Then you must mean Christ? Did not Christ, God the Son, pre-exist Mary, or was she "with God" (John 1) during creation?
Can't you see the failure of the semantics games Rome plays?
Hoss
Bro. Hoss:
It’s interesting to me. What I’m picking up from this thread is the different ways of looking at the Incarnation that we have.
Do you know that our side’s main argument for images (I always call ‘em idols because I like watching Little Old Ladies flinch — I am going to be in purgatory a LONG time!) is that the Incarnation sort of leaked out into all creation making it possible for creatures to be pointers to the Creator?
Certainly God the Son predates Mary. Jesus, not so much, I think.
Not in the pink. I may not be back for a while.
I think my previous two replies address this issue.
Can't you see the failure of the semantics games Rome plays?
I think we sometimes take for granted our Orthodox faith and theology of the Incarnation, who Jesus is and the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
If we study the history of the Church in the early centuries we see that every other view possible - those which we now know as heresy - was taught and held sway over various parts of the Church, all done with slight variations of words. Had there not been councils to resolve these variants and controversies, to tightly define the meaning and words of doctrine, we wouldn't have the solid foundation of Orthodox faith and creeds that we have today.
Thanks very much for your post and may God bless you and yours.