A general idea of the early church
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the first Church began in the apostolic age, and that the Gospels and Epistles were not written to provide exhaustive history but to present a salvific message that highlights Christ’s theology and human salvation.
The Nature of the Gospels and the Limitations of Historical Detail
His Holiness clarifies that the Gospels select concise events — miracles and teachings — not to display all details of Christ’s life but to prove His divinity and the salvific purpose through chosen examples and episodes.
Examples of Miracles and Differences in Accounts
He reviews examples from the Gospels (such as healing the sick, turning water into wine, raising Lazarus, and the five loaves and two fishes) and points out that many words and teachings of Christ were not written down but were transmitted by tradition.
The Special Role of the Gospel of John
His Holiness notes that the Gospel of John contains sayings and miracles not found in the other Gospels, and that John’s purpose is to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believers may have life in His name.
The Importance of Oral Tradition and the Life of the Church
His Holiness affirms that much of Christ’s teaching and the Church’s rites reached us through oral tradition and the living life of the Church which handed down these practices from generation to generation, not entirely through early written records.
Ritual Secrets and the Origin of Rites
He mentions that the Eucharistic mystery and the full rites of the Divine Liturgy were not detailed in the Gospels but are summarized in the Epistles, and that the formation of liturgical formulas occurred through the Church’s lived tradition.
The Spiritual and Educational Message
The spiritual core of the lecture: adhere to the Church’s living tradition as the means to understand what was not written, and recognize that the Gospels focus on human salvation and Christ’s divine being rather than serving as complete historical registers.
A Call to Piety and Study
His Holiness urges valuing both Scripture and Tradition, studying the Gospels with awareness to discern their theological intentions, and preserving the Church’s life as a living reference for Orthodox tradition and worship.
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