Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Incarnation below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that in the incarnation the eternal Son of God truly became man, uniting a complete human nature to his divine person without confusion or division. It holds that Jesus Christ is one divine person in two natures — true God and true man — as defined at Chalcedon.
Source: CCC 461–469 ↗
The Orthodox Church teaches that the Word became flesh at the annunciation, taking full humanity into union with his divinity in one hypostasis. It holds the Chalcedonian definition — one person in two natures, 'without confusion, without change, without division, without separation' — as the heart of salvation.
Lutherans confess that the Son of God assumed human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary, so that two natures — divine and human — are inseparably joined in one person, Christ. They hold that because of this personal union, the human nature of Christ shares in divine attributes, including his real presence in the Supper.
Source: Augsburg Confession, Art. III; Formula of Concord, Art. VIII ↗
The Reformed tradition teaches that the Son of God took upon himself man's nature, with all its essential properties but without sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. It holds that the two natures remain distinct in one person forever, so that Christ is truly God and truly man.
Source: Westminster Confession 8.2 ↗
Baptists teach that in his incarnation as Jesus Christ, the eternal Son was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, taking upon himself human nature with its demands and necessities yet without sin. They hold that he is fully God and fully man, the one mediator between God and humanity.
Source: BFM 2000, II.B ↗
Methodists teach that the Son of God took human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures — godhead and manhood — were joined together in one person, never to be divided. They hold that Christ is very God and very man, who truly suffered and died for our salvation.
Source: Articles of Religion, Art. II; UMC What We Believe ↗
See how the traditions compare on related topics: