Understanding John 14:6 “በእኔ በቀር ወደ አብ የሚመጣ የለም”: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's Perspective - Part I

The verse "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (በእኔ በቀር ወደ አብ የሚመጣ የለም) from John 14:6 holds significant theological importance in Christian doctrine. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) interprets this passage as emphasizing the unity and divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rather than presenting Christ as an intercessor (አማላጅ).

The EOTC teaches that Jesus' declaration, "I am the way and the truth and the life; No one comes to the Father except through Me," እኔ መንገድና እውነት ሕይወትም ነኝ፤ በእኔ በቀር ወደ አብ የሚመጣ የለም” underscores the essential belief in the divinity of the Son of God. The Church interprets this verse to mean that without recognizing and believing in the Son, one cannot truly know or have a relationship with the Father. This is because the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are unified in their divinity, authority, governance, existence, and role in the creation and sustaining of this world.

According to the EOTC, Christ’s assertion that "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (በእኔ በቀር ወደ አብ የሚመጣ የለም) signifies that acknowledging the divinity of the Father necessitates first believing in the divinity of the Son. The Church emphasizes that faith in Christ as the Savior of the world is crucial; without this belief, one cannot attain salvation or properly honor the Father. The denial of Christ's divinity and role fundamentally obstructs one's ability to reach the Father.

Another aspect of the EOTC's interpretation of John 14:6 relates to the revelation of the Holy Trinity. Before the incarnation (ሥጋዌ) of Christ, the understanding of God as a Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) was not fully revealed. (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 1:18). Through the Son, believers come to understand the triune nature of God.

In this verse (John 14:6), Christ clarifies that knowledge of and relationship with the Father are made possible through the Son. Those who do not accept the Son as such cannot recognize or accept the Father. Furthermore, if one does not have Christ as the begotten Son, it is impossible to call the Father as the Father.

In conclusion, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church teaches that John 14:6 is not about Christ being an intercessor (አማላጅነት) but about the deeper theological truth of the unity and divinity of the Trinity. The verse emphasizes the necessity of belief in the Son to have a relationship with the Father and to attain salvation. It underscores the revelation of the Father through the Son and the revelation of the Trinity through Christ. This interpretation reflects the rich theological tradition of the EOTC and its emphasis on the inseparable nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.