After Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, King Herod of Jerusalem sought to kill him. Joseph, the husband of Mary, received a dream, warning him to take his family to Egypt. They left in the night. There they remained until hearing from God that it was safe to return. The Old Testament prophecy of Hosea was fulfilled. (Matthew 2) “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1)
God did not forget Egypt; instead, he blessed the nation.
In 61 A.D., Mark, an apostle of the Christian church, took the Gospel to Egypt, where he founded the church in Alexandria. The city became an important Christian center, second only to the Latin Rome.
The first Christian religious institution, the Catechetical School of Alexandria, opened in 106 A.D.; it produced and influenced many early church fathers.
At that time, Egypt was a province of Rome. Latin was the language of government and the military. Greek was the language of commerce and trade. The local tongue was Coptic—a form of Ancient Egyptian.
The Bible began to be translated from Koine Greek into Coptic around 180 A.D.
The Coptic alphabet descends from Greek, as was used in the Gospels, with influences from the Ancient Egyptian script. The purpose of the translation was to take the Gospel to the people of Egypt.
Coptic was an early church language. It continues to be used today by the Coptic Church globally and is now a holy language for liturgical use.
In Egypt today, there are approximately 18 million Coptic Christians. About 1.2 million reside outside of the country. These people are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church in Alexandria. They are one people—a part of the body of Christ.
Those who believe in Jesus are members of his church; they are necessary parts of the body of Christ. Only one condition is necessary: “Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
Unity of the church demonstrates love and is a witness to the world.
Jesus stated, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Divisions and schisms in the church must be rectified and healed with the blood of Jesus. A united house will stand, a divided one continues to fall. (Matthew 12:25)
To honor the Lord and the early and modern Coptic speaking church in Egypt, “I AM” in Coptic from John 18:5 has been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”
Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in the original Coptic: