Original scientific paper
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5,10)
Marijan Vugdelija
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split
Abstract
The eight Beatitude announces an eschatological blessing
on those who are persecuted not so much because they are
persecuted but because they are committed to righteousness
in spite of being persecuted. The disciples because of their
suffering in the cause of righteousness are worthy successors of
the martyred as John the Baptist and Jesus. It is not a question
of the Christians being required to exceed the righteousness of
the scribes and Phariseees quantitatively. The difference must
be qualitative. Their obedience must be to the spirit of the Torah
as revealed to them by Jesus, not merely to the letter as strictly
construed by their opponents. Not bad theology but bad behavior
will result in exclusion from the kingdom.
Keywords
beatitude; persecution; persecuted; righteousness; Kingdom of Heaven
Hrčak ID:
62504
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2010.
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