Trinity later accepted by the church. Athanasius may have been banished as many as seven times in his lifetime. He died peacefully in his own home. Through the centuries he has had his detractors as well as his supporters. It is generally recognized, however, that he made an enormous contribution to the early church. Considered by many one of the great masterpieces of patristic writing, The Incarnation of the Word of God is an apology for the incarnation. The text