Did Pope Shenouda III teach that "one God" in the Creed refers to the Divine Essence?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08

Yes, H.H. Pope Shenouda III consistently taught that the "One God" in the Creed refers to the Divine Essence (the Nature of God) which is shared by the three Holy Persons.

In his extensive teaching on the Creed and the Nature of God, Pope Shenouda III emphasized the following points to ensure the Coptic Orthodox faith was clearly understood:

1. The Distinction Between Essence and Person

Pope Shenouda III explained that when the Creed begins by saying, "We believe in one God," it establishes the Monotheism of Christianity. He taught that "God" is the name of the Essence (ˊ9ˊ5ˉˈʁ). Because the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share this one identical essence, they are together the "One God."

2. The Relationship in the Creed

He noted that the Creed is structured to introduce the Three Persons within that unity:

• One God: The Father (the Source).
• One Lord: The Son (Begotten of the Father).
• The Holy Spirit: (Proceeding from the Father).

Pope Shenouda III often used the analogy of the Sun to explain this "Essence" in the Creed: The sun has a disk (the Father), light (the Son), and heat (the Holy Spirit). While you can speak of the light or the heat specifically, they all belong to the "one sun" essence. Therefore, saying "One God" refers to the entire Trinity because the Trinity is one in Essence.

3. "Of One Essence with the Father"

Pope Shenouda III placed great importance on the term Homousios (ˉʟˉʙˉʟˉʟˊ9ˊ5ˉʃˉʟˊ5). He argued that if the Son is "of one essence" with the Father, then the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit) are the One God. He used this to refute heretics who tried to separate the Persons into different ranks of divinity. For him, the "One God" of the Creed is the Trinity in Unity.

4. Simple Yet Deep Education

As mentioned in the records of his successor, H.H. Pope Tawadros II, Pope Shenouda III was distinguished by his ability to interpret the Bible and theological topics like the Trinity and the Creed in a "simple yet deep way." He aimed to make it clear to the faithful that we do not worship three gods, but one Divine Being in three distinct Persons.

When you recite the Creed, you are confessing the One Divine Nature that belongs to the Father, who is the origin of the Son and the Spirit.