2011

God offers himself to us through grace. As he made us exist in the first creation, he also does that again in the second creation which is the salvation completed through his son and carried to us through the Holy Spirit in the church. Apostle Paul expresses this descent of the grace on us by saying: “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men”. This means that when he ascended with his body to the heavens, he sent us his Holy Spirit that distributes to us the gifts of the Holy Trinity. The apostle confirms this meaning by saying that Christ descended to the lowest parts of the earth through his death and burial, and after that the Holy Spirit came at the Pentecost.

After the ascension of Lord Jesus, he fills everything from his grace which is the gift of holiness and the distribution of our responsibilities in the church. He made “some to be apostles”, i.e. the first twelve apostles in addition to those that he send to their local churches in order to remind these churches about God’s requirements and raise in them repentance. He made others “prophets” in the New Testament, and their role is to urge the church in order to make the love for Jesus Christ increase and guide the church to him. “Some Evangelists” that say the word of God and explain it based on the word of the Holy Book.

“Some as pastors”, this means priests or bishops that take care of the faithful through God’s word and not words according to their mood. They only say the word of God. While the “teachers”, are those that know the dogma in a coordinated and unified way. The dogma should be your base in order to be able to preach and urge people to repent.

The purpose of all this is “equipping of the saints”, i.e. the faithful that carry this name after being sanctified through Baptism, Chrismation, taking Christ’s body (Eucharist), and understanding the word. All of these together perform one service that has different forms. The group of these faithful builds Christ’s body. They are Christ’s body and his full presence in the church and society.

Paul’s saying: “till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God” means that we don’t split and don’t let anti-biblical thoughts enter the group; these thoughts are the heresies that the church refuted. If we became Orthodox, we believe in what’s said in the Nicene Creed and the teachings of our fathers, we become “a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. This means that we aspire to spiritual perfection that makes us grown as the stature of Christ, become one in him and to his measure, we become completely similar to the blessed Lord in a way that makes people see Christ when they see us.

This text is read in its relationship with the Theophany in order to say that Baptism is the beginning of a new life in Christ. It is the promise of perfection and of the appearance of the new man similar to that of Christ as we “put on Christ” in baptism in order to become like him. Also, in order to understand that baptism was not a transient ritual but a continuation of the gifts that descended on us through the Holy Spirit when we were anointed with Myron.

Translated by Mark Najjar

Original Text: “النعمة” – 9.2.2011

In his second epistle to Timothy, Paul asked from him several things in the read chapter. He asks him first to be watchful about everything; himself and the people (the parish) since the two things are inseparable. Second, he tells him to endure afflictions that include taking care of every person he is responsible for, all families… He had a lot of malaises, many diseases including one in his stomach. The third instruction was to do the work of the evangelist as Timothy had learned to preach especially when he was Paul’s secretary helping him write several epistles and the apostle assigned him for special missions in Macedonia.

The expression “fulfill your ministry” invites Timothy to perfection in ritual service in the region of Lycaonia in Asia Minor (Turkey today).

After that, the apostle goes on to talk about what he expects for himself saying: “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand”. He made himself as a sacrifice; they used to pour wine, water or oil over sacrifices in the Old Testament. The apostle expected his martyrdom; he felt that his death is near. Then he talks about himself: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith”. One phrase summarizes Paul’s life. After talking about his fight he finishes with “I have kept the faith”. Faith for Paul is the attachment to Lord Jesus especially to his death and resurrection. “We preach Christ crucified” (1Cor 1: 23). Crucifixion for him was, along with the resurrection, the whole Christian faith.

After his conviction that he has kept faith he said: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day”. This is God’s promise to the faithful that love him; this is the heritage of glory. He finishes by saying: “Not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing”. Through this word he included all those who live for the eternal life: Together they love Christ’s appearance in his second coming. The word “appearing” here invited the church to read this section of the epistle on the Sunday that precedes the appearance in the baptism of Jordan River, and the liturgical name is “The Feast of the Holy Theophany” (the holy divine appearance).

This appearance is present in the Baptism of Christ (called Theophany), and the church used to celebrate these two feasts in one day. This appearance is a preparation to the second and final one.

These words said to Timothy are words directed to every priest and bishop. Every one of us is asked to fulfill his ministry through fulfilling the sacraments, teaching, preaching and pastoral care. All of these are works that carry full presence. A clergyman can’t think that if he served liturgies, funerals and marriages then he completed his job. We do everything that -through word and practice- delivers the message of the Gospel. It is requested from everyone, especially those who are ordained, to feed the faithful through Lord’s Gospel in order to make each one of them a living Gospel so people see through him Christ’s face.

Translated by Mark Najjar

Original Text: “توصيات إلى تيموثاوس” – 2.1.2011