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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 99

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 2. (b) Regarding the Coptic Orthodox Creed

What does the Church mean by “the Creed”?

The answer

Every institution in the world — whether educational, social, industrial, or commercial — is required to formulate its foundational charter, setting out its purpose, organization, capabilities, and its mission and intended impact upon society. The Church of God is the Body of Christ, whose founder is God Himself, who is “not the author of confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33). From the believers, He fashions the Body for Christ, as the apostle says, “You are the body of Christ and members individually” (1 Cor. 12:27). The purpose of the Church is for God to work within her, and by her, to fulfil His will, for “He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). The capability of the Church is the divine grace which works in those faithful who labor with holy zeal, as the apostle Paul says, “I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).

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.