe only God could save humanity, but a human representative was needed to atone for human sin.
Examiner comment: This answer demonstrates clear understanding with relevant references (5/5). It explains the meaning of Incarnation, provides biblical support, addresses the dual nature, and explains significance. Well-developed points with religious terminology.
Example 3: 15-mark extended response
Question: "The most important Christian belief about Jesus is that he was fully human." Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. [15 marks]
Model approach:
Arguments supporting the statement (AO1/AO2):
- Jesus' humanity is crucial because Christians believe he needed to truly experience human life to represent humanity before God
- Hebrews 4:15 emphasises Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are," which requires genuine humanity
- His suffering and death only make sense if he was truly human and could actually die
- Jesus provides an accessible example for Christian living precisely because he lived as a human
Arguments against the statement (AO1/AO2):
- Jesus' divinity is equally or more important because only God could save humanity from sin
- The resurrection, which depends on divine power, is central to Christian faith
- Jesus' divine nature enables him to be present with all Christians through the Holy Spirit
- His miracles and authority to forgive sins demonstrate that divinity is fundamental to his identity and mission
Alternative viewpoint:
- Both natures are inseparable and equally important; emphasising one over the other distorts Christian teaching
- The Council of Chalcedon declared both natures essential "without division, without separation"
- The Incarnation's significance lies precisely in combining both natures in one person
Conclusion with justified personal opinion: Most Christians would argue neither nature is "most important" because both are necessary for Jesus to fulfil his role as saviour. However, one might argue divinity edges ahead in importance because Jesus' humanity would be meaningless without his divine authority and resurrection power...
Examiner comment: A 15-mark response needs balanced arguments with religious knowledge, different viewpoints, and a justified conclusion. Reference to scripture, theological concepts, and Christian teachings throughout demonstrates strong AO1, while evaluating importance shows AO2.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Confusing the Incarnation with the Resurrection or Crucifixion. Correction: The Incarnation specifically refers to God becoming human at Jesus' conception/birth. The Resurrection is Jesus rising from death; the Crucifixion is his death. These are distinct events.
Mistake: Suggesting Jesus only appeared human or was "pretending" to be human (Docetism). Correction: Orthodox Christian teaching insists Jesus was genuinely and completely human, experiencing real physical and emotional human life, not merely appearing human.
Mistake: Writing that Jesus was "part God and part human" or became God later. Correction: Christian doctrine teaches Jesus was fully God and fully human simultaneously from conception—100% of both natures, not 50/50, and not a human who became divine.
Mistake: Failing to use biblical references in extended answers. Correction: WJEC mark schemes reward scriptural support. Learn key passages like John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-7, and relevant Gospel narratives about Jesus' birth.
Mistake: Describing the Virgin Birth as Jesus' mother being a virgin after birth. Correction: The Virgin Birth refers to Mary conceiving Jesus without a human father through the Holy Spirit. Catholic and Orthodox traditions additionally believe in Mary's perpetual virginity, but this is separate from the Virgin Birth doctrine itself.
Mistake: Not explaining the significance or importance of beliefs, only describing them. Correction: Questions using "explain" or "discuss" require more than description. Address why beliefs matter: how they affect Christian practice, understanding of salvation, or relationship with God.
Exam technique for "Beliefs and teachings in Christianity: the Incarnation and the nature of Jesus Christ"
Command words and what they require:
- "State/Give" (1-2 marks): Brief, direct answers without explanation
- "Explain" (5 marks): Developed points showing understanding with religious concepts and examples
- "Discuss/Evaluate" (15 marks): Balanced arguments, multiple viewpoints, religious reasoning, justified conclusion
Structure for 5-mark questions: Make three developed points, each containing a belief/teaching plus explanation or example. Use religious terminology and reference scripture where possible. Aim for one paragraph per point.
Structure for 15-mark questions: Introduction stating your position, 2-3 paragraphs supporting the statement with religious reasoning, 2-3 paragraphs with alternative views or counter-arguments, brief conclusion with justified personal opinion. Both AO1 (knowledge) and AO2 (evaluation) are assessed.
Maximising marks:
- Always use accurate religious terminology: Incarnation, Logos, Hypostatic union, Son of God, etc.
- Reference biblical passages by book and chapter where possible
- For "discuss" questions, avoid fence-sitting—take a position but show you understand other views
- Link beliefs to Christian practices or wider implications (salvation, prayer, worship)
Quick revision summary
The Incarnation is the Christian belief that God became human in Jesus Christ, supported by John 1:14 and the Virgin Birth accounts. Christians believe Jesus was simultaneously fully divine (performing miracles, forgiving sins, rising from death) and fully human (experiencing hunger, suffering, temptation, and death). This dual nature is called the Hypostatic union. Key titles include Son of God (emphasising divinity), Son of Man (emphasising humanity), and Christ/Messiah (the promised saviour). The Incarnation makes salvation possible, demonstrates God's love, and provides Christians with both a mediator to God and an example for living.