Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 77 No. 1, 2007.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
Paul's Speech in Athens (Acts 17:22-31). The Confluence of the Gospel and Hellenism
Mario Cifrak
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
Paul came to Athens from Berea. He was revolted at the sight of a city given over to idolatry (cf. Acts 17:16). Every day he debated (δΐίλέγίτο; Acts 17:17) in the synagogue with the Jews and the godfearing, and in the market (like Socrates) with anyone whom he met, and there were also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. They reproached him for his preaching about some outlandish gods (ξένων δαιμονίων; Acts 17:18). The philosophers therefore accompanied him to the Areopagus to explain his doctrine to them.
Paul began his theodicy with preaching about an unknown God who created the world and everything in it. God, the creator of the cosmos, can also be found in the Stoics (e.g. Seneca). This God does not reside in temples made by human hands and is not in need of service by human hands (cf. Acts 17:24-25).
Paul speaks further about the creation, the habitation of the earth, seeking God, ignorance, the invitation to repent and the future judgement. God created all of mankind to inhabit the entire face of the earth. God's plan (δρίσας; Acts 17:26) renders people so that they can seek him. The idea of God's nearness can also be found in the Stoics (the poet Aratus). Paul explains this divine kinship so that the true God is the living God who is not like the material one of which people can make his image (cf. Acts 17:29). The Epicureans and Stoics spoke in this way because they understood Paul to be a preacher of outlandish gods. Luke explains their understanding by the fact that Paul spoke (ίυηγγίλίζίτο; Acts 17:18) about Jesus and the resurrection. How can these two be connected? Only by understanding Jesus' resurrection, that is, from Stephen's claim which said that he preached about Jesus from Nazareth who will destroy the Temple (cf. Acts 6:14). The Resurrected is the temple that human hands did not make (cf. Acts 7:48; Mac 14:58). According to the understanding of the philosophers, Jesus and the resurrection are gods because they live in such a temple.
Paul wanted to correct this »wrong« understanding and so he calls for repentance. God disregards times of ignorance, but nevertheless wishes to judge the world in through a man he has appointed, one who resurrected from the dead (cf. Acts 17:30-31). It is the resurrection that Paul's listeners in Athens could not accept.
Ključne riječi
Athens; Stoics; Epicureans; (not) made with hands; resurrection
Hrčak ID:
23492
URI
Datum izdavanja:
17.7.2007.
Posjeta: 2.956 *