Patristic Commentary on the Old Testament by Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty, Bishoy Boshra Behnam

MJ. Smith

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087PZVM92

Amazon blurb: for Genesis

- The Book of Genesis, as the first Book in the Holy Bible, is considered as the living prelude to understanding the word of God. It gave us the broad lines that were manifested and realized in the Books to follow. In the Book of Genesis, as God reveals His love for man through creation, He continues to talk about His love by renewing creation, until the new earth and the new heaven appear in the Book of Revelation.

- In the Book of Genesis, God promised Abraham that his children will inherit the kingdom of heaven. And, in the New Testament, the kingdom was revealed in the children of Abraham... We can say with St. Augustine: [In the New Testament alone the Old Testament is clear, the New Testament is concealed in the Old.]

- In the Book of Genesis we touch the Person of the Lord Christ as the Savior, revealed through clear prophecies and numerous symbols. Christ the Lord remains as the center of the Books, to see Him “He is Himself, yesterday, today, and till eternity.” He came to save the sinners, and to promise His Ultimate Coming to gather us to His glory as His holy bride.

for Daniel

The book of Daniel has a special significance in the life of believers, for it is not a record of Daniel’s life or an era of the history of the Israelites during the Babylon captivity. But instead, it is a divine book that the Holy Spirit offers us to instill hope in the hurt souls. Sometimes, God allows throwing us in the fiery furnace of trials, yet He changes the nature of fire for our comfort and peace.
On the one hand, the book reveals to us that God is the Controller of all histories, who works for the edification of his faithful believers in any place. On the other hand, this book reveals to us that God is glorified in the very few people who are sincere to Him. He is their support in sanctifying their lives and a fiery fence that protects them and arranges everything for their salvation.
God allows His believers to go through tribulations, as He allowed Daniel while still a youth. Yet He elevated him to the highest level so that the greatest king at that time came and worshipped him, realizing that the Spirit of the Holy One is inside him. God enlightened Daniel’s vision and granted him not only the wisdom to know the king’s dreams and to interpret them, and conducting all the affairs of the kingdom wisely, but rather to enjoy the surpassing mysteries of God. So the Holy Spirit revealed to him the future and eternal work of God with humanity.
It is the book of divine friendship, which can lift up the believer’s heart to a surpassing heavenly life, even if he lives in captivity during his sojourn.
It is also the book of divine knowledge, which God offers to His chosen and beloved people. This knowledge stems from faith, from a heart filled with divine love. This knowledge is granted through the experience of severe tribulation and enduring sufferings for the sake of God and His people. The book also reveals how Satan tries to take away this knowledge by destroying our faith.
Finally, this book is directed to every believer to reveal to him what is the active role he can play at Church as well as in the life of the human race. For Daniel was not devoted only to the ministry and prophecy, but instead he was playing the role of a Prime Minister of a country, which dominates the whole world. He knew how to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and God what belongs to God. Daniel did not go back to Jerusalem like those who came back from the captivity, did not participate in building the walls of Jerusalem with Nehemiah, and did not restore building the temple with Zorobabel. Still, he was the first man who worked secretly on these matters. He influenced the kings of Babylon and Persia; he offered a great service through his holy life and his faithfulness in his work.
May the Spirit of God enlightens our vision so we may discover His divine mysteries, know Him, accept His friendship with us, and may He use us in whatever way He sees suitable for the building of His kingdom.
Father Tadros Y. Malaty

on Sirach

The book of Sirach may seem like the constitution which governs our earthly life and practical conduct. This perspective is right though incomplete. The book is a journey into a deeper understanding of divine guidance, which purifies our thoughts, feelings, words, and conducts through the wisdom of God the Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The believers take pride in the divine gift of mental enlightenment while taking into consideration the following facts:

1- The Lord gave the rational earthly and heavenly beings both “wisdom” and freedom of will.

2- Heavenly wisdom bestows hope in divine salvation upon fallen humanity. We can regain the lost pearl of the divine image and likeness (Gen.2:26). Believers feel humbled by the work of grace in them so that God grants them the seemingly impossible gift of becoming a living image of God!

3- The book focuses on two major themes which are: how to begin our journey and what our destination is. The beginning of the trip is fearing the Lord. Believers are like children, and the Lord lovingly carries them on His shoulders on an eternal quest. They respond with holy fear and awe that makes the heart overflow with true love, hope, and joy. They realize heavenly beings expect their arrival with astonishment because the Savior turned earthly humanity into a celestial chorus.

4- While honoring such natural abilities as rational thinking and holy feelings, the book emphasizes that our constitution, weapon, and crown are divine commandments that we can only obey through the grace of God. Those commandments are not shackles holding back human freedom; they are jewels forever adorning the Church. Believers follow them not because they are afraid but because they are children seeking to reflect the image of their Heavenly Father.

5- The destination is the heavenly wedding, where we will enjoy union with the wisdom of God and be partakers of divine nature (1 Pet. 1:4) by love.

6- God’s grace: He believes that there is no hope for humanity without divine grace. Believers cannot ignore their free will, intellectual abilities, skills, and other divine gifts, which must be used under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sirach traveled a lot, and he greatly appreciates those who go to gain more experience (34:9-11). He especially values scientific skills in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals (38:1-15).