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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 461

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 1. The Church: The Kingdom of God

Did the Old Testament ever reveal the Church?

The answer

It was said that it shall stand forever (Dan. 2:44). It is the house of God which shall be established on top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it (Isa. 2:2). She will rejoice when compared to the barren church of the Old Testament as it was said: “For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman” (Isa. 54:1). There is no comparison between the Church of the Old Testament which was exclusive only to the Jewish nation, and the Church of the New Testament which has the treasures of grace and includes all nations and peoples. The Head of the Church is Christ who is the cornerstone that unites the Jews with the Gentiles, to establish from them His divine house. The Church of the New Testament enjoys a new life through baptism, and is established in Christ, the firstborn of those who have fallen asleep.

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.