Your Latin Lesson for Today: Cur Deus Homo - Henry Knapp

Because of the prominence of the Roman Empire for centuries in Europe, the Latin language underlies much of our modern speech. Scholars have estimated that nearly 70% of English words have Latin roots, meaning, so far, that 30 of the 50 words you’ve read can be traced back to the language the Romans spoke. And, unlike English which has morphed significantly through the centuries; Latin stayed largely stable for years.  The Latin Jesus heard from the Roman soldiers was remarkably similar to the Latin of centuries earlier and later into the medieval times. Which meant that a Latin speaker from Jesus’ time would have understood the phrase, Cur Deus Homo.

 Late in the twelfth century, more than 900 years ago, the Archbishop of Canterbury in England wrote a short book, entitled, Cur Deus Homo, or “Why God Became a Man.” Anselm of Canterbury was a master philosopher and theologian in the church, defending the faith against secular intrusion; and following his death, was quickly canonized (made a saint). Much of late medieval thinking follows the pattern of teaching Anselm formulated, and his impact remains present in philosophy even today. However, his strongest influence is found as he asked the question: “Why did God become a Man?” Anselm was asking the question we all should ask around Christmas time—why did Jesus come to earth? Why did God come to Bethlehem as a baby?

As in our time, Anselm was struck by the lack of reflection upon the gift of Christmas. People knew that Jesus was born, they recognized that it was an amazing thing, yet they had little understanding of why it was important. The fact that God was present on earth, that He became human, was easily acknowledged; but the reason why God did so, why God became Man, was not clear. Anselm launched into this gap, seeking to clarify why Christmas happened.

In Cur Deus Homo, “Why God became a Man,” Anselm focuses on two great truths:

• Only man ought to pay for his sins, but he cannot.
• Only God can pay for sins, but he ought not.

Here is the great dilemma—we are the guilty ones, but we cannot do anything about it. God, on the other hand, has the ability to do all things, yet He should not have to fix anything. Those that should, can’t.  He who can, shouldn’t. Understanding this dilemma, Anselm concludes:

> Since only man ought to pay for sin, and only God can, payment must be made by a God-man.

Christmas, then, is necessary so that someone might be found who both should pay for sin and who can pay for sin, that is, the God-Man.

All of which drives home the core point—Jesus came from heaven to earth for the purpose of accomplishing that which we desperately need (payment for sin), but that only God can offer. The God-man, Jesus Christ, the one born in Bethlehem, justly celebrated each Christmas, our Savior. He could do that which we could not, and He willingly paid the price for our salvation. To embrace Jesus as your Lord is to recognize our need for a Savior, and His willingness to fulfill that role. What a Christmas Gift!

Join us this Sunday for worship as we explore the reason that Jesus is the reason for the season.

 1. Read Matthew 20:28. The context of this verse deals with Jesus’ disciples discussing their status in His coming Kingdom. How does this shed light on Jesus’ statement?

 2. What does it mean, “to serve”? How does this connect with the following phrase, “to give His life…”?

 3. What does it mean to “give your life”? Is the only way to understand that, “to die”? What else might be involved?

 4. Jesus gives His life as a “ransom.” What all does that entail? Ransom from what?

 5. Who benefits from Jesus’ life? What does the text say? Why is that important?

 6. When through your life has Jesus’ gift of His life impacted you? Why have you experienced His “payment of ransom”? What does that look like?