Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 90 No. 2, 2020.
Original scientific paper
Wisdom Anthropology of Epistle of Jakob
Mato Zovkić
; Kaptol 7, Sarajevo, Bosna and Herzegovina
Abstract
This article is one of the papers on Biblical anthropology presented at the symposium of Croatian Biblical scholars that was held in Zagreb on October 26‑27, 2018. Along with most recent commentators, the author accepts that the core of the Epistle of Jakob has been written by historical Jakob, who died as a martyr in Jerusalem around the year 62. The Epistle was later edited for Jews and Christians in diaspora by one of Jakob’s associates who was well‑familiarised with the Greek language and rhetorics. The Epistle is essentially a wisdom writing of the New Testament, in which the inspired author has been influenced by Sirach and other wisdom writings of the Old Testament, but also shows awareness of Jesus’s teaching on the greatest commandment and on God’s fondness for the poor. The author analyses Jakob’s faith and teaching on human beings as God’s free creations who need to be patient in hardships of life and seek strength for perseverance in prayer, in three parts: a) created in the image of God, supported by the law of freedom (3:9‑10; 1:17), b) as creatures dependent on God, human beings are called to perseverance in temptations, to mastering their lust, and to seeking wisdom from above (1:9‑11; 1:2‑4.13‑15; 1:5‑7; 3:13‑17); c) in life’s hardships patient, in illness dependent of the community (5:7‑11.13‑16). Jakob’s sapiential anthropology is a continuation of the teaching of the Old Testament sages and a contribution to ethical living of the »tribes of diaspora« among their predominantly pagan co‑citizens of the Roman Empire.
Keywords
Epistle of Jakob; wisdom writing; human being as the image of God; kingly law of love towards neighbour; perseverance in temptations; wisdom above; life’s hardships; dependency on the community.
Hrčak ID:
243107
URI
Publication date:
31.8.2020.
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