Adam, Our Father: How the Apostle Paul »Improved« Traditions and Confirmed the Scriptures

Ovaj se rad bavi problemom nedostatka relevantnosti kršćanske vjere u suvremenome svijetu iz perspektive biblijske teologije i na temelju biblijskoga primjera. Tekst polazi od pretpostavke kako je moguće da pozitivnu sliku kršćanstva u suvremenom svijetu sprječava doktrinarni pristup vjeri. Kako je nedavno istakao N. T. Wright, suvremena crkva, čini se, na pitanja iz 16. stoljeća nudi odgovore iz 4. stoljeća. Rješenje za takvo stanje ovdje se predlaže kao ponovno i »geografski svjesno« iščitavanje Svetoga pisma, kakvo se vidi u Pavlovim redefinicijama ključnih židovskih tradicija. Tekst je podijeljen na dva dijela. Prvi dio predstavlja tzv. Paradigmu geografske svjesnosti Roberta Sacka i primjenjuje je na apostola Pavla, pokazujući ga kao »globalno« uspješnoga misionara zbog njegove svjesnosti o širini Rimskog carstva kao mjesta. To mjesto, koje uključuje i Jeruzalem, ali ga i nadilazi, Pavlovoj židovskoj religiji nameće pitanja na koja ta tradicija nema adekvatnoga odgovora. Pavao čuje pitanja i traži odgovore ponovnim iščitavanjem Pisma i re-evaluacijom popularnih učenjā. Drugi se dio bavi konkretnom Pavlovom re-evaluacijom nekih za Židove važnih doktrina – onih o Zakonu, Abrahamu i Adamu, koje su pravdale podjelu svijeta na Židove i pogane. Promatrajući Pavlov postupak iz perspektive Sackove paradigme, postaje jasno da upravo Pavlova geografska svjesnost na svakom koraku podupire tu re-evaluaciju. Tako Pavao ispravlja doktrine kako bi one bolje odražavale Pisma, a one, tako redefnirane, ujedno bolje odgovaraju na potrebe svih ljudi, Židova i pogana, Bogu na slavu.This paper deals with the issue of the lack of relevancy of the Christian faith in the contemporary world from a biblical theology perspective based on an example from the Bible. The paper sets forth from the premise that possibly the doctrinal approach to faith may interfere with the reception of Christianity in the contemporary world. As N. T. Wright recently stressed, the modern Church seems to be offering 4th century answers to 16th century questions. The suggested solution to this worrisome trend is a »geographically aware« rereading of the Holy Scripture which can be found also in Paul\u27s redefinition of key Jewish traditions The text is divided into two sections. The first presents Robert Sack\u27s so-called geographical awareness paradigm and applies it to the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans portraying him as a »globally« successful missionary due to his awareness of the vastness of the area comprising the Roman Empire. The area, which includes Jerusalem but also goes far beyond it, imposes questions upon Paul\u27s Jewish faith which Tradition cannot answer adequately. Paul hears these questions and seeks answers by rereading the Scriptures and re-evaluating popular doctrines. The second sections deals with Paul\u27s re-evaluation of some important doctrines for some Jews - those concering the Torah, Abraham and Adam - which justified the division of the world into Jews and Gentiles. When looking upon Paul\u27s actions from the standpoint of Sack\u27s paradigm, it becomes evident that it is precisely Paul\u27s geographical awareness which supports this reevaluation at each step. Thus Paul »improves« the doctrines in such a way that the suitable ones reflect Scriptures and those that are redefined serve as a more fitting response to the needs of all people - Jews and Gentiles - for the glory of God