The text speaks about psalm verses and scriptural passages that describe Christ with phrases combining his divinity and his humanity: such as “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” and “God has anointed you with the oil of gladness.” The speaker shows that these phrases point to the eternality of his divinity while also showing his anointing in his humanity.

The meaning of anointing and sanctification in his incarnation

He explains that “the anointing” here has two dimensions: it is a theological declaration (God who has the kingship and throne) and at the same time the anointing of his humanity by the Holy Spirit at baptism to begin a distinctive ministry as king, priest, and prophet. The anointing did not add anything to his divinity, but sanctified the human nature he took.

Relation of divinity to humanity and patristic justification

The speaker cites the prophets (Isaiah 61) and the books (Acts, the Psalms, the Epistles) and the words of Saint Athanasius to show that Christ was God before the anointing, and the anointing appeared to sanctify our human nature and make it capable of participating in the divine life.

Purpose of the anointing: sanctification of humans and participation in the kingdom

The purpose of Christ’s anointing of himself is “that they also may be sanctified in truth” — meaning that his incarnation and his sanctifying of human nature opened the possibility that we become God’s temple and receive the Holy Spirit, and share in the Father’s kingdom.

Theological and practical spiritual implications

Christ sanctified our nature while remaining united without separation between his divinity and humanity: he died according to the flesh but is alive in the divinity, and he offered the obedience of human nature as an act of salvation. The anointing also appears in ritual signs (oil, the loaves anointed with oil) to indicate the union of the Spirit with the Son.

Coptic Orthodox application

From our Coptic Orthodox perspective, the text calls us to acknowledge that the mystery of the incarnation is a revelation of God’s eternality and his gift to human nature; Christ sanctified his nature for our sake so that we can seek and receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and become sharers in the glory.

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