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The Iota

Pefethronos
in Hymns Discussion
"They have directed us, to the Iota, the name of salvation, of Jesus Christ."

What is the significance of the Iota?

Comments

  • katanikhoroskatanikhoros
    The name of Jesus always begins with the 10th letter of any alphabet. Hence here in Greek/Coptic it is referred to as the Iota.
  • St_Moses
    Cap, يسوع starts with ي ehich is the last letter of the alphabet
  • TheCopticOneTheCopticOne
    I read somewhere (I do not remember from where, forgive me) of an analogy:

    "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." - Matthew 5:18
    The "jot" is the Iota -  the tenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet, the smallest letter.

    Therefore, Christ, who seemed small and weak, was actually an important (THE most important).
    ⲟϫⲁⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ
  • Daniel_Kyrillos
    edited May 26
    Another note: in Coptic and Greek, numbers are written with letters marked with a diacritic (a preceding apostrophe in Greek and an overline in Coptic). So the 10 Commandments (or the 10 Words, as they’re known in Coptic) would be written ⲡⲓⲓ̅ ⲛ̀ⲥⲁϫⲓ, with ⲓ̅ = 10. This, along with the fact that Christ is the Logos (Word, Ⲥⲁϫⲓ) of the Father, is the connection the verse is getting at. It’s being brought up now because each of the first 6 parts of the Sunday Theotokia focuses on a particular part of the first Tabernacle, and this particular one is about the physical tent and its contents (including the Ark of the Covenant). In Kiahk, these parts are given explanations (tafaseer تفسير). In my opinion, the original Coptic ones (which are not said anymore) are much more enlightening about the Church’s typology than the Arabic ones we say now. For example, here is my translation of a relevant section from “Another Interpretation” on the 1st Part:
    + Who can speak of: your honors, O Mary: the holy tabernacle: of the holies
    + In which Moses: the archprophet: placed the testimonies: of the Lord
    + The tablets of the covenant: whereupon the orders: are written: the 10 Commandments
    **+ They gave us a sign: of the name of Jesus: 10 which is the Iota: according to the holy writings**
    …
  • Daniel_Kyrillos
    @TheCopticOne
    > "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." - Matthew 5:18
    > The "jot" is the Iota - the tenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet, the smallest letter.

    The Hebrew letter is yodh, not iota, but it is also 10 in Hebrew (which also uses marked letters as numerals). If the Theotokia is comparing Mary to the Moses’ Tabernacle, I’m not sure what the connection to this particular part/verse is.
    “[Mary who] is called the Holy of Holies, wherein are the tablets of the covenant and the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God. They [the tablets and the commandments] have directed us to the Iota- the name of salvation, Jesus Christ who was incarnate of you without change, and became the Mediator of a new covenant.”
  • mabsootamabsoota
    the use of '10' in the explanation makes sense :)

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