Yeshue
FAITH OF THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH
Chapter 1: Class 8
Written by:
Chev. Dr. K. O. Mathew Konkara(Rtd Supdt of Police)
It's history, faith and liturgy and It's position within the church history
At the beginning of the Holy Qurbana, we sing the famous hymn based on the words of St. Paul:
"Paul the Apostle, the Blessed, said: If any man or even an angel from heaven preach to you any other gospel than what we have preached to you, let him be cursed by the Church..."
Meaning: St. Paul mandates that if anyone—even a heavenly being—preaches a message contrary to or beyond what the Apostles established, that person (the messenger) shall face the curse of the Church.
(Galatians. Chapter 1:6 to)
The Church is the Body of Christ
The nature of the Church is revealed through these verses. We see that Christ and the Church are one. In Acts 8:3, we read that before his conversion, Saul (St. Paul) persecuted the Church by dragging men and women to prison. Later, in Acts 9:1-6, while Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest believers, a light from heaven shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice:
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
Saul asked, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord replied, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting."
Key Insight: Saul never physically "persecuted" the resurrected Jesus; he persecuted the disciples and those baptized into the Church. Yet, Jesus asked, "Why do you persecute Me?" This is because the Church is the Body of Christ, and Christ is its Head (Ephesians 1:22, 5:23). Whether living or departed, all baptized members are part of this body. Therefore, to strike a member of the Church is to strike Christ Himself.
The Status of the Faithful
According to 1 Corinthians 6:15-17, our bodies are members of Christ. Those who unite with the Lord become one spirit with Him. This is the great blessing bestowed upon every baptized member.
Whenever the Holy Church of Antioch is persecuted—whether locally or abroad—it is Christ who is being persecuted. The Church and Christ are inseparable.
Modern Persecutions and Deviations
The text argues that Christ still asks, "Why do you persecute Me?" of those who:
Engage in litigation against the Church.
Create riots in parishes or seize churches.
Deny the faithful access to Holy Sacraments (like the Holy Qurbana).
Obstruct the burial of the dead.
Attempt to forcibly convert the faithful to "false faiths" through threats, influence, or worldly gains.
Distort the Gospel handed down by the Apostles and the Antiochene Fathers.
The "Curse of the Church" mentioned by St. Paul is essentially the "Curse of God," because Christ and the Church are one.
The Context: St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
This hymn is based on Galatians 1:6-9. St. Paul expressed astonishment that the Galatians were so quickly deserting the grace of Christ for a "different gospel." He warns that some people are troubling the believers and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ.
He repeats emphatically: “If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” This reward of "the curse" is for those who, for worldly gain, misinterpret the Word of God and unsettle the faith of those who are members of Christ’s Body.
Questions to Consider
Whom st.Paul was addressing?
What kind of people pervert the Gospel of Christ?
Who are "We" (the Apostles/Teachers)?
What is it that "We" have preached?
Who are those who will be cursed?