Metr. Saba: How God Educated Humanity Before the Incarnation
Metr. Saba underscores the Old Testament as God’s patient educational path, preparing humanity to receive Christ.
ENGLEWOOD, NJ — His Eminence Metr. Saba (Isper) of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America has released a theological reflection emphasizing the role of divine education in the Old Testament as preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. In his encyclical, Metr. Saba explains that God gradually revealed Himself to humanity through history, beginning with Abraham and culminating in John the Baptist, forming a spiritually mature remnant capable of receiving Christ.
The Metropolitan highlighted that after humanity’s fall, people misunderstood God, worshiping natural forces instead of the Creator. Through laws, exile, and practical deeds, God patiently guided His people toward justice, mercy, and spiritual discernment.
Metr. Saba stresses that the Old Testament’s ultimate purpose was to prepare the world for the Incarnation of Jesus, the fullness of God’s revelation. He called on the faithful to preserve and understand Scripture, noting that the Old and New Testaments together reveal God’s long-term plan for salvation.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Saba taught that marriage is a "path to paradise."
