Introduced by:
His Grace Bishop Ermia, the General Bishop and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
Prepared by:
Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros
Professor and Head of the Holy Bible Department at the Seminary College and Professor of Biblical Theology at the Institute of Coptic Studies
Foreword
Saint Paul the Apostle is Saul of Tarsus, born in Tarsus, the Capital of Cilicia State, of Jewish parents, descending from the Tribe of Benjamin. He bore a Hebrew name “Saul” and another Roman one “Paul”.
Saint Paul the Apostle was raised according to the Pharisee doctrine (Acts 22: 3) “brought up at the feet of Gamaliel” who was considered one of the greatest Jewish teachers at that time. Saint Paul was of a wide culture and great proficiency of Greek culture, he mastered the Greek, Classical Hebrew, and Aramaic languages. Besides, he acquainted himself with some Heathenism literatures, its philosophers and poets’ quotes and cited them.
Saul was one of the toughest persecutors of the church until his belief in Christianity when Lord Christ manifested to him on his way to Damascus for embarking on more persecutions! He was transferred from being Saul the Persecutor to Paul the Preacher of Christianity. Saint Paul the Apostle spent three years in the Arab region where he learnt the faith facts via divine revelations: “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1: 11-12)
He then returned to launch his ministry until the moment of his martyrdom: he went on three major missionary journeys, in addition to some minor ones. He visited Jerusalem for five times, was captivated in Caesarea and Rome, and wrote fourteen epistles filled with deep theological concepts.
In this book: “The Theological Thought of Paul the Apostle – Part 2”, Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros presents some of these concepts which are related to the Trinity, the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual Illumination, besides other concepts. We are pleased to present this book for the benefit of many. I express my thanks to Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros, Professor and Head of the Holy Bible Department at the Seminary College and Professor of Biblical Theology at the Institute of Coptic Studies. for dedicating this precious interpretation to the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center to be published, praying that the Lord compensate all who exerted effort in in publishing this valuable work, and asking God to make it a reason of blessing to all who read it, through the intercessions and prayers of St. Virgin Mary, the theotokos, St. Mark the Apostle, the preacher of Egyptian homes, and the righteous Father Apostles, and through the prayers of His Holiness Great Pope Tawadros II, the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
28th of Kiahk, 1734 AM
6th of January, 2018 AD
The Eve of Nativity
Bishop Ermia
The General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
