At the end of the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul writes: “From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry in my body the marks (stigmata) of Jesus”. According to most scholars, Paul refers here to scars caused by the wounds he suffered during his apostolic ministry. By calling them the stigmata of Jesus, according to many, Paul was metaphorically thinking about a tattoo or a burn mark – a sign of belonging to Jesus. However, a philological and contextual analysis suggests that by the stigmata of Jesus Paul metaphorically had in mind the wounds of crucifixion, whereas the words “I carry in my body” should not be understood literally.
Ziel des Artikels ist es, die Identität der Gegner des Paulus in den Kirchen Galatiens sowie der von ihnen verkündeten Thesen aufzuzeigen. Unbestritten ist, daß sie aus Kreisen judaisierender Judenchristen stammten. Sie waren mit dem paulinischen Evangelium nicht einverstanden und versuchten die Galater dazu zu bewegen, das jüdische Gesetz zu halten, denn erst dieses würde ihnen das Heil garantieren. Paulus, der entschieden gegen diese Auffassungen eintrat, hatte erkannt, daß dieser Streit das Wesen der christlichen Religion selbst betraf. Sein Brief stellt ein Zeugnis der Gefahr dar, die sich in die Kirchen Galatiens eingeschlichen hatte − eine völlige Mißachtung des Erlösungstodes Christi.
This article presents the connections between the state of being an adopted son of God by Christians and the freedom of humanity on the basis of Romans 8 : 12–17 and Galatians 4 : 1–7. At the beginning, it presents the state of the person before he or she is granted new existence and is a child of God. The different kinds of slavery that in these two fragments are presented by St. Paul and the symbolism of the young heir are discussed. The next part of the article presents Greek words that St. Paul uses to describe the state of the new existence of Christians; namely: ἡ υἱοθεσίά τό τέκνον, ὁ υἱός. The last part of this article is devoted to the connection that exists between being an adopted son of God and freedom.
PL
Artykuł przedstawia powiązanie między stanem przybranego synostwa Bożego chrześcijan a wolnością człowieka na podstawie fragmentów Rz 8, 12–17 i Ga 4, 1–7. Na początku przedstawiony zostaje stan człowieka, zanim jeszcze zostanie obdarowany nową egzystencją, którą jest bycie Bożym dzieckiem. Omówione zostają rodzaje niewoli, które w tych dwóch fragmentach przedstawia św. Paweł oraz symbolika małoletniego dziedzica. W następnej części artykułu przedstawione zostaje greckie słownictwo, którego używa św. Paweł do opisania stanu nowej egzystencji chrześcijan, a mianowicie: ἡ υἱοθεσίά τό τέκνον, ὁ υἱός. Ostatnia część pracy poświęcona jest natomiast powiązaniu, które istnieje między przybranym synostwem Bożym oraz wolnością.
The article is a theological and catechetical analysis of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5: 22-23) on the path to shaping mature faith via the catechetical process. The analytical process employed in the article was divided into three points: the fruit of the Holy Spirit, mature faith, and mature man. The analysis of biblical texts and catechetical documents allows us to draw three conclusions. First of all, it is the Holy Spirit who is the giver of grace and the source that gives rise to faith. Secondly, the virtues that are mentioned by Saint Paul in the Letter to the Galatians as the fruit of the Spirit acting in man should be considered the features of a mature faith. Third, the task of catechesis is to help the believer to discover the richness of the Holy Spirit's gifts and their implementation.
PL
Artykuł jest teologiczno-katechetyczną analizą owoców Ducha Świętego (Ga 5,22-23) na drodze do kształtowania dojrzałej wiary w procesie katechetycznym. Studium zostało podzielone na trzy punkty: owoce Ducha Świętego, dojrzała wiara i dojrzały człowiek. Analiza tekstów biblijnych oraz dokumentów katechetycznych pozwoliła na wyprowadzenie trzech wniosków. Po pierwsze: to Duch Święty jest dawcą łaski i źródłem dającym wzrost wierze. Po drugie: cnoty, które wymienia św. Paweł w Liście do Galatów jako owoc działającego w człowieku Ducha, należy uznać za cechy dojrzałej wiary. Po trzecie: zadaniem katechezy jest pomoc człowiekowi w odkrywaniu bogactwa darów Ducha Świętego oraz w ich urzeczywistnianiu.
List do Galatów od wielu wieków stanowi przedmiot żywego zainteresowania teologów i biblistów. Na tle ogólnej problematyki Listu interesującą jawi się kwestia podjęta w niniejszym opracowaniu, czy w tekście tym można znaleźć jakieś osobiste refleksje autora i czy Paweł, pisząc go, nie zawarł w nim elementów autobiograficznych. Czytając zawarte w Liście do Galatów wyznanie Pawła: „ja przez Prawo umarłem dla Prawa”, zasadne wydaje się pytanie, czy Apostoł wspomina tutaj wydarzenia spod Damaszku, czy jest to raczej rodzaj noty biograficznej, osobistego wyznania Pawła, w którym odcina się jednoznacznie od swojej faryzejskiej przeszłości. W dalszej kolejności można zapytać: jakie „Prawo” ma Apostoł na myśli i co znaczy dla niego „umrzeć dla Prawa”? Z analizy fragmentu wynika, że Prawo jest dla Pawła przede wszystkim legalizmem, a życie według Prawa nie ma nic wspólnego z życiem dla Boga i koncepcją powszechności zbawienia. Można stwierdzić, że umieranie dla Prawa jest tak naprawdę nawróceniem. Dlatego studiowany fragment może być śmiało nazwany notą autobiograficzną. Takiemu nawróceniu uległ Paweł, takie również powinno dokonać się w sercach wszystkich chrześcijan.
EN
The letter to the Galatians has been a subject of keen interest to theologians and biblical scholars for many centuries. Against the background of the general issues of the Epistle, the question raised in this study is whether the author’s personal reflections can be found in the text and whether Paul, writing it, did not include autobiographical elements in it. When reading Paul’s confession in the Letter to the Galatians: „I have died for the law through the law”, the question seems to be whether the Apostle mentions here events from Damascus, or rather it is a kind of biographical note, Paul’s personal confession, in which he clearly separates himself from his of the Pharisaic past? Then you can ask: what „Law” does the Apostle mean and what does it mean to him to die for the „Law”? The analysis of the fragment shows that, fi rst of all, the law is legalism for Paul, and life according to the law has nothing to do with life for God and the concept of the universality of salvation. It can be said that dying for the Law is really a conversion. Therefore, the studied passage can be boldly called the autobiographical note. Paul’s conversion was also to be made in the hearts of all Christians.
At least since Origen there has been discussion how to understand in Paul's Epistles an articular and anarthrous form of nomos in relation to the Mosaic law. The consensus is that no firm rule can be established on the basis of the article's presence or absence. In this paper we indicated some trends in using and omitting the article. Context still remains a very important guide but our contribution consists in paying attention to the so-called Oral Tradition. In this way some unsolved cases can be explained.
The present paper concerns the meaning of the verb διατάσσω in the biblical texts (LXX, NT) as well as in selected Greek extra-biblical sources. Except very concise contributions like those found in dictionaries the subject hasn’t been worked up yet. Existing studies on the expression διαταγεις δι' αγγέλων focus on the role of angels in the Jewish tradition, passing over the verb used by Paul. Our research on the διατάσσω led us to conclusion that the range of angels’ competences in Gal 3:19b is larger than it was assumed in Judaism. Broader competences inevitably result in loosening the relation between Law and God. Firstly, the idea of mediation is to be excluded. Secondly, the angels are responsible for administering the Law as well as for its shape (in what we usually ascribe to God). Furthermore, the argument based on the nature of the Law lets us state that it was their initiative in order to instruct the humankind. So the role of angels in bringing the Law into being was bigger than it has been commonly thought of till now. To be clear, we don’t rule out some relation between Law and God but at the same time we don’t consider it strict. The study reveals lack of direct and close relation between Law and God. Such a level of relation exists in the gift of Christ.
In the long history of interpreting Pauline epistolarium and, in particular, the Letters to the Galatians and Romans, some authors have discovered that both texts contain apocalyptic motives, or they have postulated their apocalyptic reading. As it has been contended, the main arguments in support of such an interpretation comprise, among other things, the linguistic style as well as imagery drawing on the apocalyptic writings associated with the traditions of the Old Testament. The author of the present article points to the use of terms πάσχω and πάθημα in the letters to the Galatians and Romans and puts forward a hypothesis that in the context of these texts, St. Paul used the theological topos of the Exodus and the means of expression characteristic of apocalyptic which was at the time a popular method of presenting both the meaning of past events and the imperatives arising from the truth about reconciliation with God.
PL
W wielowiekowej historii interpretacji epistolarium Pawłowego, a w szczególności Listów do Galatów i do Rzymian niektórzy autorzy odkrywali, że w obydwu tych pismach znaleźć można wątki apokaliptyczne, albo też wnioskowali apokaliptyczną ich lekturę. Argumentami przemawiającymi za uznaniem takiego stanu rzeczy jest według nich między innymi szata lingwistyczna i obrazowość nawiązująca do pism apokaliptycznych związanych z tradycjami Starego Testamentu. Autor artykułu zwraca uwagę na użycie w listach do Galatów i do Rzymian terminów πάσχω i πάθημα i stawia hipotezę o wykorzystaniu przez św. Pawła w kontekście tych listów toposu teologicznego Exodusu wraz z oprawą medialną apokaliptyki będącej wówczas w modzie metody prezentacji zarówno przesłania wydarzeń dawnych jak i imperatywów płynących z prawdy o pojednaniu z Bogiem.
The article presents a new look at the subject of the birth of water and of the Spirit (John 3,5) which is necessary for attainment of the kingdom of God. It is a new birth for the Christian in his life. The explanation of the meaning of the birth of water and of the Spirit is difficult, because it is found only once in the Holy Bible (John 3,5). The pericope John 3,1-21 is compared with other texts of the Holy Scripture (especially with the Gospel of John, the Letter to the Galatians and the Book of Ezekiel). In the Gospel of John and the Letter to the Galatians it occurs an opposition between the flesh and the Spirit (John 3,6 and Gal 5,19-23). And also the meanings of works done in God (John 3,21) and of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5,22-23) can be the same. People who do the works of the flesh “shall not obtain (not inherit) the kingdom of God” (Gal 5,21). The text Gal 5,4-6 is very important, because it shows the importance of Christ and the Spirit in the Christian life. In the Book of Ezekiel God promises the sprinkling of clean water, a new heart, a new spirit and a gift of His Spirit (Ezek 36,25-27). Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1,29) and “baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1,33). In this work it is discussed the meanings of words “water” and “spirit” in the phrase “to born of water and the Spirit” (John 3,5).
In reflection dedicated to the relations between theological arguments and parenesis in St. Paul’s epistolarium, there is a general agreement as to the fact that ethical exhortations are usually motivated by the doctrinal passages of the letters of the Apostle Paul, or, that they are woven into the argumentative substance of a given letter. Without denying this fact, it seems that the relationship between the two parts of the letters can be described in a different way. Namely, due to the fact that their doctrinal part presents the image of Christ and His work of salvation, we can characterize soteriology as iconic. This is possible because its agens is itself an icon. In other words, Paul’s Christology is iconic because Christ is the ‘image of God’ and, consequently, His work present in the cross, the sign of salvation, is also iconic. Soteriology remains related to the ethical part of the letters and, because St. Paul in different ways encourages his recipients to follow and to be like Christ, it will be justified to define his parenesis as mimetic.
The expression “the fullness of time/times” is problematic because it was used for the first time in all of Greek literature by Paul, the Apostle to the Nations. A similar expression can be found only in certain papyri, where “the completion of times” was the expression used to call, among others, the end of a loan period. The only key to understanding the connotation of “the fullness of time/times” is an in-depth analysis of the immediate textual contexts of both Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10, the two places where this novelty is found. This article is an attempt to interpret the “fullness of time/times” in Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10 (with the addition of Mark 1:15). Our conclusion is that in Galatians 4:4 “the fullness of time” should be considered as “the end of the domination of Law.” As for Ephesians 1:10, there are multiple valid proposals for explaining “the fullness of times”, and we have not limited ourselves to any one in particular.
St. Paul in his Letter to the Galatians does not criticise all the stipulations of Law. He pays attention only to the works required by the Law and rejects them as insufficient for the proper education of the Christians. Considering this insufficiency of the Law, St. Paul claims that it was based on inheritance and not on the promise given to Abraham (3:16). The Law was limited and served as an educator (3:24-25). So, the purpose and the way of education is the Gospel of Christ (1:6-9) which the Apostle received directly from the Resurrected (1:12) and then presented to the most influential people in Jerusalem, thus acquiring their acceptance (2:1-2). Incarnation of the Son of God (4:4-5), crucifixion and death of Jesus (2:19-21, 3:1, 6:14) and the descent of the Holy Spirit (4:6) are the three essential elements of Paul’s Gospel. Another crucial constituent of education according to the Letter to the Galatians is faith (2:16), and more precisely, the obedience of faith (3:1-5), which in no case can be connected with the stipulations of Law.
Aluzja do Ptaków Arystofanesa odgrywa ważną rolę w intertekstualno-ilustracyjnej retoryce Łukaszowej przypowieści o nieuczciwym rządcy (Łk 16,1–8). Ludzie zazwyczaj przyjmują, że dobre systemy prawne promują moralną uczciwość i prawną sprawiedliwość. Na tym tle Pawłowa idea obecności Prawa, ale także jego nieskuteczności w promowaniu sprawiedliwości (Ga 3,19b; por. 3,21), jest dość trudna do wyjaśnienia. Aby zobrazować tę Pawłową ideę w sekwencyjnym hipertekstualnym przepracowaniu Listu do Galatów, Łukasz użył aluzji do komedii Arystofanesa, która prezentowała ateński system prawny jako podobnie nieskuteczny wobec działalności moralnie zepsutego donosiciela prawnego: sykofanta. Łukaszowy nieuczciwy rządca nie tylko używa języka ateńskiego sykofanta, ale także podejmuje podobną, pozornie legalną, lecz moralnie niesprawiedliwą działalność, kwestionując w ten sposób skuteczność całego system prawnego w promowaniu sprawiedliwości. Przepracowanie sekwencji Pawłowych idei wyjaśnia znaczenie enigmatycznej przypowieści o nieuczciwym rządcy (Łk 16,1–8).
EN
The allusion to Aristophanes’ Birds plays an important role in the intertextual-illustrative rhetoric of the Lucan parable of the unjust steward (Lk 16:1–8). People generally assume that good legal systems promote moral honesty and legal justice. Against this background, the Pauline idea of the presence of the law, but also its ineffectiveness in giving righteousness (Gal 3:19b; cf. 3:21), is quite difficult to explain. In order to illustrate this Pauline idea in his sequential hypertextual reworking of the Letter to the Galatians, Luke used the allusion to Aristophanes’ comedy, which presented the classical Athenian legal system as likewise ineffective against the activity of the morally corrupt legal agent, the sycophant. The Lucan unjust steward not only uses the language of the Athenian sycophant, but also engages in similar, apparently legal but morally unjust activity, thus questioning the effectiveness of the whole legal system in promoting righteousness. The reworking of the sequence of Pauline ideas explains the meaning of the enigmatic parable of the unjust steward (Lk 16:1–8).
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