Attributes of Allah – Long-suffering and Forgiving
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about one of the most beautiful attributes of God — that He is long-suffering and abundant in forgiveness. He explains that God’s forgiveness exceeds that of humans because it flows from His unlimited holiness and mercy. Despite the ugliness of sin and human rebellion, God lengthens His patience and does not punish quickly, but waits to lead the sinner to repentance.
God’s Longsuffering and Call to Repentance
The Pope explains that God does not overlook sin but gives time to the sinner, for “the kindness of God leads you to repentance.” God neither forgets sin nor approves of it; He patiently waits until the heart softens. Examples include Nineveh, whose people repented after Jonah’s warning, and Israel, whom God endured repeatedly until they returned to Him.
Examples of God’s Longsuffering
The Pope cites many examples: the Samaritan woman whom Christ forgave, Saul of Tarsus who persecuted the Church but became a great Apostle, Arianus of Ansena who tortured Christians then believed and received the crown of martyrdom, and St. Moses the Black who was a murderer turned monk and saint. All these show that God’s patience is not weakness but love waiting for salvation.
The Divine Condition for Forgiveness
The Pope emphasizes that God’s forgiveness is conditioned upon sincere repentance: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” God does not forgive while sin remains. True repentance means leaving sin permanently, not temporary regret. God forgives those who forgive others, for “if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.”
Types of Forgiveness and Divine Discipline
The Pope explains that divine forgiveness does not always cancel discipline; sometimes God uses correction to reform the heart. David was forgiven but disciplined, and Solomon was forgiven but punished through the division of the kingdom. Thus, discipline is not vengeance but a spiritual tool for humility and return.
Signs of True Forgiveness
True repentance is shown through love, humility, and restitution, as Zacchaeus did. Those who love much are forgiven much, as Christ said about the woman who anointed His feet. In God meet both kindness and justice, mercy and truth, guiding humanity from sin to holiness.
Final Message
God is longsuffering and infinitely forgiving, yet He forgives only with repentance. He does not rejoice in the death of the sinner but in his return. Pope Shenouda calls us to reflect on God’s patience, be ashamed of our hardness, and hasten to repentance before it is too late.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
