The Incarnation as God's First Intention : Supralapsarian Christology for Faith and Practice

Though most Christians today would describe the incarnation of Jesus as God's response to sin, this book argues that God decided to become incarnate before humans sinned. This view has implications for both the doctrine and the practice of the church.

In The Incarnation as God''s First Intention, Edwin Chr. van Driel advocates a transformative perspective on the incarnation, proposing that God''s decision to become incarnate was not a response to human sin but was instead God''s first and foundational intention. Engaging the historical and theological roots of this supralapsarian (before the fall) Christology, van Driel, a leading scholar on the topic, invites readers to reconsider long-held views on God''s engagement with creation.

With clarity and depth, van Driel unpacks how understanding the incarnation as God''s original purpose reshapes the doctrines of creation, election, salvation, and eschatology. His insights offer a fresh framework for the church''s mission in today''s world, suggesting that God''s presence with us is not merely a remedy for human fallenness but, rather, God''s first intention and ultimate goal for creation.

Written for students, theologians, and all who seek a deeper understanding of God''s relation to the world, this book challenges readers to see the incarnation, God''s dwelling among us, as God''s central purpose.