Christ Jesus Intercedes for Us (ስለ እኛ የሚማልደው ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው) (Romans 8:34): Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's Understanding - Part I

In Romans 8:33-34, it is written: "እግዚአብሔር የመረጣቸውን ማን ይከሳቸዋል? የሚያጸድቅ እግዚአብሔር ነው፥ የሚኰንንስ ማን ነው? የሞተው፥ ይልቁንም ከሙታን የተነሣው፥ በእግዚአብሔር ቀኝ ያለው፥ ደግሞ ስለ እኛ የሚማልደው ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው።”

This essay seeks to provide an accurate interpretation of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on Romans 8: 33-34.

The central question of this verse begins with. “Who is he who condemns (የሚኰንንስ ማን ነው)?” “መኰነን” is a word directly taken from Ge'ez, meaning ‘መፍረድ’። Similarly, ኰነነ means “ፈረደ ፣ ገዛ,” which translates to condemned, judged, or ruled in English. Therefore, when it says, “Who is he who condemns (የሚኰንንስ ማን ነው)?” it means “የሚፈርድስ ማነዉ?” or who will judge or rule. The answer, as stated in the verse, is Christ Jesus.

There are several biblical verses that confirm that Christ is a ruler and judge. Among them are: 2 Timothy 4:8: "ወደ ፊት የጽድቅ አክሊል ተዘጋጅቶልኛል፥ ይህንም ጻድቅ ፈራጅ የሆነው ጌታ ያን ቀን ለእኔ ያስረክባል፥ ደግሞም መገለጡን ለሚወዱት ሁሉ እንጂ ለእኔ ብቻ አይደለም።" Similarly, Romans 14:9: "ስለዚህም ነገር ሙታንንም ሕያዋንንም ይገዛ ዘንድ ክርስቶስ ሞቶአልና ሕያውም ሆኖአልና."

Our Lord Jesus Christ reconciled us with Himself, His Father, and the Holy Spirit through His death. As it is stated in Romans 5:10, “ጠላቶች ሳለን ከእግዚአብሔር ጋር በልጁ ሞት ከታረቅን፥ ይልቁንም ከታረቅን በኋላ በሕይወቱ እንድናለን,” He reconciled us through His death in the flesh He took from us, once for all who believe in Him, saying “it is finished” (ተፈጸመ). His reconciliation service or mission was accomplished once through His death. Now, He who rose from the dead is a judge.

St. Paul said, “It is Christ who intercedes for us” (ስለእኛ የሚማልደው ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው). After asking, "Who is he who condemns (የሚኰንን ወይም የሚፈርደው ማን ነው)?", he answered, stating that the one who intercedes, meaning the one who condemns, or judges is Christ Jesus.

Now the question revolves around the phrase, “It is Christ who intercedes for us” (ስለእኛ የሚማልደው ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው). Very importantly, it should be noted that the role of the intercessor (አማላጅ) is not to declare righteousness or judge; rather, the role of declaring righteousness or judging belongs to the one who condemns or judges. The scripture asks, የሚያጸድቅ እግዚአብሔር ነው፥ የሚኰንንስ ማን ነው?.

In a biblical context, the term "the one who intercedes" (የሚማልደው) stated in Romans 8: 34 signifies the one who judges (የሚፈርደው). Part II of this essay will explore deeper into this distinction.

In conclusion, based on the above explanation, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church interprets Romans 8: 34 “It is Christ who intercedes for us” (ስለእኛ የሚማልደው ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው) as "It is Christ who judges for us" (ስለእኛ የሚፈርደው ክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ነው). This interpretation underscores the understanding that Christ, as our judge and ruler, is no longer an intercessor (አማላጅ) after His resurrection (ትንሳኤው) and ascension (ዕርገቱ), as He has already completed His reconciling task on the cross through His death.