The Holy Bible
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses the study of the Holy Bible in this lecture, explaining its different divisions, the history of its books, and the importance of studying, understanding, and memorizing it. The Holy Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament, and it includes the books of the Law, historical books, prophetic books, and books of wisdom and poetry. His Holiness explains the books of the Old Testament, including the five books of Moses, the historical books, the books of the major and minor prophets, and books of wisdom such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
The New Testament includes the four Gospels, the Book of Acts, the Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. His Holiness explains that these divisions overlap, as some books contain historical events, prophecies, and symbols at the same time.
Spiritual Message
His Holiness emphasizes that the Holy Bible is full of prophecies, references, and symbols that speak about the Lord Jesus Christ, and that understanding these symbols and prophecies requires study and attention. He also explains the importance of the Holy Bible in the life of the Church, in prayers and church readings, and in the teachings and interpretations of the Church Fathers. He points out that the Bible’s spread throughout the ages, its presence in ancient translations, and its references in the writings of the Fathers and church books all demonstrate the importance of studying its history and texts.
Educational Lesson
His Holiness explains the original languages of the Holy Bible, noting that most books of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew, while most of the New Testament was written in Greek. He also discusses ancient translations, including the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament and the Coptic, Latin, and Syriac translations. He explains that the division of the Holy Bible into chapters and verses was introduced later to facilitate studying and referring to the texts. He also encourages the use of Bible dictionaries, concordances, and commentaries to gain a deeper understanding of different verses and subjects.
Practical Application
His Holiness encourages everyone to pay attention to the Holy Bible, study it deeply, and memorize its verses and stories, especially those that teach virtues such as love, faithfulness, courage, and patience. He recommends using biblical verses in ministry so that teaching is based on a clear biblical foundation. He also encourages studying Christian doctrine through the Holy Bible and making use of libraries and specialized references to understand it. He emphasizes that knowing and memorizing the Holy Bible helps a person strengthen their faith and deliver effective spiritual teaching founded on the Word of God.
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