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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 159

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 3. Faith in God and Our Knowledge of Him

How can God possess all these kinds of characteristics, and yet be described as simple?

The answer

Although we are aware of all these characteristics that inflame our souls with His sublime love, we cannot say that His essence is composed of many elements, or that there are elements external to Him that are incorporated into His simple essence.

St. John Chrysostom observes that the Seraphim and the Cherubim upon whom He is enthroned cannot comprehend His essence; they can only come to know Him through His glory and His divine works, as far as they can.

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volume 1, Books 1–3. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.