The Holy Bible in Our Lives
The Holy Bible in Our Lives
The Holy Bible is the Book of books—or simply “the Book.” When we say “the Book” alone, we mean the Holy Bible… It is God’s book, His word through which He speaks to us.
We consider it a great honor that God speaks to us—the One who spoke to our fathers by the prophets and, in the last days, spoke to us by His Son. The words of this Book were spoken by holy men of God, moved by the Holy Spirit, who is described in the Creed as “Who spoke by the prophets.”
This word, spoken by the Spirit—about which the Incarnate Word said:
“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life”—
is a word filled with Spirit. We understand it by the Spirit and live it; thus, it becomes spirit and life.
The Church’s Attention to the Bible
The rites of our Church give the Holy Bible the highest importance—whether in the Liturgies, the Hours’ prayers, the sacraments, or all liturgical prayers in general. The Church not only calls for the reading of the Bible but also distributes it in daily readings for the benefit of the faithful through the Katamaros, in the readings of the Liturgies and feasts. Thus, each day has its portion of the Bible.
Likewise, in the Agpeya, each Hour includes a passage from the Gospel, and the Psalms of every Hour are themselves part of the Scriptures. All the sacraments of the Church also include readings from the Bible. Even the prayer of absolution in Confession includes verses from Scripture.
We honor the Gospel greatly when we hear it in church.
We listen standing, while the deacon cries: “Stand with the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.” Before the Gospel reading, there is a special litany and incense offering. The priest prays: “May we be worthy to hear and to act according to Your Holy Gospels.” The deacon calls: “Pray for the Holy Gospel.”
When the Gospel is read, the deacon surrounds it with candles, symbolizing the Psalm’s words: “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes,” and also: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
We kiss the Gospel as a sign of our love and joy for it, for it is the Good News. The Psalmist says: “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure,” and “Your words were found, and I ate them,” for “they are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth.”
The priest carries the Gospel around the altar, symbolizing its spread throughout the whole world, in fulfillment of the Lord’s command: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
At the ordination of a patriarch, the Gospel is placed upon his head, signifying his duty to govern the Church according to the word of God—just as the king in the Old Testament received a copy of the law at his anointing to rule by it. Likewise, the man of priesthood bears a Gospel and a cross upon his chest; he lives by the words of the Gospel and proclaims them, living the redemption and endurance of the Cross.
In the Bible we also find our daily nourishment, for “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” It is the Bread of Life and food of the spirit. Perhaps this is part of what is meant by “Give us this day our daily bread.”
The man of God rejoices in the Bible: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” The word “delight” means that the commandments of God are not a burden, nor heavy, nor imposed, but rather a source of joy. His relationship with Scripture is continuous—he meditates on it day and night.
This was not said only for monks or those devoted to worship, but for everyone. The Lord said it to Joshua, a leader burdened with responsibilities, leading hundreds of thousands of soldiers and people: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night” (Josh. 1).
The Lord also said to all the people: “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deut. 6).
Some people’s speech is filled with the world’s words, while others’ speech reveals the language of Scripture. Through frequent repetition of biblical phrases, they become accustomed to its style and influenced by its language—thus, “this Book of the Law shall not depart from his mouth,” and all who hear him say, “Your speech betrays you.”
Let us teach our children to use verses of the Bible for everything they see: book, tree, pen, ground, door, table—whatever their eyes fall upon.
A child trained in this way will have the language of Scripture woven into his words and life. Therefore, he will not learn the language of sinners or the world, nor will he fall into sin.
David said: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
The word must be placed in the heart—the center of emotion, love, and feeling—not merely in the mouth. Then we will not sin, for God’s commandment becomes united with our affections. How beautiful is the Gospel’s description of the Virgin Mary: “She kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Among those who erred because they hid God’s word in their minds rather than their hearts was our mother Eve. The serpent asked her about God’s command, and she answered accurately—yet in the same moment, she broke the command and sinned.
Our holy fathers used to memorize large portions of Scripture by heart, and the Bible was evident in their lives.
May we establish competitions for memorizing Bible verses. I once told the people:
“Keep the Gospel, and the Gospel will keep you. Keep the Psalms, and the Psalms will keep you.”
By memorizing verses, we can recite them inwardly and meditate upon their meanings and depths everywhere—at home, at work, on the road, among people. Thus, we become friends with the Bible and its words; it becomes our good companion.
To memorize, repeat, and meditate on verses is a virtue—but to live them out is a greater virtue. Therefore, the Lord Jesus said: “Whoever hears My words and does them is like a man who built his house on the rock.” And in the Gospel litany, the priest prays: “May we be worthy to hear and to act according to Your Holy Gospels.”
The phrase “may we be worthy” has a deep meaning—for who are we to be worthy to hear God’s words and be entrusted with His commandments?
Before reading and practicing the Bible, we must first possess it—not only as a book on our desks at home but as one we carry constantly in our pockets. Take care to do this—especially since owning a Bible has become so easy in the age of printing. In the old days of copying by hand, it was rare and difficult to carry.
I love to see your personal Gospels showing signs of use—worn, marked, and filled with notes—clear evidence of your reading and meditation. Each page holds memories and reflections that entered your mind and heart, becoming part of your life. Read and meditate; mix the Book with your spirit and enter its depths. Do not stop at the dictionary meaning, for through contemplation you will find that a single verse is like a vast sea without limits.
As David said: “I have seen an end of all perfection, but Your commandments are exceedingly broad.”
He said this when he had only about nine books before him—yet we have the entire Bible, including the New Testament and all the prophets. Every word within it is full of depth and a treasure for meditation.
As Saint Isaac said: “Because of the sweetness of the word in their mouths, they do not wish to leave it to contemplate another.”
The Holy Bible is not only a source of contemplation but also a source of consolation.
In every state of the human soul, one finds in Scripture what comforts and satisfies the heart.
In sorrow—words of comfort; in joy—words of gladness; in distress—a solution; in troubles—peace; in despair—verses of hope.
The words of the Bible are powerful. You may read some and say to God: “Surely, Lord, You have spoken these words for me.”
Therefore, take God’s words as a personal message addressed to you—to you specifically. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” For your sake, the Spirit spoke through the prophets.
It is a message sent to you—not to the Romans or the Corinthians. When Emperor Constantine sent a letter to Saint Anthony, his disciples rejoiced. He said to them: “God—the King of Kings—has sent us many letters; why have you not rejoiced at them likewise?”
The Holy Bible is not merely a message of comfort but also a weapon.
For every sin, you can place before it a commandment, and it will weaken before you, while you gain strength from the word. How powerful is the word of the Lord—even when uttered by a little child!
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”
Satan, in the temptation on the mountain, could not withstand the word of God nor reply to it.
The word of the Lord will testify against us on the Last Day if we do not live by it.
If we had not known, we might have an excuse—but now the word of God stands before us, clarifying everything. And it was never given merely for knowledge, but for life—so let us live by it.
The word of the Lord will follow us wherever we go—it will ring in our ears and trouble our consciences if we do not act upon it. No rationalizations or excuses born of self-will can ever justify us.
Let us remember, therefore, all our relationship with the Bible: to possess it, read it, meditate on it, memorize verses, repeat them inwardly, become accustomed to its language, live by it, and turn the word into life.
The same Spirit who spoke these sacred words is able to grant us the strength to fulfill them. For the word of God is powerful and gives power to those who obey it.
Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Published in El-Keraza Magazine, Fifth Year – Issue No. 51, December 19, 1975
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