Terminology in the Holy Bible – Part 2

1. The Multiple Meanings of Words in the Holy Bible:
   His Holiness Pope Shenouda begins by explaining that many words in the Holy Bible have more than one meaning depending on the context. For example, the word “earth” does not always refer to the physical earth on which we live, but may symbolize the Kingdom of God or the land of the living as mentioned in the Psalms and the Book of Revelation.
2. Difference in Meaning According to the Position of the Speaker:
   He explains that expressions such as “bless” or “glorify” differ in meaning depending on whether they are spoken by the greater to the lesser or the lesser to the greater.
   When the greater blesses the lesser, he grants a blessing, but when the lesser blesses the greater, it means acknowledging his blessing. Thus in the Psalms: “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” meaning acknowledge His blessing, not that you are giving a blessing to God.
3. The Meaning of the Expression “Angel of the Lord”:
   Sometimes it refers to one of the heavenly angels, and at other times to the appearance of the Lord Himself in the form of an angel, as in the incident of the burning bush with Moses or in the story of Gideon and Manoah. These divine appearances were symbols of God’s manifestations before the Incarnation.
4. Clarification of Special Meanings:
   The word “firstborn” does not always mean the eldest among brothers, but rather “the opener of the womb,” as happened with the Lord Christ, who was presented to the Lord after forty days because He opened His mother’s womb.
5. Understanding “Humility” in the Language of Scripture:
   Humility does not mean only lowering oneself or having a low estimation of oneself, but it means contrition and submission before God, as the Virgin said: “He has regarded the lowliness of His maidservant,” meaning her contrition and complete submission to God.
6. Distinguishing Residence from Tribal Origin:
   The word “Ephraimite,” for example, does not mean belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, but dwelling in the land of Ephraim, as in the story of Elkanah, the father of Samuel the Prophet, who was from the tribe of Levi but dwelt in the mountains of Ephraim. Likewise, the Lord Christ was called a Nazarene because of residence, not origin.
7. Linguistic Ellipsis in the Holy Texts:
   The Holy Bible sometimes omits what is already understood implicitly, such as the saying: “Whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny,” meaning if he continues in denial and dies in his sin, not as happened with Peter who repented.
8. Examples of the Necessity of Correct Understanding:
   Words such as “kingdom” or “world” are not to be understood only literally. The “world” at the time of the Nativity referred to the Roman Empire, and the “kingdom” may mean the reign of God in the heart, the Church on earth, or the eternal heavenly glory.
9. The Symbolic and Spiritual Interpretation:
   The Pope calls for reading words with spiritual depth rather than literalism, such as “our bread for tomorrow,” which symbolizes the spiritual bread, namely the Body and Blood of the Lord, not material bread. The divine word is broader than limited human understanding.
10. A Concluding Exhortation:
    Pope Shenouda emphasizes that understanding the language of the Holy Bible is the key to sound interpretation, and that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” We must read with discernment, in the spirit of prayer, and in the light of the Orthodox faith so that we do not fall into superficial understanding or heresies.

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