The Divinity and Humanity of Christ

The Divine and Human Natures of Christ

His Holiness Pope Shenouda answers questions about how Christ can be God and yet hunger, weep, or die. He explains that some think Christ is divinity only without humanity, while Orthodox faith teaches that the divinity and humanity are united perfectly in one nature without separation or mixture. The divine nature does not die or suffer, but Christ suffered and died in the flesh, as we pray in the Agpeya: “O You who tasted death in the flesh.”

The Unity of Divinity and Humanity

Acts of the body are attributed to Christ as a whole, since both natures are united in one hypostasis. Just as we say “the man ate” though eating belongs to the body, Christ’s human experiences belong to His whole person. The divinity never separated from either His body or His soul—not for a single moment or twinkling of an eye.

The Omnipresence of the Divinity

Even when Christ’s body lay in the tomb, His divinity was active everywhere—present in the tomb, in paradise, in the depths of the earth, and in heaven. The Pope cites Christ’s words to Nicodemus: “The Son of Man who is in heaven”, explaining that God neither ascends nor descends, for He is present in all places.

Christ’s True Humanity

For redemption to be real, Christ had to take a full human nature like ours in everything except sin, to hunger, thirst, sleep, and suffer as a real man. Without a true human body, there would be no atonement, for divinity alone cannot die or suffer.

Christ’s Prayer

When Christ prayed, it was the human nature addressing the divine, not because divinity needed prayer. His visible prayer showed people His true humanity and piety, helping them to believe in Him.

Christ’s Divine Works

Even though Christ did not explicitly say “I created” or “I am God,” His works proved His divinity:

• Turning water into wine — creating a new substance.

• Feeding thousands with five loaves and two fish.

• Creating eyes for the man born blind.
  These are acts of creation themselves.

Acceptance of Worship and Lordship

Christ accepted worship and adoration without rejecting it—from the man born blind, the bleeding woman, Jairus, and Peter. When Thomas said “My Lord and my God,” Christ approved and blessed him. If He were not divine, He would have refused worship as Paul did.

Gradual Revelation of Divinity

Christ did not declare “I am God” plainly because people could not bear such a statement—they tried to stone Him even for saying “I and the Father are one.” Instead, He revealed His divinity gradually through His miracles and words until people’s faith matured.

Further Proofs of His Divinity

• “The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father.”

• “I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”

• “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.”

• “Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
  Each phrase confirms His divine authority and eternal presence.

Conclusion

Pope Shenouda affirms that Christ is perfect God and perfect Man. His divinity never separated from His humanity even for a moment. He did not need to say “I am God,” because His deeds, words, and the testimony of those around Him were the living proof of His eternal divinity and saving work.