Showing results by author "Bishoy Boshra Behnam" in All Categories

The Minor Prophets are called “Minor” because their prophecies were short, not because they were any less important. The Jews paid special attention to these Scriptures and compiled them in one Book as they have a common goal. They did tackle the dark period that the kingdoms of Judah and Israel had lived through. They covered the time before, during and after the Assyrian captivity of Israel as well as the Babylonian exile of Judah. The Minor Prophets focused on the wonderful Kingdom of God. As they reveal the vulnerabilities of all the classes of the Jewish people. They also reveal ...

The first six centuries of Christianity were colorful ones indeed. The early Church, as an extension of the Apostolic age, represents the living Bible which is practiced daily; it reveals biblical and heavenly thought. She also manifests her dogma, order, economy, and behavior as the bride of Christ and His ambassador in the world. The Church lived bearing the features of her crucified Christ, gladly and joyfully accepting persecution. These first six centuries were also characterized by councils, controversy, and heresy in the sincere quest for an understanding of the true faith. The ...

God created man in His image as the most perfect of His creation on earth. He did not plan to leave the man in Paradise alone, but to embrace him as His beloved, and to grant mankind unity with Him. God used to speak with Adam for it was written, "... and they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden." (Gen. 3:8). Similarly, God started a dialogue with the first patriarch, Abraham, to declare to him His divine plan, saying, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?" (Gen. 18:17). God, who is incomprehensible, reveals Himself, His nature, His mysteries, and His will to His ...

Inspired by Jonah’s Fast: A Patristic Meditation on Repentance and Divine Mercy In the mystery of Jonah, the Church contemplates a God who descends into the depths to save, not to destroy. This book brings together the luminous homilies of St. Jacob of Serugh, alongside the witness of the Church Fathers, to reveal Jonah not merely as a prophet who fled, but as a living sign of Christ’s descent, burial, and resurrection. The storm, the sea, the whale, and Nineveh’s repentance are unveiled as movements of divine compassion, where mercy precedes wrath, and repentance becomes a passage ...

The group of Historical Books in the Old Testament present a long history of Israel and Judah. They are: the Books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Samuel 1 and 2, from the end of Judges to the end of David’s reign. 1 and 2 Kings, from the last days of David to the start of the Babylonian Exile and the destruction of the Temple. 1 and 2 Chronicles, from the reign of Saul to the return of the people from the Exile. Ezra and Nehemiah, covering the reorganization of the Jewish community after the Exile and the Book of Esther. The Bible is not a historical record of the events in the life of a ...

Saint John Chrysostom says: [Prayer is a mighty weapon, an unfailing treasure, a wealth which is never expended, a harbor that is always calm, a foundation for tranquility. Prayer is the root and source and mother of ten thousand blessings. It is more powerful than the empire itself.] This book presents 10 prayers from the prayers of the saints: St. Ephraim the Syrian, Spiritual Elder (St. John Saba), St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine.

The fruit of keeping God's commandment, with all the heart and soul faithfully and abiding by the divine covenant, is that the believers become a special people and that God elevates His people and sanctifies them: "And that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken." (Deut. 26: 19). God elevates their names, so they are attached to His great name. Heaven and earth are astonished for the honor and the splendor they have in the Lord, and He sanctifies them to become...

To our Beloved Children: What do you know about historical books? To know the Judges' era in the Old Testament, we have to know the various historical stages from the standpoint of the salvation of mankind. 1. The creation stage: The book of Genesis talked to us about the creation to realize how God granted man authority and power to learn and explore until the modern man reached outer space. 2. The renewal stage: Since the creation was defiled, there was only one righteous family, which was Noah, his sons and their wives. God asked them to renew the world through the ark and the flood. 3. ...

The Church is the new “life in Christ,” or the "communion with the Father in the Son by the Holy Spirit,” or the enjoyment joy or partaking of the grace of God. God purchased her at the cost of Christ's Blood (Acts 20:28). Understanding the Church means perceiving the relationship between God and man, manifested in the divine plan of salvation, God's Fatherhood, the kingdom of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, the means of grace, the lessons from the history of mankind, the destiny of men etc. It is through the Church that God makes known His redeeming wisdom even to the heavenly ...

For a long time, some western writers looked to “tradition” as blind obedience to the past, a means of mechanically conveying inert thoughts and ideas. Their point of view holds tradition as a precise catalog of ancient doctrines, canons and rites, or else a museum for antiquity. Therefore, they consider the traditional church obsolete, an obscurant to modern mores, and attached to what is old simply for its antiquity. In this simple work, I would like to explain our concept to “tradition” through the Holy Bible, patristic thought and our practical church life. Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty

The grandchildren gathered around Grandma Monica on the first day of the family’s summer vacation. Young Mina said: “Grandma, we are so happy that you have decided to spend this vacation with us. We want to hear a bedtime story each evening throughout this week of your vacation!” Grandma Monica answered: “I would be glad to get together with you each evening and tell you the story of the most splendid journey in ancient history; it happened more than forty centuries ago. Can you guess which story I am talking about?” John said: “Oh! Oh! I know, you are probably referring to the ...

“DEAR GOD, HOW SWEET IS YOUR WORD?” is an illustrated book with Coptic Icons in the form of a dialog between a child and His heavenly Father about His sweet Words inspired by the Book of Genesis

I dare to talk about Divine Love, to find myself talking about 'God' Himself, because "God is love" (1 John 8:4). Thus, I challenged myself to write about matters of which I do not deserve to speak. There are no human languages, not even angelic, capable of explaining it, for no one knows Godly affairs except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). Let the Spirit of God help us to feel His presence in the depths of our hidden hearts and to open our eyes in recognition of the dimensions of unlimited Divine love. These dimensions cannot be expressed in words or letters nor measured by any ...

Christ’s resurrection is not a day that we celebrate, then ends. But it is a life with Christ, who is the resurrection. We live it all the days of our pilgrimage in the midst of our suffering, until we are released to and through Him, to dwell with Him in the Heavenly Jerusalem to enjoy the fellowship of His Glory.

Unlock the ancient wisdom of the Patristic Fathers with this commentary on the Book of Haggai. Discover how their insights reveal the deep spiritual layers of this Old Testament Book, guiding us to rebuild not just physical temples but the temple within our hearts. This volume of the series offers a profound journey into the messages of divine priority and inner sanctification. Embrace a path to spiritual renewal and joyous salvation with this compelling read.

The Bible in both its Testaments tells the story of practical divine love. It may be said that humanity occupies the center of God’s heart and mind. Man is His beloved creature and His icon, and he should have followed His example, being His divine ambassador and celestial agent on earth. Whenever I try to express my feelings about the Bible in writing, I am overwhelmed with shame. Human language fails to express our gratitude towards God’s transcendent love of humanity and every individual. I now beseech the Holy Spirit to guide us on the journey of divine love. I urge Him to ...

THE WISDOM BOOKS + Job: The believer triumphs in the Lord amid tribulations. + Psalms: Our life in the Lord is a sweet song. + Proverbs: The educated, as well as the illiterate, both need the Proverbs. + Ecclesiastes: The reality of our current world is that it is the “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. + Song of Solomon: The soul enjoys its eternal wedding ceremony without growing old! In the Poetic Books of Wisdom, the believer recognizes the spiritual concept of worship. It is a mutual relationship of love in which every emotion and talent is sanctified so that the believer would ...

Every child of God experiences the virginity of the soul, heart, and thought. He /she could be married, or be consecrated to minister and serve, or devoted to research and study, or committed to the priesthood and shepherding. In essence, virginity is the fellowship, union, and adherence to the heavenly Groom, the Lord of Glory Jesus Christ who is the object of God’s pleasure. Moreover, virginity denotes the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every sincere and earnest believer who enjoys the work of the Holy Trinity in his/her life. The writings of St. Jacob of Serugh, and his ...

Explore the depths of the New Testament through the lens of the Coptic Orthodox tradition in this commentary. That work bridges contemporary readers to the patristic era, offering a unique blend of ancient wisdom and practical guidance for modern spiritual lives. In "The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy," we delve into the heart of pastoral ministry and the apostolic spirit that shaped the early Christian Church. As St. Paul's last written words before his martyrdom, this epistle is a testament to his enduring legacy and his charge to his beloved disciple, St. Timothy. With ...

Embark on a journey through the spiritual depths of St. John's Third Epistle in this compelling volume of the New Testament Patristic Commentary Series. Rich with wisdom and practical insights, this commentary reveals timeless lessons on truth, love, humility, and faithfulness in the service of the Lord. Written to Gaius, a beloved disciple, the epistle offers a tapestry of Christian virtues exemplified by faithful hospitality, spiritual discernment, and the unwavering commitment to truth. Enhanced by the reflections of the early Church Fathers, this commentary offers a window into the ...