Prethodno priopćenje
https://doi.org/10.31337/oz.81.2.4
“Being a child” or “born again” as a condition for entering the Kingdom of God in the context of Jesus’ speeches (Mt 18:1–5; Jn 3:3–5)
Arkadiusz Krasicki
orcid.org/0000-0002-6229-5233
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Zadar, Hrvatska
*
Ana Albin
orcid.org/0000-0003-4288-9170
; XIII. gimnazija, Zagreb, Hrvatska
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Jesus brings and announces the Good News: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Yet, at the same time, he sets a condition for those who wish to enter the kingdom
of God which is to become a child or to be born again. The foundations of the Old
and New Testament family are explored as also the role that a child has within it.
This helps to understand the surprise of Jesus’ disciples, as well as of Nicodemus,
when Jesus presents the child to be the answer to the question of salvation, that is,
the kingdom of God. The two phrases uttered in Mt 18:3 and Jn 3:3–5 form not
only a semantic whole but also a spiritual reality which, according to Johannine
thought, is understood as realized eschatology. The aim of this paper is to explore the
basic meanings of words in the preceding biblical passages and, following an exegetical
analysis, to carry out a theological comparison. The synchronic method reveals
whether there is a correlation or a difference between them. The basic assumption is
that to convert means to believe, the result of which is rebirth. Becoming a child is
closely connected to the action of water and the Holy Spirit which, in turn, enables
us to enter into the kingdom of God.
Ključne riječi
being a child; conversion; the Kingdom of God; being born from above; water; Spirit
Hrčak ID:
345894
URI
Datum izdavanja:
7.4.2026.
Posjeta: 273 *