Meta is Greek for “beyond.” Metaphysics literally means “beyond physics.” But whereas physics is the study of physical things, metaphysics is the philosophical study of everything. It is more than the study of nonphysical things. Metaphysics is more than the study of spiritual or supernatural things. It goes “beyond” physics and deals with being itself and beings.
There is a distinction between being as one, infinite, and eternal (being itself) and beings as many, finite, and temporal. Thus, according to Peter Kreeft in Part II of his book Philosophy, we have three subdivisions of metaphysics:
- General Metaphysics, about being in general or all being
- Special Metaphysics of the finite and temporal being, or the cosmos, which is cosmology or philosophy of nature
- Special Metaphysics of the infinite and eternal being, or God, which is philosophical theology or natural theology
Incarnation is from Latin for “in flesh.” The Christian doctrine of the Incarnation teaches that Jesus is the incarnate Logos/Word of God. “In the beginning was the Logos/Word, and the Logos/Word was with God, and the Logos/Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. And the Logos/Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14).
If Jesus is the Word become flesh, then is he defined by the Word of a divine nature or the flesh of a human nature? Metaphysically the answer is not either/or but both/and, because Jesus is both human and divine. A low Christology emphasizes his human nature. A high Christology emphasizes his divine nature. However, a balanced Christology properly emphasizes both the Word and the flesh.
~Boethius~