The Biblical Annals

"Who Is David and Who Is – the Son of Jesse?". The Interpretation of the Figure of King David in the Development of Old Testament Theology

Viktor Komarnytskyy — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The article addresses the issue of the numerous inconsistencies and contradictions found in the David cycle in 1 Sam 14 – 1 Kings 2. Usually, exegetes tend to believe that the biography of the king, especially the section the ‘History of David’s rise to power’, shows traces of two legends of different origins, regardless of whether the figure actually existed in Israel’s history. However, after comparing the inconsistencies in the portrayal of the king, it can be concluded that the basis of the legends about David may have been a real historical figure of a certain warrior whose biography can be traced from 1 Sam 27 – a certain warrior from the Philistine city of Ziklag who conquered the heights of Hebron and may be considered the founder of the Judah statehood.

Hapax Legomenon διχοστασία in 1 Macc 3:29 and in Ancient Greek Literature

Janusz Nawrot — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The First Book of Maccabees contains many hapax legomena, including διχοστασία mentioned in the title of this article, recorded in 3:29. The author attempts to answer what role this term plays in the divinely inspired text and why it was used there. Is it a mere lexical enrichment of the author’s writing, or does it have a deeper theological meaning? Does it contain something that privileges it over other related terms since it was used? An analysis of the role of the term in question in 3:29 will help address the questions above. When writing about discord or rebellion, does the hagiographer employ other Greek concepts that he could also use in 1 Macc 3:29? Finally, what does Greek extra-biblical literature contribute to the understanding of the noun διχοστασία potentially influencing its intentional use in the verse under examination.

The New Covenant Rhetoric in Ezekiel 11:14–21 and 36:16–38

Wojciech Pikor — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

In the book of Ezekiel, the new covenant is announced in 11:14–21 and 36:16–38. Crucial to these prophecies is the future renewal of the heart and spirit of Israel. While the two prophecies share numerous similarities at the level of form and content, there are also fundamental disparities between them. These are not only due to differences concerning the inner renewal but also to the rhetorical dynamic of the new covenant. To describe this dynamic, we first examine the place of the announcement of inner renewal in these prophecies. Then we analyse the rhetorical structure of Ezek 11:17–20 and 36:24–28. Finally, on the basis of these analyses, we ask the question to what extent Daniel I. Block’s thesis of resumptive exposition in the book of Ezekiel can be applied to establish the rhetorical relationship between the prophecies in question. Rhetorical analysis allows us to conclude that they are part of a work-in-progress logic. Accordingly, various affirmations of the new covenant, announced in different historical contexts, are preserved in the book. Considering other Ezekiel prophecies on the new covenant, especially those on the covenant of peace in 34:25–30 and 37:26–28, one can speak not so much of a single covenant theology as of multiple covenant theologies in the book of Ezekiel.

Zacchaeus’ Encounter with Jesus (Luke 19:1–10): An Embodiment of the Paschal Mystery

Luke Macnamara — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Scholars have overlooked the significance of Zacchaeus’ movements in Luke 19:1–10. They are generally understood as a means of circumventing the crowd, a demonstration of his eagerness, an expression of his desire to see Jesus from a safe distance, or as a humorous scene. However, the captivating details of his ascent and descent from the tree call for a more satisfying explanation. The characterization of the rich toll collector carries pejorative overtones but afterwards he is counted among the lost who are saved. This transformation occurs through his participation in Jesus’ paschal mystery as represented by his climbing and coming down the tree.

Ancient and Rare Readings in the Syriac Harklean Version of the Gospel of John and their Significance for its Interpretation

Piotr Jutkiewicz — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

This paper analyses four intriguing variant readings that are ancient, rare, and unexpectedly transmitted by a relatively late translation of the NT, the Syriac Harklean version. Although the existence of these readings is not a recent discovery, the broader picture emerging from their joint presentation is hoped to encourage a new, less biased perspective from which to approach the Harklean text of the gospels and an enhanced understanding of how the Gospel of John was read and interpreted by its early audiences. This different approach to textual criticism than the traditional quest for one ‘original’ text appreciates even secondary readings exploring their place within larger patterns and is called ‘narrative textual criticism’.

The Character and Function of the Temple Metaphor (ναός) in the Corinthian Correspondence

Marcin Kowalski — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Applying the term of conceptual metaphor, the author examines Paul’s use of the temple metaphor to describe individual believers and the community of the Church in 1 Cor 3:16–17, 6:19, and 2 Cor 6:16. He begins with a concise overview of the numerous Pauline texts in which the temple-related vocabulary is applied to describe Christ and the Christian. Turning to the Corinthian correspondence, in which the term ναός occurs, the author places 1 Cor 3:16–17, 6:19, and 2 Cor 6:16 in their argumentative context and points to their common features. Among them, he mentions problems in Corinth, the individual and communal character of the temple metaphor, the apostle’s appeals for unity in the Church, for the Church to break with sin, and embrace his gospel. The correlates of the temple that Paul applies to believers are God’s saving presence, holiness, purity, worship, and the punishment that awaits those who destroy God’s temple. Finally, the author examines Paul’s use of the temple metaphor to shape the new identity of believers, comparing it to the use of the temple metaphor in Qumran writings.

The 1593 "Gospels and Epistles" by Jakub Wujek, and Their Revision (c. 1594–1595). On the Origins of the Early Modern Catholic Collection of Liturgical Readings in Polish

Tadeusz Rubik — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The paper explores the textual and translatory origins of Gospels and Epistles, a Polish lectionary collection by Jakub Wujek, first published in 1593, revised around 1594–1595, and reprinted over 90 times throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. After discussin g (in section 1) the basic context of the creation of the successive editions of the so-called Wujek’s Bible (Gospel pericopes included in his homiletic collection, the New Testaments of 1593 and 1594, and the Old and New Testament Bible of 1599), the corpus of material and the methodology of analysis, section 2 presents a general characterisation of the lectionary collection’s editio princeps, section 3 shows the relationship of the NT pericopes to the successive editions of “Wujek’s Bible” and the sources of translation – as well as Wujek’s translation method – whereas section 4 examines the OT pericopes. Part 5 analyses the revision of the 1593 Gospels and Epistles carried out c. 1594–1595 based on the 1594 New Testament. The summary gathers conclusions and poses research questions arising from the analyses presented.

D. Clint Burnett, Paul and Imperial Divine Honors: Christ, Caesar, and the Gospel (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 2024)

Marcin Kowalski — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Book review: D. Clint Burnett, Paul and Imperial Divine Honors: Christ, Caesar, and the Gospel (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 2024). Pp. 316 + xxvi. 49,99 USD (hardcover/ebook). ISBN 978-0-8028-7985-1.

Jean Carmignac, Mistrz Sprawiedliwości a Jezus Chrystus (transl. W. Rapak) (Biblioteka Zwojów 10; Kraków: The Enigma Press 2024)

Antoni Tronina — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Book review: Jean Carmignac, Mistrz Sprawiedliwości a Jezus Chrystus (przeł. W. Rapak) (Biblioteka Zwojów 10; Kraków: The Enigma Press 2024). Pp. 144. 50 PLN.
ISBN: 9788386110926.

Academic Activities of the Institute of Biblical Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in the Year 2023/2024

Tomasz Bartłomiej Bąk — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200