1/6. On the question of using the Incarnation as an analogy in other areas of theology. My sense is that this is not a good idea, for several reasons. But primary, in my opinion, is that the Incarnation is sui generis. It is not the primary example of a class of things.

2/6. There are certainly other areas of theology in which divine & human action need to be described in relation to each other: prophecy, effective call, sanctification, etc. But the Incarnation involves more than divine action in coordination with human action; it involves . . .

3/6. . . . the coming into being of something new ex nihilo (namely, the male pt. of human nature of the God-Man & the ssumption of that human nature into union with the eternal, divine nature of the Word). It is a new beginning in the midst of the old creation; hence unique.

4/6. It seems that the miracle of the miraculous conception points us back to the creatio ex nihilo of Gen. 1:1. Redemption occurs not simply & solely by creatio ex nihilo, but by that plus renovation & perfection. The element of creatio ex nihilo makes the Incarnation unique.

5/6. Also, the Incarnation is a mystery. Analogical use of lang moves from something within our exper. to something Divine & thus beyond our exper. We hope to find a point of analogy b/c we understand the human word or thing

6/6. Liberal theology tries to turn the Incarnation into a principle by which to understand the Divine-Human relationship in general. But this is exactly the opposite of how it is understood in Scripture. There it is unique, miraculous & an invitation to wonder & worship.