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

The Books of the Prophets were written during the Dark Age in the history of the Jewish people. God sent His prophets to deliver His message fearlessly before kings, priests and ordinary people. God proclaims His love of mankind by bestowing the gift of prophecy on His children. The essence of prophecy is to reveal God’s secret thoughts and plans for His children. Prophecy is highly esteemed and occupies nearly one third of the Bible. Scholars traditionally divide the Books of Prophets into Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) and Minor Prophets (the rest of the Books of ...

The Church Fathers often address the role of the Baby of the manger in the lives of the believers, which transforms us into a joyful bride that through her heavenly Bridegroom (Jesus) can resist the forces of darkness, sin, evil, and Satan himself. St. Jacob of Serugh was the one who had pictured the reaction of the kingdom of Satan to the Birth of this glorious Child. St. Jacob of Serugh recorded a memoir depicting in his deep spiritual sense, his rich imagination, and his intriguing style, a serious meeting revolving around the Baby of the manger. The attendees of this gathering are all ...

Upbringing children is a holy task; and whoever violates this duty is guilty of somehow committing the crime of child murder. This book deals is talking about: 1. BRINGING UP CHILDREN IS A SACRED TASK! 2. PREOCCUPATION WITH THE CHILD’S EARLY UPBRINGING 3. CHOOSING A CHILD’S NAME 4. GUIDING THE CHILD TO THE HOLY BIBLE 5. ENTRUST YOUR CHILD INTO GOD’S HAND! 6. GOD IS HIMSELF INVOLVED IN THE UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN 7. APPRECIATING THE CHILD’S WORTH AND TALENTS 8. WARNING AGAINST PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT 9. TEACHING AND TRAINING A CHILD ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITIES 10. TEACHING BY EXAMPLE 11. ...

This book presents answers to the following questions: * Why does God permit earthquakes to happen? * What is the role of the divine Providence in the midst of these destructive natural disasters? * What is the significance of earthquakes in the Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments? * What is the position of the church towards the victims?

This book is a message of comfort and consolation. The mystery of death is in the beauty of the transition to meet our Beloved Jesus; whom we see now through faith; however, through death we’ll see Him face to face. Jeremiah contemplated upon His Beloved Lord and sang: “The Lord is my portion says my soul” (Lamentation 3:24) and the psalmist also said “I am continually with you; You hold me by my right hand; You will guide me with Your Council and afterward you’ll receive me to the glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon the earth that I desire besides You.”...

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 ...

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. ...

Who can imagine that someone comes back home rejoicing, after bidding farewell to a son or a dear friend at the airport, because his son or friend has left town? But what amazes us is that the disciples and whoever with them, who went back from the Mount of Olives after the ascension of whom they got attached to, and very much loved and left everything for, they came back to Jerusalem with great joy (Lk.24:52). They have watched the most marvelous and splendid scene that humanity has ever seen since its creation. The new Adam spreads out his hands to bless them, rising in defiance to ...

“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

THE CHURCH AS AN ICON OF HEAVEN The epistle of St. Paul the apostle to the Ephesians is similar to an invitation given to each believer to be taken up to the third heaven, so we can elevate our hearts and say with St. Paul: "I know a man in Christ… whether in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a one was caught up to the third heaven… He was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words which it is not lawful for a man to utter" (2 Corinth 12:2-4). What did he see but the Church, the pledge of the Heavenly Jerusalem, people's ...

These are the two wondrous parades; one visual here on earth in which we ought to share in the sorrow like the apostle who said, “weep with those who weep” (Epistle to Romans 12:15), and another which is in heaven proclaiming the joy of the salvation of every man and his peaceful passing from the world to live as a partner with the glories of Christ, the Lord. St. Anthony the Great says: [Death, for those who understand it, is immortality; but for the fools who don’t understand it, it is mere death. We shall not fear this death; rather we should fear the death of the soul, which is ...

In great sweetness and honest feelings, St. Jacob of Serugh recorded for us the moments of Jesus’ ascension as a unique event that shook Heaven and earth. On that great day, the Lord Jesus Christ met with His Church at the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12), raised His hands and blessed her (Luke 24:50) to enjoy the guarantee of the heavens. And while she was kneeling in front of Him, He raised his hands toward Heaven. This is why St. Jacob stands in amazement, trying to record for us these moments so we can share them. He sees the incarnated Son approaching, the heavenly Groom, holding the lost...

Rediscover Divine Love and Holiness with Malachi "The Book of Malachi" stands as a divine beacon, concluding the Old Testament of the Holy Bible with a powerful declaration of God's unconditional love for all of humanity. This work is a call to authentic worship, a stirring invitation to return to God through sincere repentance, opening the way for anyone to join in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That volume explores the historical and societal contexts that shaped Malachi's words, revealing the challenges a community grappling with disillusionment and spiritual neglect faces. He ...

At the beginning of a new year, many believers start revisiting their spiritual lives to confess their sins which is excellent! But unfortunately, some of them forget the positive side of their relationship with Christ when it comes to their thoughts, hearts, words, actions or even their dreams. For example: Are our hearts and minds always thinking of Christ? Are we joyful amid tribulations and hardships? Are we enjoying the kingdom of God within our hearts? Do we have a relationship with the saints and angels? Do we ask God to guide us on the way of truth? What is our role with those who ...

Delve into the depths of early Christian leadership and spirituality with "A Commentary on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus". This epistle, penned by the apostle Paul, is not just a theological discourse but a vibrant call to live in Christ, applicable to all believers in their daily walk. Saint Paul brings to the forefront the essential aspects of Christian shepherding, highlighting the ordination of church leaders and their role in the community. He presents a simplified yet comprehensive portrait of pastoral care that is as relevant today as it was in the nascent days of the ...

Step into the spiritual wisdom of the beloved Apostle, St. John. John. This New Testament Patristic Commentary Series volume delves into the timeless truths of love, truth, and vigilance against deceit, offering a pathway to deepen their relationship with Christ and His Church. In this commentary, the gentle yet powerful voice of St. John the Beloved resonates, calling us to abide in love that springs from the truth—Christ Himself. This epistle, uniquely addressed to a “chosen lady and her children,” reminds us of the unity and equality we share in Christ, who unites us beyond ...

If the life of Jesus, our Lord, has ended with His death on the cross or His burial in the sepulcher, which is not possible, because in Him is the power of the resurrection and life and thus it is impossible for corruption to grab hold of Him. His mission would have failed and the cross would have not been able to reveal God's true and active love for mankind, able to forgive the sins and raise the dead. Hence, the life of Jesus, our Lord, on earth would have become a mere humane story recorded by history, and the cross would have been considered a disgrace, and the disciples would have ...

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 ...