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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 240

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 6. The Exalted Nature of the Human Creation

Why did God grant people free will?

The answer

St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, “The soul is self-governed: and though the devil can suggest, he has not the power to compel against the will. He pictures to you the thought of fornication: if you will, you accept it; if you do not will, you reject. For if you were a fornicator by necessity, then for what cause did God prepare hell? If you were a doer of righteousness by nature and not by will, why did God prepare crowns of ineffable glory? The sheep is gentle, but never was it crowned for its gentleness: since its gentle quality belongs to it not from choice but by nature.”467

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Notes

467 St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 4.21 (NPNF II/7:24) amended.

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.