The answer
The libraries of Europe overflow with medieval manuscripts from Egypt, in both the Coptic and Arabic languages, that reveal the theological richness of the Coptic Church of the Middle Ages. This motivates me to present a sample of their writings about the Creed.
Abu Al-Majd ibn Yu’annis, a priest from Manyat Bani Khusib (now called Minya), who died in 1357 A.D., has an exposition of the Creed in about fifty large manuscript pages attributed to him. He wrote this at the request of Anba Gabriel, the bishop of Qus, in reply to a Jewish person who criticized the Creed saying, “Where did you get this text? And why have you inscribed it among the books of the church?” Thus, the book contains a collection of texts from the Old Testament to substantiate each of the Creed’s clauses.
This work differs in its aims from other medieval Coptic expositions of the Creed: those of Severus ibn al-Muqaffa (around 940 A.D.); and a commentary at the beginning of the second chapter of Abu al-Barakat ibn Kabar’s work titled Mișbâḥ al-ẓulma wa-îḍâḥ al- khidma (The Lamp in the Shadows and the Illumination of Service, about 1310 A.D.). Abu al-Barakat quotes mostly from the New Testament. The Rev. Dr. Samir Khalil says that “the three Coptic commentaries complement each other in a felicitous manner.”282
A summary of the text of Abu Al-Majd ibn Yu’annis’ exposition:283
1. We believe in one God: he cites the Torah (2 quotations), Isaiah (2 quotations),
Jeremiah, and the Gospel (2 quotations; these are the only quotations from the New Testament).
2. The Father almighty, [Pantocrator] of all things visible and invisible: quotations
from Zechariah (2), Nahum, and the books of Kings.
3. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all
ages: quotations from Isaiah (2), David, Solomon (2), and Micah.
4. Light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made: quotations from Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Isaiah, and David.
5. For us, he came down from heaven: quotations from David, Isaiah (3), Esdras (Ezra),
Jeremiah, David (2), an unnamed prophet, and Isaiah.
6. He was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary: quotations from Isaiah
(2), Ezekiel (2), Nahum, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Daniel, and Isaiah (2).
7. He suffered, was crucified, and was placed in the tomb: quotations from Isaiah (4),
Amos, Jonah, Zechariah (4), Joel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Job, Esdras (Ezra) the priest, and David (3).
8. He rose from the dead on the third day: quotations from David (3), Isaiah (4), and
Esdras (Ezra) the priest.
9. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right of the Father in the heights:
quotations from David (3), Zechariah, and Daniel.
10. He will come again in his glory to judge the living and the dead: quotations from
Isaiah (4), Solomon, David (2), Malachi, and Jeremiah.
11. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who spoke in the
Prophets: quotations from Isaiah (2), Joel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
12. And the confession of one baptism for the forgiveness of sins: quotations from
Isaiah and Ezekiel.
13. We hope (look) for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come:
quotations from Isaiah (2), Ezekiel (very long), and Malachi.
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
282 Samir Khalil, “Abu Al-Majd Ibn Yu’Annis” in The Coptic Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Atiya, Aziz Suryal, ed. (Macmillan, 1991), 21–23: p. 21.
283 See Samir Khalil, “Abu Al-Majd Ibn Yu’Annis” in The Coptic Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Atiya, Aziz Suryal, ed. (Macmillan, 1991), 21–23: pp. 21–22.