His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks that salvation has a material meaning, which is deliverance and rescue from enemies and distress, as expressed by Zechariah the priest in the Gospel of Luke and the deliverances of God for His people in the Book of Judges such as the deliverance by Samson.
🕊️ Second Meaning — Spiritual Salvation by Atonement
He clarifies that there is a spiritual salvation accomplished by the atonement on the cross, salvation from eternal destruction, which is linked to faith and baptism: “whoever believes and is baptized is saved.”
🌌 Third Meaning — Salvation from Matter and the Body
He points to a meaning related to salvation from the burden of matter and the material body, where the Lord will change “the body of our humiliation to the likeness of the body of glory” as mentioned in the epistles, i.e., the liberation of the person from the bonds of the material world towards heavenly glory.
🔁 Fourth Meaning — Indirect Salvation through Means
He explains that some people have a role in saving others indirectly: teaching, admonition with love, or preaching may restrain the soul and lead it to repentance so it becomes worthy of salvation. Examples from the epistles of James, Jude, and Timothy clarify that a person “saves himself” meaning he makes himself worthy of the salvation that God grants.
⚖️ Distinguishing the Means from the Doer
His Holiness affirms that the means (faith, baptism, repentance) are instruments that make the person worthy, whereas the true actor of salvation is God by the work of the atonement.
🪄 Distinguishing Types of Salvation
He differentiates between salvation from the penalty of sin (so that a person does not reach eternal destruction) and salvation from the power and bondage of sin; repentance and spiritual practice gradually free the soul from the slavery of sin.
💡 Practical Spiritual Summary
Salvation according to His Holiness includes aspects: temporary material deliverance, eternal spiritual salvation by atonement, liberation from matter toward the glorified body, and mediatory roles of people in calling others to repentance. The practical message: make faith, repentance, and baptism your means to qualify for the salvation God has provided by atonement.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Bible Terms – Salvation
✝️ First Meaning — Material Salvation
His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks that salvation has a material meaning, which is deliverance and rescue from enemies and distress, as expressed by Zechariah the priest in the Gospel of Luke and the deliverances of God for His people in the Book of Judges such as the deliverance by Samson.
🕊️ Second Meaning — Spiritual Salvation by Atonement
He clarifies that there is a spiritual salvation accomplished by the atonement on the cross, salvation from eternal destruction, which is linked to faith and baptism: “whoever believes and is baptized is saved.”
🌌 Third Meaning — Salvation from Matter and the Body
He points to a meaning related to salvation from the burden of matter and the material body, where the Lord will change “the body of our humiliation to the likeness of the body of glory” as mentioned in the epistles, i.e., the liberation of the person from the bonds of the material world towards heavenly glory.
🔁 Fourth Meaning — Indirect Salvation through Means
He explains that some people have a role in saving others indirectly: teaching, admonition with love, or preaching may restrain the soul and lead it to repentance so it becomes worthy of salvation. Examples from the epistles of James, Jude, and Timothy clarify that a person “saves himself” meaning he makes himself worthy of the salvation that God grants.
⚖️ Distinguishing the Means from the Doer
His Holiness affirms that the means (faith, baptism, repentance) are instruments that make the person worthy, whereas the true actor of salvation is God by the work of the atonement.
🪄 Distinguishing Types of Salvation
He differentiates between salvation from the penalty of sin (so that a person does not reach eternal destruction) and salvation from the power and bondage of sin; repentance and spiritual practice gradually free the soul from the slavery of sin.
💡 Practical Spiritual Summary
Salvation according to His Holiness includes aspects: temporary material deliverance, eternal spiritual salvation by atonement, liberation from matter toward the glorified body, and mediatory roles of people in calling others to repentance. The practical message: make faith, repentance, and baptism your means to qualify for the salvation God has provided by atonement.
For better translation support, please contact the center.