Understanding the Devil in Christian Teachings

In Christian teachings, the devil is portrayed as a powerful and deceitful enemy of God and humanity. Known for his clever and persistent activity of leading people into sin, the devil’s influence is evident throughout the Bible and the writings of the Church Fathers. This brief exploration examines his nature, tactics, and the spiritual struggle that believers must engage in to resist his temptations and stand firm in their faith.

The devil, also known as Satan, is a fallen angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. The holy bible reveals the devil as follows.

“አንተ የንጋት ልጅ አጥቢያ ኮከብ ሆይ፥ እንዴት ከሰማይ ወደቅህ! አሕዛብንም ያዋረድህ አንተ ሆይ፥ እንዴት እስከ ምድር ድረስ ተቈረጥህ::” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

 “…በውበትህ ምክንያት ልብህ ኰርቶአል፤ ከክብርህ የተነሣ ጥበብህን አረከስህ፤ በምድር ላይ ጣልሁህ ያዩህም ዘንድ በነገሥታት ፊት ሰጠሁህ…” (Ezekiel 28:12-19).

“በሰማይም ሰልፍ ሆነ፤ ሚካኤልና መላእክቱ ዘንዶውን ተዋጉ። ዘንዶውም ከመላእክቱ ጋር ተዋጋ፥ አልቻላቸውምም፥ከዚያም ወዲያ በሰማይ ስፍራ አልተገኘላቸውም።ዓለሙንም ሁሉ የሚያስተው፥ ዲያብሎስና ሰይጣን የሚባለው ታላቁ ዘንዶ እርሱም የቀደመው እባብ ተጣለ፤ ወደ ምድር ተጣለ መላእክቱም ከእርሱ ጋር ተጣሉ።” (Revelation 12:7-9)

Devil is the enemy of God and humanity, and his goal is to lead people away from God and into sin. He is described in the Bible as a deceiver, a tempter, and a murderer. He is also called "the prince of this world" and "the god of this age." These titles suggest that the devil has a great deal of power and influence in the world. The devil attacks humanity in a variety of ways. He can deceive us into believing lies, tempt us to sin, and discourage us from following God. He can also use our weaknesses and fears against us.

Some of the biblical verses that support the idea of the devil as a deceiver, a tempter, and a murderer include:

Genesis 3:1-19: “…እባብም ለሴቲቱ አላት፦ ሞትን አትሞቱም፤ከእርስዋ በበላችሁ ቀን ዓይኖቻችሁ እንዲከፈቱ እንደ እግዚአብሔርም መልካምንና ክፉን የምታውቁ እንድትሆኑ እግዚአብሔር ስለሚያውቅ ነው እንጂ።ሴቲቱም ዛፉ ለመብላት ያማረ እንደ ሆነ፥ ለዓይንም እንደሚያስጎመጅ፥ ለጥበብም መልካም እንደ ሆነ አየች፤ ከፍሬውም ወሰደችና በላች፤ ለባልዋም ደግሞ ሰጠችው እርሱም ከእርስዋ ጋር በላ።…” This passage tells the story of the fall of man, in which the devil deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit.

Matthew 4:1-11: “ከዚያ ወዲያ ኢየሱስ ከዲያብሎስ ይፈተን ዘንድ መንፈስ ወደ ምድረ በዳ ወሰደው፥አርባ ቀንና አርባ ሌሊትም ከጦመ በኋላ ተራበ።…ያን ጊዜ ኢየሱስ፦ ሂድ፥ አንተ ሰይጣን ለጌታህ ለአምላክህ ስገድ እርሱንም ብቻ አምልክ ተብሎ ተጽፎአልና አለው።” This passage tells the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, in which the devil tried to tempt Jesus into sin.

2 Corinthians 11: 13-14: “እንደ እነዚህ ያሉ ሰዎች የክርስቶስን ሐዋርያት እንዲመስሉ ራሳቸውን እየለወጡ፥ ውሸተኞች ሐዋርያትና ተንኮለኞች ሠራተኞች ናቸውና። ይህም ድንቅ አይደለም፤ ሰይጣን ራሱ የብርሃንን መልአክ እንዲመስል ራሱን ይለውጣልና።” This passage describes the devil as "the father of lies" who is always trying to deceive people.

1 Peter 5:7-9: “እርሱ ስለ እናንተ ያስባልና የሚያስጨንቃችሁን ሁሉ በእርሱ ላይ ጣሉት።በመጠን ኑሩ ንቁም፥ ባላጋራችሁ ዲያብሎስ የሚውጠውን ፈልጎ እንደሚያገሣ አንበሳ ይዞራልና፤በዓለም ያሉት ወንድሞቻችሁ ያን መከራ በሙሉ እንዲቀበሉ እያወቃችሁ በእምነት ጸንታችሁ ተቃወሙት።” This passage warns believers to "be moderate and watchful" because the devil is "prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

John 8:44: “እናንተ ከአባታችሁ ከዲያብሎስ ናችሁ የአባታችሁንም ምኞት ልታደርጉ ትወዳላችሁ። እርሱ ከመጀመሪያ ነፍሰ ገዳይ ነበረ፤ እውነትም በእርሱ ስለ ሌለ በእውነት አልቆመም። ሐሰትን ሲናገር ከራሱ ይናገራል፥ ሐሰተኛ የሐሰትም አባት ነውና።”This passage calls the devil "the father of all lies" and "a murderer from the beginning.”

Teachings of the Church Fathers on the Devil

The early Church Fathers also warned against the devil’s influence:

Saint Ignatius of Antioch: "Beware of the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Saint John Chrysostom: "The devil is our enemy, but he is not our master. We can overcome him through the power of Christ."

Saint Augustine: "The devil is strong, but he is not stronger than God. We can trust in God's power to protect us from the devil.

In the book Diabolic War by Pope Shenouda III, the pope writes that it is possible to overcome the devil through faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Overcoming the devil is possible, but it is not easy. We must be strong in our faith and resist his temptations. We must also rely on God's help to defeat him.

Overcoming the Devil

The Bible provides guidance on how to resist and overcome the devil:

James 4:7: "እንግዲህ ለእግዚአብሔር ተገዙ፤ ዲያብሎስን ግን ተቃወሙ ከእናንተም ይሸሻል፤ወደ እግዚአብሔር ቅረቡ ወደ እናንተም ይቀርባል። እናንተ ኃጢአተኞች፥ እጆቻችሁን አንጹ፤ ሁለት አሳብም ያላችሁ እናንተ፥ ልባችሁን አጥሩ።”

1 Peter 5:8-9: "በመጠን ኑሩ ንቁም፥ ባላጋራችሁ ዲያብሎስ የሚውጠውን ፈልጎ እንደሚያገሣ አንበሳ ይዞራልና፤በዓለም ያሉት ወንድሞቻችሁ ያን መከራ በሙሉ እንዲቀበሉ እያወቃችሁ በእምነት ጸንታችሁ ተቃወሙት።”

Ephesians 6:10-18: "…. በቀረውስ በጌታና በኃይሉ ችሎት የበረታችሁ ሁኑ። የዲያብሎስን ሽንገላ ትቃወሙ ዘንድ እንዲቻላችሁ የእግዚአብሔርን ዕቃ ጦር ሁሉ ልበሱ። መጋደላችን ከደምና ከሥጋ ጋር አይደለምና፥ ከአለቆችና ከሥልጣናት ጋር ከዚህም ከጨለማ ዓለም ገዦች ጋር በሰማያዊም ስፍራ ካለ ከክፋት መንፈሳውያን ሠራዊት ጋር ነው እንጂ።ስለዚህ በክፉው ቀን ለመቃወም፥ ሁሉንም ፈጽማችሁ ለመቆም እንድትችሉ የእግዚአብሔርን ዕቃ ጦር ሁሉ አንሡ። እንግዲህ ወገባችሁን በእውነት ታጥቃችሁ፥ የጽድቅንም ጥሩር ለብሳችሁ፥ በሰላም ወንጌልም በመዘጋጀት እግሮቻችሁ ተጫምተው ቁሙ፤ በሁሉም ላይ ጨምራችሁ የሚንበለበሉትን የክፉውን ፍላጻዎች ሁሉ ልታጠፉ የምትችሉበትን የእምነትን ጋሻ አንሡ፤ የመዳንንም ራስ ቁር የመንፈስንም ሰይፍ ያዙ እርሱም የእግዚአብሔር ቃል ነው። በጸሎትና በልመናም ሁሉ ዘወትር በመንፈስ ጸልዩ፤ በዚህም አሳብ ስለ ቅዱሳን ሁሉ እየለመናችሁ በመጽናት ሁሉ ትጉ”

1 John 4:4: "ልጆች ሆይ፥ እናንተ ከእግዚአብሔር ናችሁ አሸንፋችኋቸውማል፥ በዓለም ካለው ይልቅ በእናንተ ያለው ታላቅ ነውና።."

Revelation 12:10-12: "ታላቅም ድምፅ በሰማይ ሰማሁ እንዲህ ሲል፦ አሁን የአምላካችን ማዳንና ኃይል መንግሥትም የክርስቶስም ሥልጣን ሆነ፥ ቀንና ሌሊትም በአምላካችን ፊት የሚከሳቸው የወንድሞቻችን ከሳሽ ተጥሎአልና። እነርሱም ከበጉ ደም የተነሣ ከምስክራቸውም ቃል የተነሣ ድል ነሡት፥ ነፍሳቸውንም እስከ ሞት ድረስ አልወደዱም። ስለዚህ፥ ሰማይና በውስጡ የምታድሩ ሆይ፥ ደስ ይበላችሁ፤ ለምድርና ለባሕር ወዮላቸው፥ ዲያብሎስ ጥቂት ዘመን እንዳለው አውቆ በታላቅ ቍጣ ወደ እናንተ ወርዶአልና።"

In conclusion, the devil, a fallen angel and adversary of God, plays a central role in Christian teachings as a deceiver, tempter, and enemy of humanity. The Bible and the teachings of the Church Fathers emphasize his skillful nature, persistent search to lead people off track, and his ultimate aim to separate humanity from God. Despite his power, believers are not without hope; through attention, faith, and reliance on God’s strength, they can resist and overcome the devil’s schemes. The Christian journey involves a constant spiritual battle, but victory is assured through Christ, who has already triumphed over evil.

The Six Words of the Gospel : The Great Ethics in Christian Life

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhaedo Church teaches six gospel laws in addition to the ten commandments of the Old Testament. These laws are grounded in Jesus' teachings in the book of Matthew and hold significant importance for Christians in their daily lives. Let us explore these laws in detail:

1.     "Do not be angry with your brother for nothing." - This law is based on Matthew 5:22, where Jesus warns that anger towards others can lead to judgment and punishment. Church father Augustine added that excessive and unjustified anger becomes a sin.

2.     "Do not look at a woman and do not commit adultery in your heart." - This law draws inspiration from Matthew 5:27, where Jesus emphasizes the significance of not looking at someone lustfully since it is equivalent to committing adultery. According to the church Father Origen, we should guard our thoughts and avoid temptations that may result in sin.

3.     "Don't divorce your wife except for adultery." - This law is derived from Matthew 5:32, where Jesus affirms that divorce should be allowed only in cases of marital infidelity. Church father John Chrysostom believed that marriage is a sacred covenant that should not be easily broken.

4.     "Do not swear at all." - This law stems from Matthew 5:34, where Jesus instructs us not to make oaths or swear by anything but instead let our yes be yes and our no be no. The church father Tertullian believed swearing was unnecessary and could lead to lying and deceit.

5.     "Don't repay evil with evil." - This law comes from Matthew 5:39, where Jesus urges us to turn the other cheek and not seek revenge. The church father Basil the Great taught that forgiveness is essential in Christian life and that we should always strive to love our enemies.

6.     "Love your enemy." - This law is founded on Matthew 5:45, where Jesus teaches that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. The church father Augustine believed that loving one's enemies is a sign of genuine Christian love and can help foster peace and understanding.

In summary, these six laws are critical principles for Christians to follow in their daily lives. They encourage us to avoid anger, lust, divorce, swearing, and revenge and instead promote love and forgiveness towards others, even those who oppose us.

The Seven Virtues and the Seven Sins

In Orthodox Christian ethics, the virtues are considered to be those qualities that help us grow closer to God and live a life of holiness. The seven primary virtues are:

1. Faith: This virtue involves trusting in God and His promises. It is supported by numerous passages in the Bible, such as Hebrews 11:1 which states "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Church fathers such as St. John Chrysostom and St. Augustine also wrote extensively about the importance of faith.

2. Hope: This virtue involves looking forward to the fulfillment of God's promises and the ultimate redemption of humanity. It is supported by passages such as Romans 8:24-25 which states "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Church fathers such as St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Jerome also wrote about the importance of hope.

3. Love: This virtue involves selflessly caring for others and putting their needs above our own. It is supported by numerous passages in the Bible, such as 1 Corinthians 13 which famously states "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Church fathers such as St. John of Damascus and St. Maximus the Confessor also wrote about the importance of love.

 4. Prudence: This virtue involves making wise decisions and living in a way that is consistent with the teachings of Christ. It is supported by passages such as Proverbs 8:12 which states "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." Church fathers such as St. Basil the Great and St. John Cassian also wrote about the importance of prudence.

5. Justice: This virtue involves treating others fairly and doing what is right. It is supported by numerous passages in the Bible, such as Micah 6:8 which states "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Church fathers such as St. Ambrose and St. Gregory the Great also wrote about the importance of justice.

6. Temperance: This virtue involves controlling our desires and passions, and living in moderation. It is supported by passages such as Titus 2:12 which states "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Church fathers such as St. Jerome and St. Augustine also wrote about the importance of temperance.

7. Fortitude: This virtue involves facing challenges and difficulties with strength and courage. It is supported by numerous passages in the Bible, such as Joshua 1:9 which states "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Church fathers such as St. John Chrysostom and St. Thomas Aquinas also wrote about the importance of fortitude.

The seven deadly sins that are often associated with orthodox Christianity are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. They are considered to be particularly egregious because they lead to other sins and can potentially lead someone away from God.

1. Pride: Pride is excessive self-love or vanity and is often considered the source of all other sins. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Church fathers like St. Augustine have also spoken about the dangers of pride, warning that it can lead to disobedience and arrogance.

2. Greed: Greed is an excessive desire for material possessions or wealth. The Bible warns against greed in Luke 12:15, where Jesus says, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Church fathers such as St. Gregory the Great have also condemned greed, describing it as a "bottomless pit."

3. Lust: Lust is an intense desire for sexual gratification outside of marriage. The Bible speaks out against lust in multiple passages, including 1 Corinthians 6:18, which says, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." Church fathers such as St. John Chrysostom have also warned against the dangers of lust, describing it as a "fire" that can consume a person.

4. Envy: Envy is a feeling of resentment or jealousy towards others. The Bible speaks out against envy in Proverbs 14:30, which says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Church fathers such as St. Augustine have also condemned envy, describing it as a "diabolical sin" that can lead to hatred and even murder.

5. Gluttony: Gluttony is an excessive desire for food or drink. The Bible warns against gluttony in Proverbs 23:21, which says, "For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags." Church fathers such as St. Thomas Aquinas have also spoken out against gluttony, warning that it can lead to other sins like lust and sloth.

6. Wrath: Wrath is an intense anger or rage towards others. The Bible warns against wrath in James 1:19-20, where it says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." Church fathers such as St. John Cassian have also spoken out against wrath, warning that it can lead to violence and even murder.

7. Sloth: Sloth is laziness or lack of motivation towards spiritual or physical tasks. The Bible speaks out against sloth in Proverbs 18:9, which says, "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." Church fathers such as St. Gregory the Great have also warned against sloth, describing it as a "spiritual torpor" that can lead to despair and apathy.

These seven deadly sins are often seen as particularly egregious because they can lead people away from God and towards other sins. By avoiding these sins and striving to live a virtuous life, individuals can grow closer to God and live a more fulfilling life.

Christian Ethics: Orthodox Christians' Perspective

Orthodox Christian ethics are based on biblical teachings as well as the writings of the church fathers. The following are some examples of key biblical verses and church fathers' teachings that support orthodox Christian ethics:

1. Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31): This verse teaches us to love and care for others just as we would want them to love and care for us. This is a foundational principle of Christian ethics and is supported by many church fathers, such as St. John Chrysostom, who wrote "Let us not be satisfied with loving our neighbors as ourselves; let us strive to love them more than ourselves."

2. Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12): This verse is often referred to as the "Golden Rule" and teaches us to treat others as we would want to be treated. This principle is also supported by many church fathers, such as St. Basil the Great, who wrote "The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor."

3. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17): These commandments were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and provided a moral code for Christians to follow. They include principles such as honoring one's parents, not stealing or coveting, and not committing adultery. These principles are supported by many church fathers, such as St. Augustine, who wrote "Love God and do as you please" - meaning that if you truly love God, you will naturally follow His commandments.

4. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): This is a collection of Jesus' teachings on various topics, including the Beatitudes and instructions on prayer, forgiveness, and love. These teachings provide guidance on how Christians should live their lives and are supported by many church fathers, such as St. Gregory of Nyssa, who wrote "The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God."

As a whole, orthodox Christian ethics are based on the teachings of the Bible and the writings of the church fathers, emphasizing principles such as love, compassion, and following God's commandments.

Orthodox Theology: Views from Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Orthodox theology refers to the study and interpretation of Christian belief, practice, and doctrine within the Orthodox Churches. Among others, it encompasses a wide range of topics such as Christology, ecclesiology, sacraments, eschatology, and the nature of God. Orthodox theology is based on the Holy Scriptures, the early Christian writings, the teachings of the Church Fathers, and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils. The ultimate goal of Orthodox theology is to deepen one's understanding of God and to facilitate communion with Him through prayer, worship, and the sacraments.

Orthodox theology encompasses a wide range of topics, but some of the most important ones include:

1. Theology proper, which deals with the study of God, including His nature and attributes.
2. Christology: the study of the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension.
3. Pneumatology: the study of the Holy Spirit, including His role in the life of believers and the church.
4. Anthropology: the study of human beings, including our creation, fall, and redemption.
5. Ecclesiology: the study of the church, including its nature, mission, and sacraments.
6. Eschatology: the study of the end times, including the second coming of Christ, the final judgment, and eternal life.
7. Ethics: the study of moral principles and values, including issues related to social justice, bioethics, and environmental stewardship.

These are just some of the main topics that are typically covered in Orthodox theology. Other important areas of study might include liturgy, spirituality, and the history of the Church. 

This article focuses on the section related to Theology Proper from the list provided above.

1.     Theology Proper

Theology proper in Orthodox theology refers to the study of God - His nature, attributes, and relationship to the world and humanity. Here are some key aspects of the Orthodox Church's understanding of theology proper:

a. The Unity and Simplicity of God: The Orthodox Church believes that there is one God who is indivisible and simple. This means that God cannot be divided into parts or aspects - all of His attributes are present in every aspect of His being.

Biblical Evidence:

v  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4) “እስራኤል ሆይ፥ ስማ፤ አምላካችን እግዚአብሔር አንድ እግዚአብሔር ነው::”

v  "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god." (Isaiah 45:5)

“እኔ እግዚአብሔር ነኝ ከእኔም ሌላ ማንም የለም፤ ከእኔም በቀር አምላክ የለም::” 

Church Father Quote:

"The nature of God is single and undivided, and cannot admit of plurality." - Athanasius of Alexandria

b. The Trinity: The Orthodox Church affirms the doctrine of the Holy Trinity - that there is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet distinct from the others.

Biblical Evidence:

v  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19)

“እንግዲህ ሂዱና አሕዛብን ሁሉ በአብ በወልድና በመንፈስ ቅዱስ ስም እያጠመቃችኋቸው፥ ያዘዝኋችሁንም ሁሉ እንዲጠብቁ እያስተማራችኋቸው ደቀ መዛሙርት አድርጓቸው::”

v  "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14)

“የጌታ የኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ጸጋ የእግዚአብሔርም ፍቅር የመንፈስ ቅዱስም ኅብረት ከሁላችሁ ጋር ይሁን።”

v  "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." (John 15:26)

“ዳሩ ግን እኔ ከአብ ዘንድ የምልክላችሁ አጽናኝ እርሱም ከአብ የሚወጣ የእውነት መንፈስ በመጣ ጊዜ፥ እርሱ ስለ እኔ ይመሰክራል::”

Church Father Quote:

"We acknowledge the Trinity, holy and perfect, to consist of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." - Tertullian

c. The Uncreated and Eternal Nature of God: The Orthodox Church teaches that God is uncreated and eternal, existing before all things and beyond time and space. This means that God is not subject to change or decay, but is immutable and everlasting.

Biblical Evidence:

v  "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2)

“ተራሮች ሳይወለዱ፥ ምድርም ዓለምም ሳይሠሩ፥ ከዘላለም እስከ ዘላለም ድረስ አንተ ነህ።”

v  "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.'" (Isaiah 57:15)

“ለዘላለም የሚኖር ስሙም ቅዱስ የሆነ፥ ከፍ ያለው ልዑል እንዲህ ይላል፦ የተዋረዱትን ሰዎች መንፈስ ሕያው አደርግ ዘንድ፥ የተቀጠቀጠውንም ልብ ሕያው አደርግ ዘንድ፥ የተቀጠቀጠና የተዋረደ መንፈስ ካለው ጋር በከፍታና በተቀደሰ ስፍራ እቀመጣለሁ።”

v  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

“ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ ትናንትና ዛሬ እስከ ለዘላለምም ያው ነው።”

Church Father Quote:

 "There is no beginning of God since he is eternal, nor can any limit be conceived to his existence, since he is infinite." - John of Damascus

d.The Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence of God: The Orthodox Church believes that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere at once. This means that nothing is impossible for God and that He is intimately involved in every aspect of His creation.

Biblical Evidence:

v  "Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17)

“አቤቱ ጌታ እግዚአብሔር ሆይ፥ እነሆ፥ አንተ ሰማይንና ምድርን በታላቅ ኃይልህና በተዘረጋች ክንድህ ፈጥረሃል፥ ከአንተም የሚያቅት ነገር የለም።”

v  "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." (Psalm 147:5)

“ጌታችን ታላቅ ነው፥ ኃይሉም ታላቅ ነው፥ ለጥበቡም ቍጥር የለውም።”

v  "Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:23-24)

“እኔ የቅርብ አምላክ ነኝ እንጂ የሩቅ አምላክ አይደለሁም። ሰው በስውር ቢሸሸግ፥ እኔ አላየውምን? ሰማይንና ምድርንስ የሞላሁ እኔ አይደለሁምን? ይላል እግዚአብሔር፡፡”

Church Father Quote:

"God is everywhere present and fills all things." - Cyril of Alexandria

e. The Love and Mercy of God: The Orthodox Church emphasizes the loving and merciful nature of God, who desires the salvation of all people and offers forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ.

Biblical Evidence:

v  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

“በእርሱ የሚያምን ሁሉ የዘላለም ሕይወት እንዲኖረው እንጂ እንዳይጠፋ እግዚአብሔር አንድያ ልጁን እስኪሰጥ ድረስ ዓለሙን እንዲሁ ወዶአልና።”

v  "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15)

“አቤቱ፥ አንተ ግን መሓሪና ርኅሩኅ አምላክ ነህ፤ መዓትህ የራቀ ምሕረትህም እውነትህም የበዛ፤”

v  "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

“ፍቅርም እንደዚህ ነው፤ እግዚአብሔር እርሱ ራሱ እንደ ወደደን ስለ ኃጢአታችንም ማስተስሪያ ይሆን ዘንድ ልጁን እንደ ላከ እንጂ እኛ እግዚአብሔርን እንደ ወደድነው አይደለም።”

Church Father Quote:

"God's goodness is unchangeable and eternal." - Augustine of Hippo

f. The Mystery of God: While affirming what can be known about God through revelation and reason, the Orthodox Church also acknowledges that God is ultimately beyond human comprehension and understanding. This element of mystery is an important part of the Orthodox approach to theology, which seeks to embrace the paradoxes and tensions inherent in the Christian faith.

v  "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33)

“የእግዚአብሔር ባለ ጠግነትና ጥበብ እውቀቱም እንዴት ጥልቅ ነው፤ ፍርዱ እንዴት የማይመረመር ነው፥ ለመንገዱም ፍለጋ የለውም።”

v  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“አሳቤ እንደ አሳባችሁ መንገዳችሁም እንደ መንገዴ አይደለምና፥ ይላል እግዚአብሔር፡፡ ሰማይ ከምድር ከፍ እንደሚል፥ እንዲሁ መንገዴ ከመንገዳችሁ አሳቤም ከአሳባችሁ ከፍ ያለ ነው።”

Church Father Quote:

"The more we know God, the more we understand that there is an infinite distance between Him and us." - John Chrysostom

In summary, Orthodox theology places a high value on the study of theology proper as a way of deepening our understanding of God and His relationship to the world. Through prayer, worship, and contemplation, Orthodox Christians seek to encounter God and grow in their knowledge and love of Him.