Messianic Teachings Translated into English by His Holiness

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day the bread of our need, and forgive us our offenses as we have also forgiven those who have offended us. Bring us not to trial, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible; And (we believe) in one Lord Jesus Christ: the son of God, the Only Begotten, the First Born of all created. Begotten of His Father before all worlds and not made: Very God of Very God: of one essence with His Father by Whose hands the worlds were established and everything was created; Who for us
men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and became man and was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary; He suffered and 'was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate. He was buried and He rose again on the third day as it is written and ascended into Heaven and sat down on the right hand of His Father. And He shall come again to judge the dead
and the living.  And (we believe) in one Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who proceedeth from the Father, the life-giving Spirit:  And (we believe) in one Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church: 

And we confess one Baptism for the remission of sins: And the resurrection of our bodies and the life for ever and ever. Amen.

• 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods besides Me. 
• 2. Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and
  fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto thousands generations of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. 
• 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. 
• 4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord in made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
  wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. 
• 5. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 
• 6. Thou shalt not kill. 
• 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
• 8. Thou shalt not steal. 
• 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 
• 10. Thou shelf not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his
  man-servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his: ass, nor anything that is thy neighbors. 

The Summary (essence) of the Ten Commandments

Hear! Oh Israel! the Lord our God is one
Lord, and thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart; and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment: And. the second is like to it; namely this, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 

(Matt. XXII: 37-40; Mark XII: 29-31)

• 13. Q. How many Gods are there?
  A. There is only one God.
• 14. Q. Can you recite a verse in proof of this ?
  A. Yes. "Hear, Oh Israel! the Lord our God is one Lord." (Deuter. 6:4, 5; Mark 12:29, 30)
• 15. Q. What is another name of God?
  A. It is " Holy Trinity. "
• 16. Q. How many qnumy are there in this Holy Trinity ?
  A. Three. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• 17. Q. If so, are there not three Gods?
  A. No, there is only one God. But this is a great mystery which we cannot understand or penetrate at present; but which will be revealed afterwards.
• 18. Q. Are these three qnumy of the Holy Trinity equal?
  A. Yes. They are all equal in might, power and glory (Isa. 6:3), because they are only one
  single God. All of them are from the first and without a beginning (Psl. 90:2).
• 19. Q. Do these three qnumy command anything which collides or contradicts one another?
  A. No, because they are not three Gods. Being only one God there is only one will. Therefore, there is no room for a collision or contradiction between their orders.
• 20. Q. Do you believe " one God in three" and "Three in one?"
  A. Yes.
• 21. Q. Is there any example to prove this?
  A. Yes. There are many.
• 22. Q. Give one with proof?
  A. Sun. It has matter, light and heat; but it is only one sun.
• 23. Q. What is another name of God?
  A. Jehova.
• 24. Q. What is the meaning of the word 'Jehova'?
  A. "The giver", i.e., a liberal giver.

• 25. Q. What is the name of the first Qnuma of Holy Trinity?
  A. God, the Father.
• 26. Q Why is He called by that name?
  A. He is called so for He is the Father of Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
• 27. Q. How is this?
  A. The Son was born of Him, before the world, without a beginning.
• 28. Q. Did the Father exist before the Son and is He greater than Him?
  A. Among men it is so, but not so with God.
• 29. Q. How could it be thus ?
  A. Because Father, Son and Holy Spirit are without beginning and the Three together are one God.
• 30. Q. State an example to show this ?
  A. Take the example of the sun itself. There are light and heat with the matter.
• 31. Is there any evidence of this in the Holy Bible?
  A. Many. "I and my Father are one." Besides this, Christ again says, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me." (John 10:30, 14:10).
• 32. Q. Is God the Father only, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?
  A. No; in a way He is the Father of all men, and especially of Christians.
• 33. Q. How is this?
  A. He re the Creator of all men (Mala. 2:10), but Christiana are born of God by Holy Baptism (Gala. 4:5, 7}.
• 34. Q. By what designation is God known in the Creed?
  A. Father Almighty.
• 35. Q. If so, Are not Son and Holy Spirit Almighties?
  A. Yes. All Three are equal and each One is Almighty.
• 36. Q. What other designation is there in the Creed for God?
  A. "Maker of all things visible and invisible."
• 37. Q. Tell the names of some of the invisible creations of God?
  A. The good angels, the souls of men and satan who is the evil spirit.
• 38. Q. Say some of the visible ones?
  A. The world, men, beast, etc.
• 39. Q. ls God completely good?
  A. Yes. God is completely good.
• 40. Q. Are all the creations good?
  A. No. Many from the Angels became bad. All men are sinners.
• 41. Q. How did these Angela become wicked?
  A. They became proud and revolted against God and tried to become His equals. It is because
  of this the Holy Bible warns us* that we should not self exalt ourselves and fall like Satan. (Luke 18:14; I Thim. 3:6, etc. )†
• *The name SATANA (Satan) is a compound noun constructed from
  the aramaic verb "L'MISTA" which means to go astray.
• † The angels lived in heaven in all pomp and glory and were
  ignorant of their origin. When they heird the sound of the order
  "Let there be light" (Gen. 1:3) which Moses, the foremost among the prophets, has recorded in his Book of Creation, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, they thought that, as they were light (Psl. 104:4, Heb. 1:7 ), the one who issued that order "Let there be light" must be the One who created them. Accordingly, they began to worship Him.
• 42. Q. Were all the creations good at first?
  A. All were good when God created them (Gen. 1: 31). But after this, some from the creation
  of their own free will became bad (Jude 6).
• 43. Q. Whom did God create before; everything?
  A. He created the angels.
• 44. Q. Are the angels possessed of bodies?
  A. No, they have no body.
• 45. Q. What does the Bible say of them?
  A. It says, “He maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire" (Heb. 1:7; Psl 104:4).
• 46. Q. Are there many angels?
  A. Yes. There are.
• 47. Q. Has the Bible said anything about their number?
  A. Yes. They are described as 'thousand thousands and ten thousand ten thousands' (Dan. 7:10 etc.).
• 48. Q. Are there only so much?
  A. No. This is the usual expression in Bible to denote a great number.
• 49. Q. Into how many groups arc these innumerable hoats of heaven divided?
  A. They are divided into nine groups.
• 50. Q. Can you give the names of all these nine groups ?
  A. Yes. (1) Krowy (Cherubim), • (2) Srapy (Seraphim ), (3) Motwy ( Thrones ), (4) Khayly (Hosts), (5) Shultany (Dominions), (6) Marawatha (Powers), (7) Arcos (Principalities), (8) Rabbai Malakhy (Arch angel), ( 9 ) Malakhy (Angels).
• 51. Q. With what have these groups been identified by the Fathers of the Church?
  A. They have been identified with the nine orders of the priest- hood of the true Church. (We may learn more of this in the 8th chapter).
• 52. Q. What. do the angels do?
  A. They adore and serve God without ceasing.
• 53. Q. What do they do to men?
  A. They help men and often let them know the will of God.
• 54. Q. If so, do they not belong to the servant class?
  A. No. It is not as we men understand “the servant class." But it is written of them
  "Are they not all. ministering spirits sent forth in the service of those who shall inherit life everlasting” (Heb. 1:14).
• 55. Q. In what ways are they ministering spirits?
  A. They are ministering spirits in various ways; the most important of them are:
  1. They submit the prayers of saints before God. (Rev, 8:3, 4).
  2. They escort (carry) the souls of dead believers to Paradise (Luke 16:22).
  3. They will be reapers on the Judgement Day (Matt. 13:39).
• 56. Q. Can you give the names of some people who had been helped by the angels?
  A. Yes. I can say. Though our Lord Jesus Christ was full God and full man He was helped at the time of trouble ( Matt. 4:11, Luke 22:43).
• 57. Q. Anybody else?
  A. Yes. Little children like ourselves are helped by angels (Matt. 18:10).
• 58. Q. Has any of the adult people received help from them?
  A. Yes. Even Simo Peter (Acts. 12:7).
• 59. Q. Can you mention the names of some people
  to whom the angels made known the will of God?
  A. Yes; 1. Abraham (Gen. 12:1, 2; 17:2,8; 22:11,. 12).
  2. The mother of Samson (Jud. 13:3-5).
  3. Zacharia, the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20).
  4. The Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
• 60. Q. Why did God create you?
  A. God created me that I may love Him for ever, to Serve Him, to minister unto Him and to worship Him.

• 61. Q. Who is the second, qnuma of the Holy Trinity?
  A. The second qnuma of the Holy Trinity is the Son, God. 
• 62. Q. Is He known by this name only?
  A. No. He is called by various names. 
• 63. Q. Can you mention the important ones among them?
  A. Yes. (1) The Son of God, (2) The Son of Man, (3) Lord, (4) The Word of God, (5) Messiah or Christ, (6) Jesus, (7) Emmanuel, meaning 'God with us', (8) the only Begotten Son of God. 
• 64. Q. Why is He called 'the Son of God?
  A. He is called 'the' Son of God' because He was born of the Father before all worlds and because He is Very God of Very God. 
• 65. Q. Can you prove this from the Holy Scriptures?
  A. God the Father Himself testifies that "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased". (Matt. 3:17; PeaL 2:7). 
• 66. Q.Why is He called 'the Son of' Man'?
  A. He is called 'the Son of Man’ because He assumed the complete nature of Man and became a true man. 
• 67. Q. Is it right to call Him "the Lord"?
  A. Yes, Without a shadow of doubt. He is Almighty just like the Father and is the King of all the creations. (Acts 2:34, 36;
  Matt. 22:42-45; Ephe. 1: 20-22). 
• 68. Q. 'We call Him " the Word of God." What does it prove ?
  A. Just as: a man's words reveal his secret thoughts, He reveals to us the deep thoughts of the Father "No man "hath seen God at
  any time; the only Begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,  He hath declared Him," and such other things are written about Him. (John 1:1, 2, 18; Heb. 1:13). 
• 69. Q. How did He do this?
  A. He did this in secret by the creation of the world and in the Church of Jews hy Prophecies, but in these last days to us by His Son. (Heb. 1:1,2). 
• 70. Q. What is the meaning of the word 'Messiah' or 'Christ'?
  A. That means 'the One Anointed'
• 71. Q. Why is He called thus?
  A. He is so called because He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to be our prophet, priest and king. It is written about Him "...........God,
  thy God, .hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Psl. 45:7; Acts 10:38). 
• 72. Q. How do you know that this is said about Messiah ?
  A. I know this because our Lord Jesus Christ Himself has said so (Luke 4:18, 21, 22). 
• 73. Q. Why is He called 'Eshoo' or 'Jesus'?
  A. It was the Commandment of God the Lord. (Luke 1:31; Matt. 1:21) Besides, just as Joshua (Esboo Bar Noon) saved the Israe-
  lites and made them inherit Canaan, He also saves us from our sins and admits us into heaven. 
• 74. Q. Is He not called 'Emmanuel'† meaning 'God with us'?
  A. Yes. He is called Emmanuel. 
• 75. Q. Why is He called by this name?
  A. Because He truly took our human nature (Phili. 2:6, 9; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23). 
• 76. Q. What is the reason for calling Him 'the Only Begotten Son of God'?
  A. The Father has not begotten another son. It is written: ".......God so loved the world
  that He gave 'His only Begotten Son' that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3 :16). 
• 77. Q. But did you not once assert that we too are sons of God, the Father?
  A. But it is in another way. Our, Lord is of one nature with His- Father and we are sons only by adoption.
• 78. Q. How could you prove this?
  A. Christ has never said to His disciples "Our Father", but has always used the terms 'My Father and your Father' (John 20:17). 
• 79. Q. How is our Lord designated in the Nicean Creed?
  A. He is therein called 'Very God of Very God'. 
• 80. Q. What is the meaning of 'Very God of Very God'?
  A. That means true God, born of the Father, equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit and at no time an incomplete God. 
• 81. Q. Can you prove this from Scriptures?
  A. Yes, Christ says 'I and my Father are one in accord' (John 10:30), "My Father is in Me and I am in Him " (John 10:38) and " he
  who sees Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). 
• 82. Q. Has there been a time when there was no Son?
  A. No, Never, The Son is everlasting (infinite) just like the Father and the Holy Spirit. 
• 83. Q. How do you know this ?
  A. It is written as His Holy words that "I am Alap and Tow, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Rev. 22:13), and
  that "I am Alap and Tow, the beginning and the ending says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty"
  (Rev. 1:8). Besides those, it is recorded about Him that, "In the beginning was the "Word" and the like (John 1 :1-5). 
• 84.Q.Is Christ (Messiah) Almighty?
  A. Yes, Christ is Almighty (I Cor. 8:6) for He is God and not like other people, but in His own strength He worked miracles. 
• 85. Q. Is the Son also the Creator?
  A. Yes, It is written about Him "Everything came to be by His hand; and without Him not even one thing came to be of what was
  created" (John 1:3). 

† Aramaic original "Amman-Hoo-Eel".

• 86. Q. Who is the, father of our human race?
  A. Adam, the first man, he is the father of human race. 
• 87. Q. Who created him, God the Creator of all?
  A. Yes, God the Creator of all created all things, and He also created Adam, father of our race. 
• 88. Q. Was Adam also created in the manner that the animal kingdom was created?
  A. No, animals were formed from natural elements, namely, earth, water, air and fire, but by God's command Gen.1.20-24. But Adam
  He created in His own image (Gen. 3:27). 
• 89. Q. Since Adam was created in God's image, does it mean that God has the appearance, image and human limbs?
  A. No, for since God is living Spirit, invisible and intangible, he has nothing in common physically with man. 
• 90 Q. Then why do the Scriptures say that God created him, in His own image, since God is Spirit, invisible and intangible, while man
  is corporeal, visible and tangible?
  A. As afore-stated, God is one nature in three qnume, in this symbol of the Holy Trinity, God created Adam, namely, human nature with three distinct attributes, that is, mind, speech and life. In these three attributes man is the image of God and God is like man. 
• 91. Q. Then is it a fact that Adam was created differently from animals?
  A. Yes, Adam in the attributes of life was created like an angel, namely, with an immortal soul (Matt. 10:23). But his body was mortal, for he is earth and unto earth will he return (Gen. 3 :19). 
• 92. Q. Where was Adam created, in what country and what place ?
  A. He was created, in Eden:- "God planted a garden in Eden and placed Adam whom he formed (moulded) in that paradise (Gen. 2:8). And He commanded him to rule over all the animals" (Gen. 1:25-28). 
• 93. Q. Then God gave Adam authority to rule over all His other earthly creatures?
  A. Yes, but on the condition that he would not fall into sin of pride as did a class of angels who aspired to become equal with God, their Creator, and, therefore, fell from their glory and became satan. Therefore, God placed Adam under law, so that he may not presume there was none else above him, and forget his Creator. 
• 94. Q. What law did God decree to Adam?
  A. God the Creator from the very beginning placed His creation under natural law, to know, to love and to respect Him from all their heart and all their mind, and in like manner, He placed Adam under the same law, so that he may not err and forget God, his Creator. 
• 95. Q. What law did God decree to Adam?
  A. A very simple law, namely, He commanded him to eat of all the fruit-bearing trees in paradise, but not to eat; of'the tree of knowledge
  of good and evil (Gen, 2:17). 
• 96. Q. Did Adam observe the command?
  A. No, his wife Eve first ate, of the fruit and she made Adam also eat thereof (Gen. 3:6-13). 
• 97.Q. What punishment did God decree to Adam for disobeying His command?
  A. In breaking God's command Adam committed sin, and the decree was death to him and to his descendants. He was expelled from paradise, for since he had sinned he could not remain in that holy place. 
• 98. Q. Did Adam also harden His heart against God as did satan?
  A. No Adam confessed his sin, and repented with r sorrow saying: “The woman whom you
  gave to be with me, she gave of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat” (Gen. 3:12.).
• 99. Q. Does that mean that though Adam confessed and repented his sin, yet God did not forgive him?'
  A. No, God is the source of mercy and is always willing to listen to a true repentant and to forgive his offenses and his sins, He, therefore, in His goodness and great mercies promised redemption and forgiveness to the
  descendants of Adam by the dispensation of the second Adam, his son in the flesh. 
• 100. Q. Who is the second Adam by whom God promised to effect this forgiveness and salvation for the children of Adam?
  A. The second Adam is Christ, the Son of God as it is written: "For the law was weak through the weakness of the flesh, so God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, in order to condemn sin by means, of His flesh (Romans 8:3.), and (He) abolished in his flesh the enmity (sin).....(Ephe. 2:15). 
• 101. Q. Where from did the Word of God take flesh whereby He suffered sorrow and death for the salvation of the race of the first Adam?
  A. He took it from the race of, the first Adam, namely, from the Virgin Mary, the daughter of David and daughter of Abraham, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, man was moulded in the bosom of the Virgin Mary, and the Word of God dwelt in and united
  with man which was in the flesh and thereby suffered; death for the salvation of mankind. 
• 102. Q, Does that mean that the Word of God which is the Son of God, the Father was sent for the salvation of Adam and his descendants from the sin committed in breaking the first command of God?
  A. Yes, by the first Adam we became mortals, and by the “last Adam a quickening spirit" (I. Cor. 15:45). And as we have put on the
  likeness of him who was from the earth, likewise we shall put on the likeness of Him who was from heaven (I. Cor. 15:49). In the words of St. John the Apostle: "He who believes in the Son has life, and he who shall not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God shall remain on him" (John 3:36). 
• 103. Q. Does this, then mean that by M'shikha (Messiah) the last Adam, the children of the first Adam obtained eternal life?
  A. Yes, Christ said: "I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). He also promised us inheritance in the kingdom of God, His Father (John 1:12; Gal. 4:5-8; Born. 8:15-17).

• 104. Q. Who is God, the Word?
  A. He is God, the Son, who is the second qnuma of the Holy Trinity. 
• 106, Q. What did God, the Son do for us in these last days ?
  A. He became a true man like us and was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Holy Virgin Mary. 
• 106. Q. What is the meaning, of the word 'dispensation'?
  A. 'Dispensation' means that God, the Word, the second qnuma of the Holy Trinity, took to Himself the very body and the (Very soul of man, i.e., took to Himself the complete nature of man and became a true man. 
• 107. Q. Did He exist before He became man?
  A. Yes, Even before the world, everlastingly He was with the Father and the Holy Spirit by complete divine nature. 
• 108. Q. Why did God, the Word become man?
  A. It is confessed in the Creed that 'for us men and for our salvation' and is written in the Holy Scriptures 'to save His people from their sins' (Matt. 1:21). 
• 109. Q. Was He not Almighty?
  A. He is for ever and everlastingly Almighty. 
• 110. Q. If so, why did He need to do this in a frail human nature?
  A. It is written about this that '........by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin' and that 'as by one man's disobedience
  many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous' (Rom. 5:12-19). Again, 'Both He that sanctifieth
  and they who are sanctified are all of one Heb. 2:11,5-18 & the like. 
• 111. Q. What does Scripture say about the dispensation of God, the Word?
  A. The Scripture says that God, the Son, who was for ever and ever with the Father and the Holy Spirit assumed true human nature
  and was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary. 
• 112. Q. Did God, the Word, by His dispensation take the very body and the very soul of man ?
  A. Yes, Just like one of us He took the very human body and the true soul and in His\human nature he enjoyed and endured pleasure and adversities like one of us. 
• 113. Q. If so, did He become just like one of us ?
  A. Except in sin, He became a real man just like one of us,
  114. Q. Then' did God and man become one?
  A. Yes, That person is called 'the only Son', 'the
  Only M'Shikha (Messiah), Eshoo (Jesus), etc. 
• 116. Q. What do you understand by the name 'Messiah (Christ)'?
  A. I understand that the word the God, and the true humanity assumed by Him is the self same person. 
• 116. Q. How many natures do you admit in Jesus Christ?
  A. I confess that there are two natures in Christ; the one divine and the other human, in two qnume and one person. 
• 117. Q. Is not God infinite and immortal?
  A. Yes, That is quite true. 
• 118. Q. Then how is this?
  A. Mar Bawai, one of the greatest Fathers of the Church, says in his famous '*Brikh Khannana’: In His Godhead begotten of the Father, without beginning before all time,
  and in His manhood born of Mary, in the fullness of time in a united body, neither His Godhead is of the nature of the mother, nor His manhood of the nature of the Father. The natures are retained in their qnume, in one person of one Sonship. And as the Godhead is three qnume one essence, so the sonship of the Son, is in two natures one person. So the Holy Church has learnt to profess in the Son who is the Messiah. 
• * A Syriac hymn used on all Sundays from the first Sunday of Soobara till Dinkha, namely, from the beginning of the yule season, twenty five days before Christmas to Epiphany. The word Soobara in
  Aramaic means literally 'good tidings', hence the season of good tidings.
• 119.Q. If so, are there two Messiahs—one divine and the other human?
  A. No, Messiah is only one. "Messiah, the Son of God, who is worshipped by all in two natures is only One" (Brikh Khannana), He who was with the Father and the Holy Spirit everlastingly; the only begotten Son who became man by taking human nature, the only Messiah, was always one. 
• 120. Q. Cite an example to prove this.
  A. As the body and soul together is only one man, so God and man united is one Messiah, who is the Son.
• 121. Q. How was this Messiah born?
  A. Blessed Virgin Mary, by the order of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and after nine months, the period of conception, brought forth Messiah, the Son of God and the Son of David (Luke 1:26-38; Matt. 1:18-26;
  Luke 2:1-7; Matt. 2:1-15, etc.). 
• 122. Q. Can we, therefore, designate Mary 'Mother of God' or 'Theotokos'?
  A. No, It is neither right nor proper.
• 123. Q. Why is it not right to call her so?
  A. Because she did not bring forth God who is Spirit. 
• 124. Q. Then whom did she bring forth?
  A. She brought forth the Messiah who was at once both true God and true man. 
• 126. Q. Was the ever Virgin Mary truly of the human race?
  A. Yes, She was truly a woman. She too was born of man and woman just as we are born of man and woman. We sing in the anthem "Min Beeth Dawid"* that the Creator selected the Virgin from the House of David and Abraham and caused His mysterious power to dwell in her. She, by the power of the Holy Spirit, conceived and gave birth
  to Messiah, the Judge of the Height and the Depth. 
• 126. Q. Is there anybody who worships her because she gave birth to the Son of God?
  A. There is a Church which worships her. They adore and serve her as if she is a Goddess. 
• * (An anthem song during the Evening Prayer (Ramsha) on all alter nate Wednesdays). 
• 127. Q. Why did Word the God, become man?
  A. As have answered on a former occasion (vide question 90) it is written in the Holy Script, "to save His people from their sins"
  (Matt. 1:21) and we confess in the Creed "for us men and our salvation". 
• 128. Q. Is this salvation necessary for all men?
  A. Yes, It is necessary for all men. 
• 129. Q. Is Virgin Mary also included in this salvation?
  A; There is no doubt that she too is subject to this salvation because she too was born of flesh and blood just like us. She too has admitted this truth Luke 1:46-48
• 130. Q. What deserving designations have the Holy Fathers of the Church given to the Ever Virgin Mary?
  A. They call her 'The Ever Virgin', 'Second Heaven', 'The Arc of Light', 'The Mother of Light and Life', etc. 
• 131. Q. Was man pure when he was created?
  A. Yes, All the creations of God were good at first. 
• 132. Q. Then how is it that man fell into sin?
  A, God did not compel Adam and Eve to remain in their purity. He endowed them with free will and the knowledge of good and evil & freedom to choose. Satan, by his tricks, deceived them to select evil and to stand against God as he himself had once done Gen. 3:1-5.
• 133. Q. What did Adam and Eve do by obeying satan?
  A. They committed sin.Because of this all mankind became sinners. 
• 134. Q. What was the punishment of sin?
  A. It was death. We should all undergo the bodily (worldly) death; without a remission
  of our sins, we shall have to endure the eternal death; for it is written: The wages of sin is: death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). 
• 135. Q. How can you escape eternal death?
  A. Jesus Christ will save us from this if we repent of our sins. It was for this purpose He became man and gave up His life on the cross. 
• 136. Q. What did Christ do on this earth?
  A. In this world Christ preached the Gospel, worked miracles and built the Church. 
• 137. Q.What did Christ do to save us?
  A. It is written that "........He bore all our sins, and lifted them with His body on the cross, that we being dead to sin, should live through His righteousness." (1 Peter 2 :24). 
• 138. Q. Could this have been done by an ordinary man?
  A. No, None but Messiah, who was true God arid true man, could atone for the sins of man before God. 
• 139. Q. Was it only for the remission of our sins that God the Word, became man?
  A. No, But He became man that we may even become holy again as Adam and Eve weren't first.
• 140. Q. Can men be completely holy?
  A. It is not possible in this world because all of us are sinners. But, by grace the Messiah grants us, we can become holy in a greater
  degree and after this world, can become complete and in his likeness. 
• 141. Q. Can you cite any scriptural verse about it?
  A. Yes, It is written: "My beloved, now we are the sons of God, and as yet it has not been revealed what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be in His likeness; for we shall see Him as He is" 1 John 3: 2; Rom. 8:29 & such other verses. 
• 142. Q. Can you prove from the Bible that Messiah is a true man?
  A. Yes, Our Lord Jesus was a child just like any one of us. “Jesus increased in his wisdom and His stature" (Luke 2:52); "He
  fasted and hungered" (Matt. 4:2); He was wearied as we are wearied and 'was sorry’ as we are sorry (John 4 :6; Matt. 26 : 38); He rejoiced (Luke 10:21); He thirsted on the cross (John 19:28); He was buried and he rose as we shall arise (Mark 15:46;16:9). From these and others, it is quite evident that Christ had, just like us, a true human body and a true human soul. 
• 143. Q. Why should Christ be both God and man at once?
  A. He who was at once both God and man in order that he might be a mediator between God. and man and atone for our sins. 
• 144. Q. Is salvation possible by other men or can others save us?
  A. No, Let it be known to all that there is no salvation by any other but by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is said, "There is no salvation by any other man for there is; no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:10, 12) and that "in the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, of those on earth and those under the earth" Phili. 2:10
• 146. Q,. What do you learn from the duel nature of Christ?
  A. First we learn that He is our predecessor as he is man and that He showed that even man can vanquish satan. Secondly, we learn that. He being God will grant, us grace to defeat satan again and that He himself is able to save us and will save us. 
• 146. Q. Was our Lord Jesus without the slightest tinge of sin or completely spotless?
  A. Yes, "He did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2: 22). 
• 147. Q. Was our Lord tempted like us?
  A.Yes, "He was in all points tempted like as we are and yet without sin" (Heb: 4:15). 
• 148. Q. Mention an instance where our Lord was tempted?
  A. When satan came to Him while in the desert (Matt. 4 : 1-11). 
• 149. Q. Has our Lord been tempted at any other time?
  A. Yes, All His lifetime when in this world He was tempted. He says to His disciples "You are they which have continued with me in my temptations" (Compare verses
  Luke 22:28; 4:13, etc.). 
• 150. Q. Was our Lord ever defeated by temptation?
  A. No, He never yielded to temptation, and thereby. He set an example, for. us to do likewise. 
• 151. Q. What benefit do we derive from His temptations?
  A. "For in that He himself has suffered, being- tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted" (Heb. 2: 18). 
• 152. Q. Did our Lord submit Himself to death of His own free will?
  A. Yes, Just as Isaac submitted himself, as desired by his father, to be a burnt offering, our Lord too gave Himself to death of His own free will (Gen. 22:2-9; Psa. 40:6-7). 
• 153. Q. Was it possible for Christ to escape death if He had a desire to do so?
  A. Yes, He said to Simon Peter "Do you think that I cannot ask of My father and He will now raise up for Me more than twelve legions of Angels?" (Matt. 26:53; John 10:17-18). 
• 154. Q. What is the meaning of the word 'death'?
  A. Its meaning is he separation of the body and soul from each other
  155. Q. Did our Lord Jesus truly die?
  A. He died in His manhood; because His body and soul were separated from each other. But neither did His Godhead leave His soul when in Sheol, nor His body in the tomb, for it is written it would neither be left nor would it be corruption Psa16:10; Acts2:27
• 166. Q. How did our Lord die?
  A. We confess in the Creed that "He suffered and was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate." 
• 157. Q. Why did He die?
  A. He died on our behalf to save us from our sins. 
• 158. Q. Why was He nailed to the wood (crucified)?
  A. Because it was the most cursed of all deaths. It is written of Him "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming accursed for our sakes: for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a cross"
  (Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:23). 
• 159. Q. What did Christ do on the cross?
  A. He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sake. 
• 160. Q. Is cross a cursed thing now?
  A. No. It is now an honourable one since Christ took off its curse. Therefore, as the sign of our salvation, we take pride in the
  cross and venerate it. Even St. Paul, the Apostle, prides "but aas foe me, I have nothing on which to boast, except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I crucified
  unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). 
• 161. Q. Can you state some miraculous signs, which took place at the death of Jesus Christ?
  A. Our Lord "Jesus cried with a loud voice, and the end came"Mark 15:37 From the sixth hour there was darkness over the land, until the ninth hour" (Matt. 27:45);
  "Immediately the door curtains of the temple were rent in two from the top to the bottom; The earth quaked and the rocks split and the tombs were opened and the bodies of'a great many saints who were
  sleeping in death rose up and they went out and after His resurrection, they entered into the Holy City and appeared to a great many'' ( Matt. 27:45, 50-55) and many such other instances. 
• 162. Q. What do these signs signify?
  A. These signify that Jesus Christ even while dying on the cross, in His humanity, was true God. 
• 163. Q. How long did the body of our Lord stay in the tomb?
  A. It remained in the tomb for three days only. 
• 164. Q. What did Christ do these three days?
  A. He went to Sheol and preached to the souls imprisoned in Sheol. (1 Peter 3:19). 
• 165. Q What is Sheol?
  A. Sheol is the place where the souls of the departed ones await resurrection.

• 166. Q. When did our Lord rise from the dead?
  A. He rose the third day after the crucifixion. 
• 167. Q. What is the meaning of the word "Resurrection?"
  A. That means that our Lord reunited His body and soul together. 
• 168. Q. Which body and soul did He reunite?
  A. He reunited the body and soul He had before His death. 
• 169. Q. Can you prove that He had the same body and soul even after His resurrection?
  A. Yes, He showed His pierced hands, legs and sides to St. Thomas, the Apostle, and others (John 20:20, 27, 30) 
• 170. Q. Was there any change in His body after the resurrection?
  A. Yes, His body had a great glory; His disciples did not recognize Him (John 21:4,12);
  Jesus entered into the room where
  they sat, while even the doors were locked. (John 20: 19-26) and such other incidents are recorded. Even our bodies too will be glorious in the resurrection if we live in accordance with Christ's commandments. 
• 171. Q. But, even before His death, did He not walk on the sea, and was he not transfigured on the mount? Did He not then work various miracles?
  A. Those incidents were only the signs of the glory which He had in Himself always. This glory was hidden before resurrection; but we see it clearly now. 
• 172. Q. How many days did Christ live on earth after His resurrection?
  A. He lived on earth for 40 days after His resurrection, i.e., till He ascended into heaven. 
• 173. Q. What did He do these forty days?
  A. He taught His disciples to build the Church. "After He had suffered, with many wonders during the forty days, while
  appearing to them and talking with them concerning the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) It is so written.
  174. Q. What is the meaning of the word "Ascended" used in the Creed?
  A. That means that Christ entered into heaven with His soul and body. 
• 175. Q. Now where is our Lord?
  A. He now sits at the right hand of the Father. (Mark 16:19; Heb. 8:1; Psal. 110:1). 
• 176. Q. "What is the meaning of the expression of "the right hand of the Father"?
  A. That means "the place of highest glory and authority" (Ephe.l:20—22; Phil 2:9,10). 
• 177. Q. Why did our Lord ascend into heaven?
  A. There are 5 reasons for doing so:— 
• 1. Just to receive in His Humanity too, the glory He had with His Father in His Godhead, even before the world was made. It is written: "So now, Oh! My
  Father, glorify Me with You with the same glory which I had with You before the world was made” (John 17:5). 
• 2. To send the Holy Spirit. For Christ has said "......If I do not, go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I should go I will send Him to you" (John 16:7). 
• 3. Just to bring everything into order for the completion of His Church, About this it is stated “....has put all things under His feet, and made Him, who is above all things, the Head of the Church.” (Ephe. 1:20—23). 
• 4. To prepare a place for us. Jesus Himself has said “In My Father's house there are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to Me; so that where I am you may also be" ( John 14:2-3). 
• 5. To be our High Priest in heaven. The Scripture says "We have therefore a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ, the Son of God; let us remain firm in His faith" (Heb. 4:14). 
• 178. Q. Did Christ refrain from His priestly duties after the fulfilment of His sacrifice on the cross?
  A. No, He is a priest for ever after the order of Malchizadeck (Psl 110:4, compare what St. Paul the Apostle says in Heb. 7:15, 21-24
  179. Q. Has our Lord no authority in the Church since He has ascended into heaven?
  A. He has. We read in the Holy Bible, "Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and Thy dominion endureth throughout all
  generations" ( Psa. 145:13); "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and Holy in all His works" (Psa. 145:17, verse 13 as is seen in Assyrian/Aramaic Version of Psalms) and “The Lord, hath sworn and will not lie. Thou art a priest; for ever in, the likeness of Malchizadeck" (Psa. 110:4; Heb 7:15, 21, 24). 
• 180. Q. Right. But what do you assert by this?
  A. I assert by this that our Lord Jesus Christ who is both God and man and our Saviour and the Great High Priest, lives for ever and governs unceasingly. 
• 181. Q. Do not some people who worship the idols and serve the goddess give those authorities to a sinful man now?
  A. Yes, They give all these authorities to a “man of sins" now. But they go astray from the truth; because, they could not have said or done so if they had believed that our High Priest lives for ever and ever. 
• 182. Q. How does He become our High Priest?
  A. It is written about this that, " .. He did not enter with the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once, into the Holy place, and obtained for us
  everlasting redemption” (Heb. 9:12) and that ''....but this man, because He is immortal, has a priesthood which remains for ever. Therefore He is able for ever to save those who come to God by Him because for ever He lives to make inter- cession for them" (Heb. 7:24-25). 
• 183. Q. If this is so, who are then the priests of the Church of God such as the Patriarch and his subordinates?
  A. The Scripture describes them as "the servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor. 4:1) and "Ministers through whom you are converted" (1 Cor. 3:5), etc. 
• 184. Q. If Jesus Christ intercedes for us with the Father, is He not of a leaser status than the Father? 
• A. No, As He too is God, He speaks as if one talks with his fellow man. Compare the prophecies of Zechariah in connection with the passions of our Saviour (Zach. 13:7). 
• 185. Q. When will Jesus come to this world again?
  A. He will come on the last day to judge the nations (Psa. 67:4). 
• 186. Q. Will all men be judged?
  A. Yes, On the last day all that is living and the dead will be judged; so we confess in the Creed. 
• 187. Q. How will the dead be judged?
  A. St. Paul, the Divine Treasurer, says, "Behold I tell you a mystery; we shall not all die, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51-54). 
• 188. Q. What for will we be judged?
  A. We will be judged for all the good or evil we have done in the world. "For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may be rewarded according to that which he has done with his body, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10). Compare this with what
  the Eccleciastes says in the 12th Chapter 14th verse. 
• 189. Q. How will Jesus come to judge us?
  A. He comes with the same body He had in this world (Acts 1:11) but with greater authority and glory. Jesus Himself has said, "When the Son of Man comes in
  His glory, and all His holy angels with Him, then He will sit upon the throne of His glory" (Matt. 25:31). 
• 190. Q. Does man know when the day of judgment will be?
  A. No, Nobody knows the exact time. Jesus will come at a time when His coming is least expected just like a thief at night.
  For we read in the scriptures “for you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of our Lord comes just like a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 1:3). 
• 191. Q. What should we understand from this?
  A. We ought to leam from this that we should ever be wakeful as we do not know when the house-owner comes (Mark 13 :35). 
• 192. Q. What will our Lord do then to those who have done good?
  A. He will make them stand at His right hand and say, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom which had been prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. (25:34). 
• 193. Q. What will He do to those who have done evil?
  A. They will be shifted to His left side and He will say to them, "Go away from Me, you accursed, to the everlasting fire which is prepared for the adversary and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). 
• 194. Q. What do we learn from this?
  A. We learn from this that we should immediately turn from our sins and repent and that we must be careful to the highest degree during our life time.