Petr Sláma

Notes from the Coasts of Gaza or Peace Wanted

Bohdan Hroboň

A Proposal for Understanding Imago Dei as Process of Sanctification

Filip Čapek

Balancing Evidence about Jehu and Joash in Ancient Near East Texts: Critical Reassessment

Kateřina Kočí

Reception of the 'Promised Land' in the Pauline Letters

Vít Machálek

The Trinity and Christians in Dialogue with Islam

Jaroslav Vokoun

Karnivalisierte Kirche in karnevalisierter Welt?

Olga Navrátilová

Book review: Thomas A. Lewis, Religion, Modernity, and Politics in Hegel

Christofor Panaitescu

Book review: Andrew Louth, Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology

Petr Jandejsek

Book review: Tim Noble, The Poor in Liberation Theology: Pathway to God or Ideological Construct?

Author:

Petr Sláma

Cite As:

Slama, Petr. “Notes from the Coasts of Gaza or Peace Wanted.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 1–2.

Author:

Bohdan Hroboň

Abstract:

This study attempts to interpret the idea ofhuman beings created Ίη God's image״) Gen 1:26-27) from cultic perspective. In order to guide the direction ofthe interpretation٠thefirst two sections define general presuppositions and delineations. The third section argues the thesis of this study that, when applied to humans, imago Dei constitutes the process o f sanctification with a twofold purpose - to have fellowship with God and to reflect his glory. The last section offers three remarkable applications ofthe proposed thesisfor Christian lifestyle and a modern society.

Keywords:

Imago Dei - Old Testament - holiness - sanctification - imitatio Dei.

Cite As:

Hroboň, Bohdan. “A Proposal for Understanding Imago Dei as Process of Sanctification.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 3–22.

Author:

Filip Čapek

Abstract:

Kings of Israel Jehu andJoash, both ruling in the second halfofthe 9th century BCE, represent possibly descendents of the influential Omride dynasty. This inference, which is not advocatedby ¡nan), lies In two recognitions. Firstly, that appellation DUMU tnhu-u-ri-i (I.e. son/descendent of Omri) documented in Assyrian sources relates by bloodline to Jehu is not just gentille oran error of scribes. Secondly, that the ambiguous double patronymic in 2 Kings 9 verses 2 and 14 and 14:8 connects these kings to one another (grandfather-grandson) and Jehu in the same way to Nimshi (יהוא בן־יהושפט בן־נמשי) who was sibling ofAhab and, therefore, sonofOmri. These aspects had been creatively reworked by Deuteronomistic redactors in semi-historical and highly theological accounts ofrighteous Jehu who was executor ofDivine will on the House ofAhab (!) and whose linkage to Omri is traceable only by the way of scrutinized literary, historical and theological analyses.

Keywords:

Kingdom of Israel - Assyrians - double patronymie - House of Ahab - House of Qmri.

Cite As:

Čapek, Filip. “Balancing Evidence about Jehu and Joash in Ancient Near East Texts: Critical Reassessment.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 23–34.

Author:

Kateřina Kočí

Abstract:

The concept o f the ٠promised land’ is one of the most prominent concepts in the Old Testament. This study investigates whether this concept is present in the New Testament٠ namely in the Pauline “homologoumena. ” If so, is the concept used in the original, territorial and national sense (Brueggemann), or is it fully eschatologized and spiritualized (Davies, Burge)? In the first chapter, we depict the meaning of γη in the Pauline letters because it represents the promise of land In the Old Testament. However, no occurrence of γη (out o f the 6) in the Pauline letters refers to the promise of land in the territorial or national sense. In the second chapter, we depict ،the promises to Abraham’ (η επαγγελία τω Αβραάμ ) since the promise of land is firmly bound to Abraham in the Old Testament. The word επαγγελία occurs 23 times in the Pauline “homologoumena.” Davies, Brueggemann and Burge agree that the ٠promises to Abraham’ in the Pauline letters may refer, among other promises, also to the ٠promise ofland’. However, all the cited scholars treat the word επαγγελία the same way, regardless ofthe difference In the context. We suggest, that in the present study, we provide a more detailed and complex analysis of particular occurrences. Special attention is paid to Romans 4,13, which joins both 'land’ and ‘promise terminology'.

This study confirms that in the majority of cases the promise of land in the Pauline letters is spiritualized and eschatologized. However, the analysis of Romans 4,13 reveals that the complete spiritual and eschatological dimension of the promise of land in the Pauline letters is not defensible. In contrast to Davies and Purge, we argue that the Apostle Paul did not abandon the original dimension of the promise of land to the heirs of Abraham completely.

Keywords:

Promised land - Pauline letters - promises to Abraham/the patriarchs - reception, intertextuality.

Cite As:

Kočí, Kateřina. “Reception of the ‘Promised Land’ in the Pauline Letters.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 35–55.

Author:

Vít Machálek

Abstract:

This article focuses on the Trinitarian theology of four important representatives of Christianity in theological dialogue with Islam. A Croatian Protestant theologian Miroslav Volf and an Anglican bishop Kenneth Cragg try to explain to Muslims the understanding of monotheism in traditional Trinitarian faith. The other authors prefer alternative interpretation. Hans Küng, a Swiss Catholic priest, who had to leave the Catholic faculty, search for a “Semitic” Christology and Trinitology freed from Hellenistic conception. A Scottish Orientalist and priest ofthe Episcopal Church William Montgomery Watt, influenced by Islam with its 99 names of God, understands the Trinity as three God’s“faces” or “masks. ” The article also mentions a tradition of Czech apologists of the Trinitarian faith reaching back to Budovec and Comenius. It calls for a connection of this tradition with openness to dialogue with the 'Other', representing the orthopractical side of the faith in the Trinity.

Keywords:

Trinity - Christin-Muslim Dialogue - Miroslav Volf - William Montgomery Watt - Kenneth Cragg - Hans Küng.

Cite As:

Machálek, Vít. “The Trinity and Christians in Dialogue with Islam.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 56–77.

Author:

Jaroslav Vokoun

Abstract:

The author of this article introduces the readers to Bachtin's notion of a carnival as a concept o f the ways human societies behave. He also tries to apply this concept to the question of a church in diaspora, calling on his own personal experience of being a member of the Czech Christian diaspora during the Communist regime. The writer considers two biblical models of life in diaspora: the model shown in the book of Daniel is seen as useful for times of persecution; the model of the book of Esther is seen as preferable for times when the persecution is over; as it allows cooperation with the pagan ruling power and enables native believers toplay active roles in society. Today's western world is depicted in the article as one that has become a carnival with all its tragicomedy and endless banquet. In such a world, Daniel's prophetic protest challenges Christians “first to becomefools so that they may become wise. "

Keywords:

Bakhtin on carnival - church in diaspora - book Daniel - book Esther - church during the Communist regime.

Cite As:

Vokoun, Jaroslav. “Karnivalisierte Kirche in Karnevalisierter Welt?” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 78–96.

Author:

Olga Navrátilová

Abstract:

Review of the book: LEWIS, Thomas A. Religion, Modernity, and Politics in Hegel . Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 9780199595594.

Cite As:

Navrátilová, Olga. Book review: Thomas A. Lewis, “Religion, Modernity, and Politics in Hegel.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 97–104.

Author:

Christofor Panaitescu

Abstract:

Review of the book: LOUTH, Andrew. Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology. London : Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ; Downers Grove, Ill : IVP Academic, 2013. ISBN: 9780281069651.

Cite As:

Panaitescu, Christofor. Book review: Andrew Louth, “Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology.” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 105–9. 

Author:

Petr Jandejsek

Abstract:

Review of the book: NOBLE, Tim. The Poor in Liberation Theology: Pathway to God or Ideological Construct? Sheffield ; Bristol, Conn : Equinox, 2013. ISBN: 9781845539894.

Cite As:

Jandejsek, Petr. Book review: Tim Noble, “The Poor in Liberation Theology: Pathway to God or Ideological Construct?” Communio Viatorum 56, no. 1 (December 31, 2014): 110–13.