Original scientific paper
“THE FULLNESS OF THE TIME” (Gal 4,4) – THE ENUNCIATION OF THE ESHATON’S PRESENCE IN THE HISTORY
Marinko Vidović
orcid.org/0000-0003-0746-023X
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split
Abstract
Observing that the enunciation about “the completion of the
time” in Ga 4,4 belongs to the conclusion of Paul’s argumentation
about justification through faith by Abraham’s figure, in this article
the author analyses this enunciation in its epistolary, cultural and
Christian-traditional context. Starting from Paul’s expression and
its principal components, pointing out its originality regarding the
Greek and Judaic cultural ambience, and also regarding the Christian
tradition, the author shows that with this expression Paul talks about
the original Christian idea, consisting of the irruption of the Eshaton
into the history. This idea characterises the Christian thought from
the beginning, which is in other new testamentary scripts, as well as
by Paul himself, mostly connected with the paschal mystery of Jesus’
death and resurrection. Contrary to such connecting, in the epistle
to the Galatians, just by the expression “the fullnes of the time”, Paul
expresses the irruption of the Eshaton in the history by Jesus’ birth
itself, by his entry into the history. The fullness of the time, as a
typical Christological category, is the qualitative measure of all times,
not the calendar ending of some defined time. With this expression
Paul talks about the historical-salvation sense of the time. It means
that nothing absolutely new can happen in the history. With the event
of Christ, which begins by Jesus’ entrance into the history and in
which Mary has also her own place, it has already been realized
what is to happen in the history, namely in historical conditions
the definitive end of history is anticipated. Such an original and
surprising affirmation Paul was able to found by three factors, which
are constantly interlaced in his thought: christology, soteriology and
anthropology. In the conclusion the author points out the paradox of
such affirmation: history is going on, although it has been completed,
or vice versa, history has been concluded, completed, although its
flow is going on. Such an idea, apart from making possible the new
vision of reality, marks the original Christian identity, which is weaved
by many paradoxes, antitheses and antinomies. To live the fullness of
time means to be a real optimist, immersed in God’s newness in the
history, convinced that, as Paul says himself, “so for anyone who is in
Christ, there is new creation: the old order is gone and a new being is
to become!” (2 Co 5,17).
Keywords
Completion; Time; Hellenism; Judaism; Apocalyptic; Christianity; History; Justification; Son; Sonship; Birth; End; Originality; Anticipation; Paradox; Eshaton
Hrčak ID:
24948
URI
Publication date:
21.3.2005.
Visits: 2.303 *