My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me, seeing that you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

(Hosea 4:6)

Although the main character of our generation is knowledge and freedom of information, many people still live by feeding on the crumbs falling from the table of knowledge, and on the trivial and false of it.  But regarding our Coptic society, and especially in Diaspora, it has become self-enclosed and satisfied with the less than minimal of general as well as Biblical knowledge.  Some of this is due to the pre-occupation of people with worldly matters and entertainment media (TV), which fill all their time, dim their vision and distract from the knowledge of truth.

In the religious field, some new teachings have appeared attempting to justify lack of knowledge, or to encourage isolationism and satisfaction with common superficial knowledge.  Some people depend on certain verses in the Bible to justify ignorance, such as Christ’s discourse on the little children and the Kingdom, although this has been adequately explained by St. Paul saying, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1Co. 14:20).  This tendency has been also promoted by the widespread use of easy to read superficial religious books, and stories of miracles that may give emotional satisfaction and a false sense of comfort, discouraging spiritual struggle and repentance, and encouraging contentment in knowledge.  For this reason, our Lord Jesus Christ refused to make a miracle for those asking for it saying, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet” (Lu. 11:29).

      Certainly there is false knowledge.  This should not justify rejection or neglect of all knowledge but should rather call for its more eager pursuit, so that we can discern the truth: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32).  St. Paul tells his disciple Timothy, “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Ti. 3:15).  Thus, knowledge of the Books gives the wisdom needed for salvation, and it is therefore needed and essential.  Truly, how great is our need for the knowledge of the Word of God in our present generation which is full of deceit, knowing that “the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (He. 4:12). 

      Neglect of knowledge is especially disastrous if it involves a whole population.  Therefore, Hosea the prophet exhorts the people of Israel saying: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me, seeing that you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children “ (Ho. 4:6).  But, what is it that we should know? “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Ph. 3:10).

      Many times we talk about God whom we have heard about, but have not known Him or been in touch with Him.  Thus, God has not met with us or known us, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Mt. 7:23).  It is clear here that lack of knowledge of God is related to practice of lawlessness.  For we cannot do good without knowing God, “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (Jn. 3:21).

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” (Ph. 1:9)

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Ac. 20:32)

This work is an invitation to meet with the “Word of Life”.  Let us all go forth, joined together, to make a highway between us and heaven, and prepare a place for God to rest in our hearts by His living and powerful word.

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The Arabic section articles start with a continuation of “Eucharist in the Holy Bible” by Dr. Rodolph Yanney.  The second article is a study of “Song of Songs” by Mr. Adly Hanna.  In the third article, we continue our study of the minor prophets “Book of Hosea”, by Mrs. Nadia Monir.

In the English articles, we continue to publish the articles by Fr. Tadros Malaty “Introduction to the Book of Psalms”, and by Robie I. Samanta-Roy, Ph.D. “A Brief History of the Bible”.  A special section in this issue, “Patristic Interpretations of the Scriptures”, is provided to our magazine by the well-known Patrologist, Fr. George Dragas. It consists of the commentary of Saint Cyril the Great on Genesis, which is published for the first time in the English language.

We thank every person that offered help in the translation, transcription and revision, asking the Lord to reward them with His heavenly blessings. Also, we ask for your continued prayers for the success of this working serving the Word of God.