Original scientific paper
Psalm 1: Problems and the Possibility of Interpretation
Ivica Čatić
; Catholic faculty of Theology in Đakovo, University J. J. Strossmayer of Osijek
Abstract
The purpose of biblical and scientific literature is to facilitate the interpretation of the biblical text. When it comes to Ps 1, we can notice a significant variety of quite often opposed approaches and results offered by researchers. The article attempts to explore the possibility of a solid interpretation of the Ps 1, in spite of diversity of opinions which dominate in the scientific literature. To accomplish this we won’t investigate the issues regarding which the scientists have already offered equally valid, opposed arguments, failing to achieve greater intelligibility. We’ll use the givennesses over which there is the broadest consensus. Supposing a wide, yet unused potential of interpretation, included in the very text of the psalm in a form of the abundance of semantic units and imagery, the paper explores their correlation, incorporation within particular literary-stylistic figures and the interaction in their allocation from the beginning towards the last part of the psalm. This segment of the text offers new possibilities of interpretation. The very research consists of a horizontal (line by line) and vertical analysis of the text (spreading from the beginning towards the end of the psalm). In the end it becomes obvious that Ps 1 functions as a kind of a hermeneutical paradigm: showing the possibility of multidimensional reading it embodies the depth of the Divine wisdom which sees through the reality of this world, thus guaranteeing its reader a safe guidance through the Psalter as a paradigm of life.
Keywords
Old Testament; Psalm 1; introduction to the Psalterium; interpretation; hermeneutical paradigm
Hrčak ID:
45305
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2009.
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