Understanding "የአዲስ ኪዳን መካከለኛ” from the EOTC Perspective

In the Christian tradition, particularly within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), the concept of mediation between God and humanity is central to its theology. This idea is beautifully expressed in two key biblical passages: Hebrews 12:24 and 1 Timothy 2:5. The verses proclaim, "የሐዲስም ኪዳን መካከለኛ ወደሚሆን ወደ ኢየሱስ፥ ከአቤልም ደም ይልቅ የሚሻለውን ወደ ሚናገር ወደ መርጨት ደም ደርሳችኋል" (Hebrews 12:24) and "አንድ እግዚአብሔር አለና፥ በእግዚአብሔርና በሰውም መካከል ያለው መካከለኛው ደግሞ አንድ አለ፥ እርሱም ሰው የሆነ ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው" (1 Timothy 2:5).

The EOTC firmly believes that our Lord Jesus Christ is the sole and authentic mediator between humanity and God. The Church teaches that this verse does not imply that Christ continues to intercede for us after His reconciliation with Himself, the Father, and the Holy Spirit on the cross; rather, it conveys the following interpretations:

1. The Incarnation: (የሰውን ሥጋ መልበሱ)

Our Lord Jesus Christ assumed human nature by taking his flesh and soul from the Holy Virgin Mary, as narrated in Luke 1:26-45 and Matthew 1:25. Had He not taken on human flesh, He could not rightfully be called a "man" or a mediator between man and God. Only Christ is both fully God and fully human, which is why He is called the Mediator. This is precisely why He can bridge the gap between humanity and the divine.

2. Mediator of the Old and New Testaments

Christ's crucifixion marked a pivotal moment in salvation history. Prior to His sacrifice, offerings of sheep and cattle were made for the forgiveness of sins. However, through His death, Christ established a new covenant (ኪዳን), providing not mere animal sacrifices but His own holy flesh and blood, thus fulfilling and replacing the old sacrifice. As articulated in Matthew 26:26-28, "ሲበሉም ኢየሱስ እንጀራን አንሥቶ ባረከ ቆርሶም ለደቀ መዛሙርቱ ሰጠና….," In 1 Timothy 2:5, St. Paul emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice is unparalleled, superior even to the blood of Abel, which could not clear sin. Instead, through His sacrifice, Christ offers a complete and ultimate reward, rendering subsequent animal sacrifices unnecessary.

As the ultimate mediator, Jesus bridges the gap between the Old Testament's priesthood and the New, representing both the fulfillment of the old covenant and the initiation of the new covenant. His role as mediator connects the saints of the past with those of the present, making Him the essential link in the history of salvation.

In conclusion, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's understanding of "የሐዲስ ኪዳን መካከለኛ" highlights the profound nature of Christ's mediation as both God and man. Through His sacrifice, He established a new covenant and eternally preserved the connection between the faithful of the past and present. This verse does not imply that Christ continuously intercedes for us; rather, it affirms that He reconciled us once and for all with Himself, His Father, and the Holy Spirit through His redemptive act.

Faith and Good Works: A Synergistic Approach to Salvation in Orthodox Christianity

The path to salvation in Christianity has been a subject of theological debate for centuries. One of the most enduring questions revolves around the relative importance of faith and good works in achieving salvation. This essay will explore the Orthodox Christian approach to this question, which emphasizes a synergistic relationship between faith and good works, both being necessary for salvation.

The Orthodox Church adheres to a view known as synergism, which emphasizes the cooperative nature of faith and good works in the process of salvation. God's grace initiates this process, offering humanity the opportunity for salvation. However, human response through faith and good works is necessary to receive and cooperate with this grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 states that “ጸጋው በእምነት አድኖአችኋልና፤ይህም የእግዚአብሔር ስጦታ ነው እንጂ ከእናንተ አይደለም፤ማንም እንዳይመካ ከሥራ አይደለም::’’ This verse emphasizes that salvation, initiated by grace through faith is a gift from God, separate from deeds, to avoid any sense of pride or boasting. On the other hand, James 2:14-17 proclaims that “ወንድሞቼ ሆይ፥ እምነት አለኝ የሚል፥ ሥራ ግን የሌለው ሰው ቢኖር ምን ይጠቅመዋል? እምነቱስ ሊያድነው ይችላልን?...እንደዚሁም ሥራ የሌለው እምነት ቢኖር በራሱ የሞተ ነው።” This verse calls attention to the importance of actions accompanying faith, stating that faith alone is "dead" without works. Additionally, James 2: 24 asserts that “ሰው በእምነት ብቻ ሳይሆን በሥራ እንዲጸድቅ ታያላችሁ”. This verse is interpreted as true faith must be accompanied by good works. Faith without works is considered dead faith.

Church Fathers like Saint Basil the Great (329- 379 A.D) provide clarity on the Orthodox perspective. He compares faith to the foundation of a building, while good works are the building itself. Just as a foundation without a building is useless, so too is faith without good works. Saint Augustine (354- 430 A.D), though emphasizing grace, also saw good works as a natural response to God's grace.

The Orthodox Church teaches that faith is the initial step, receiving God's grace and initiating the journey of salvation. Genuine faith then produces good works as a natural fruit, demonstrating love for God and neighbor. Both faith and good works are essential for salvation. Faith without works is dead and works without faith are empty. Salvation remains a gift from God, but it requires a human response through a life transformed by His grace, reflected in good works.

In conclusion, the Orthodox Church views faith and good works as inseparable companions. True faith leads to a transformed life, which is evident in good works. Both are necessary for the ongoing journey of salvation. This synergistic approach emphasizes the importance of God's grace while acknowledging the active role of humanity in cooperating with that grace through faith and good works.

Understanding Salvation in the Orthodox Church

The concept of salvation in the Orthodox Church transcends the idea of simply avoiding hell or attaining heaven. It delves into a dynamic process called theosis (divinization), signifying a transformative journey of becoming more like God. This journey emphasizes our restored communion with God, broken by humanity's fall.

From Separation to Union:

The book of Genesis (3:23-24) recounts the Fall of Man, where sin entered the world, creating a separation between humanity and God's grace. This separation is a core concept in understanding salvation. The Orthodox Church emphasizes God's enduring love and desire to restore this broken relationship.

Salvation as Theosis:

Orthodox theology emphasizes theosis, the process of becoming more like God by grace through participation in God’s attributes such as love, holiness, mercy, compassion, wisdom, humility, forgiveness, goodness, and righteousness. This involves spiritual growth, purification from sin, and acquiring the divine energies (uncreated grace) that radiate from God. The central aim of Orthodox spirituality is theosis, where believers strive to grow in likeness to God by grace.

2 Peter 1:4-6 highlights the potential for human participation in the divine nature: “ስለ ክፉ ምኞት በዓለም ካለው ጥፋት አምልጣችሁ ከመለኮት ባሕርይ ተካፋዮች በተስፋ ቃል እንድትሆኑ፥ በእነዚያ ክብርና በጎነት የተከበረና እጅግ ታላቅ የሆነ ተስፋን ሰጠን።ስለዚህም ምክንያት ትጋትን ሁሉ እያሳያችሁ በእምነታችሁ በጎነትን ጨምሩ:: በበጎነትም እውቀትን፥ በእውቀትም ራስን መግዛት፥ ራስንም በመግዛት መጽናትን፥ በመጽናትም እግዚአብሔርን መምሰል::”

Ephesians 2:4-5 emphasizes God's initiative in salvation and our union with Christ: “ነገር ግን እግዚአብሔር በምሕረቱ ባለ ጠጋ ስለ ሆነ፥ ከወደደን ከትልቅ ፍቅሩ የተነሣ በበደላችን ሙታን እንኳ በሆንን ጊዜ ከክርስቶስ ጋር ሕይወት ሰጠን፥ በጸጋ ድናችኋልና።”

Saint Athanasius highlights theosis as the purpose of the Incarnation "For the Word was made flesh so that we might become a God (On the Incarnation).

Stages of Theosis:

Purification (Katharsis): This involves repentance, prayer, and participation in the sacraments to cleanse oneself from sin and negative passions.

Illumination (Theoria): This stage involves experiencing God's grace and light through prayer, contemplation, and participation in the Liturgy and other services.

Deification (Theosis): This is the ongoing process of becoming more like God, filled with God's grace. It is a continuous journey, not a one-time event.

Importance of the Church:

The Orthodox Church is seen as a sacred space where God's grace is present through the sacraments and the Holy Tradition. Participation in Church life, including worship, service to others, and spiritual guidance, is considered crucial for theosis.

In Conclusion, Salvation in the Orthodox Church is not a passive process. It is a cooperative effort between God's grace and our free will. Through theosis, we are offered the potential to become more like God by grace, reflecting His light in the world. Theosis is a journey of hope, where believers are empowered to embody reflections of the divine.

The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Foundation of Orthodox Christianity

The Resurrection (ትንሳኤ) of our Lord Jesus Christ is not just a historical event but a transformative victory that forms the foundation of Orthodox Christianity. This pivotal moment reshapes humanity's relationship with God, sin, and death, establishing core beliefs that guide the faithful in their spiritual journey.

The Importance of the Resurrection :

As narrated in the Gospels and emphasized by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19, the Resurrection holds profound significance in faith and salvation. "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable."

St. John Chrysostom further underscores the essential nature of the Resurrection stating, "The Resurrection is the foundation of our faith. If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty." (Homily 88 on the Gospel of John)

Implications of the Resurrection for Believers:

Victory over Death: Christ's Resurrection signifies victory over death, providing believers with the assurance of eternal life as stated in John 11:25-26, where Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."

Defeat of Sin and Evil: Through His sacrifice and Resurrection, the power of sin and evil is defeated, opening the way for a life guided by grace. Romans 6:4-8 reinforces this victory by highlighting that through Christ's Resurrection, the power of sin and evil is overcome.

Hope of Future Resurrection: The Resurrection of Christ serves as an introduction to the future resurrection of all believers, offering a glimpse of the eternal hope awaiting them, as illuminated in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.

In conclusion, the Resurrection of Christ symbolizes victory over darkness, offering hope and illumination to believers. It serves as a testament to God's boundless love for humanity and indicates a future improved by Christ's victory. Pascha signifies, a season of restoration, joy, and decisive proclamation: “ክርስቶስ ተንሥአ እሙታን፤ በዐቢይ ኃይል ወሥልጣን፤ አሰሮ ለሰይጣን፤ አግዐዞ ለአዳም፤ ሰላም እምይዕዜሰ፤ ኮነ፤ ፍስሐ ወሰላም፡፡”

May the joy and blessings of the Resurrection shine upon you and your loved ones!

The Life-Giver’s Sacrifice: Understanding the Passion of Christ

The Passion of Christ—the suffering and death of Jesus Christ—is at the heart of Orthodox Christian faith, embodying the ultimate expression of divine love and sacrifice. Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Christ offers humanity a path to reconciliation with God. This essay explores the journey of Christ’s Passion, highlighting key moments such as the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Descent into Hell, which reveal His profound sacrifice and victory over death, giving hope to all believers.

The Passion of Christ—His final days on earth leading up to the crucifixion and burial—is of profound significance in Orthodox Christianity. It is not merely a story of suffering, but a deliberate act of divine love and sacrifice. In this moment, the “Life-Giver” enters fully into the depths of human pain and death, as 1 Corinthians 15:45 declares: “እንዲሁ ደግሞ፦ ፊተኛው ሰው አዳም ሕያው ነፍስ ሆነ ተብሎ ተጽፎአል፤ ኋለኛው አዳም ሕይወትን የሚሰጥ መንፈስ ሆነ” This reveals Christ not only as the suffering servant, but also as the source of eternal life.

The Last Supper and Betrayal (Matthew 26:17–30): The Last Supper was more than a final meal—it was a sacred moment of deep communion with His disciples and the beginning of His Passion. During this holy gathering, Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist, offering His Body and Blood as the new covenant for the salvation of humanity:

“ሲበሉም ኢየሱስ እንጀራን አንሥቶ ባረከ ቈርሶም ለደቀ መዛሙርቱ ሰጠና፦ እንካችሁ፥ ብሉ ይህ ሥጋዬ ነው አለ። ጽዋንም አንሥቶ አመስግኖም ሰጣቸው እንዲህም አለ፦ ሁላችሁ ከእርሱ ጠጡ፤ ስለ ብዙዎች ለኃጢአት ይቅርታ የሚፈስ የአዲስ ኪዳን ደሜ ይህ ነው። (Matthew 26:26–28).

Earlier in His ministry, Christ had already thought this mystery, revealing about the life-giving reality of His Body and Blood: “ስለዚህ ኢየሱስ እንዲህ አላቸው፦ እውነት እውነት እላችኋለሁ፥ የሰውን ልጅ ሥጋ ካልበላችሁ ደሙንም ካልጠጣችሁ በራሳችሁ ሕይወት የላችሁም። ሥጋዬን የሚበላ ደሜንም የሚጠጣ የዘላለም ሕይወት አለው፥ እኔም በመጨረሻው ቀን አስነሣዋለሁ። ሥጋዬ እውነተኛ መብል ደሜም እውነተኛ መጠጥ ነውና።ሥጋዬን የሚበላ ደሜንም የሚጠጣ በእኔ ይኖራል እኔም በእርሱ እኖራለሁ።” (John 6: 53-56). It was this divine mystery—already taught in His teachings—that Christ established at the Last Supper.

At the same table, He also told His betrayal, revealing the sorrow and weight of human sin: “ሲበሉም፦ እውነት እላችኋለሁ፥ ከእናንተ አንዱ እኔን አሳልፎ ይሰጣል አለ::”(Mathiew 26: 21)

Gethsemane and the Distress (Matthew 26:36-46): In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ experiences deep emotional and spiritual pain. Though troubled, He fully submits to the Father’s will, and prayed: “ጥቂትም ወደ ፊት እልፍ ብሎ በፊቱ ወደቀና ሲጸልይ፦ አባቴ፥ ቢቻልስ፥ ይህች ጽዋ ከእኔ ትለፍ፤ ነገር ግን አንተ እንደምትወድ ይሁን እንጂ እኔ እንደምወድ አይሁን አለ።” (Matthew 26:39). This moment powerfully reveals His full identification with human nature, yet without sin— “እርሱ በእግዚአብሔር መልክ ሲኖር ሳለ ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር መተካከልን መቀማት እንደሚገባ ነገር አልቈጠረውም፥ ነገር ግን የባሪያን መልክ ይዞ በሰውም ምሳሌ ሆኖ ራሱን ባዶ አደረገ፥ (Philippians 2:6–7).

Arrest, Test, and Dishonor (Matthew 26:47-68, 27:1-51): Jesus' arrest by the authorities marks the climax of human opposition against Him. Though mocked, beaten, and falsely accused, He endures all with silent strength. He maintains His dignity, fulfilling the prophecy of a suffering servant: “ተጨነቀ ተሣቀየም አፉንም አልከፈተም፤ ለመታረድ እንደሚነዳ ጠቦት፥ በሸላቶቹም ፊት ዝም እንደሚል በግ፥ እንዲሁ አፉን አልከፈተም።” (Isaiah 53:7).

Crucifixion and the Sacrifice (John 19:17-37): The crucifixion, a cruel Roman punishment, represents the deepest level of human brutality of that time. But for the Orthodox faith, the cross became the ultimate expression of love and redemption. Jesus willingly offers Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for humanity's sins, declaring "It is finished" as He completes His mission: “ኢየሱስም ሆምጣጤውን ከተቀበለ በኋላ፦ ተፈጸመ አለ፥ ራሱንም አዘንብሎ ነፍሱን አሳልፎ ሰጠ።” (John 19:30)

The Descent into Hell and the Hope of Resurrection (1 Peter 3:18-19): After His death, Christ descends into Hell, not as a captive but as a conqueror. He proclaims victory over death and frees the souls who had awaited the coming of the Messiah, offering hope to all of humanity. Ephesians 4:8-10 describes this as: “ስለዚህ፦ ወደ ላይ በወጣ ጊዜ ምርኮን ማረከ ለሰዎችም ስጦታን ሰጠ ይላል። ወደ ምድር ታችኛ ክፍል ደግሞ ወረደ ማለት ካልሆነ፥ ይህ ወጣ ማለትስ ምን ማለት ነው? ይህ የወረደው ሁሉን ይሞላ ዘንድ ከሰማያት ሁሉ በላይ የወጣው ደግሞ ያው ነው።” (Ephesians 4:8-10). This verse shows that Christ freed those held captive by death. His descent marks the beginning of His glorious resurrection and brings hope to all.

The Orthodox Church views the Passion of Christ as a profound demonstration of divine love and sacrifice—a journey into suffering to conquer it and offer humanity a path to reconciliation with God. This notion is clearly expressed in the Holy Friday hymn of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church tradition: “ክርስቶስ አምላክነ ዘመጽአ ወሐመ በእንቲአነ በሕማማቲሁ ቤዘወነ” “የመጣው ክርስቶስ አምላካችን ስለ እኛ ታመመ፣ በሕመሞቹም አዳነን ፣ ታደገን”: “Christ, our God, who came and suffered for us, through His pains, He saved and rescued us.”

Conclusion

The Passion of Christ is not merely a story of suffering, but a triumph of divine love and redemption. Through His sacrifice, Christ conquered death and offered eternal life to humanity. The Orthodox Church views this as the ultimate act of love, where darkness is overcome, sin is defeated, and reconciliation with God is made possible. His willing journey to the cross reveals not only the depth of His love but also the boundless mercy of God. For the faithful, the Passion of Christ is not only a historical event but a living mystery that calls us to repentance, gratitude, and hope. In Christ’s suffering, we find healing; in His death, we receive life.