The Messianic Interpretation of the Expression “Sun of Righteousness” (Mal 3:20)

Dariusz Dogondke




Abstract

Christian tradition reads the words of the prophet Malachi on „the sun of righteousness” (Mal 3:20) as Messianic, calling Jesus Christ the sun of righteousness. This paper is an attempt to justify this belief in the context of the Old Testament, especially of the Book of Malachi. Indeed, the Messianic nature of this expression is indicated by the closest context, in which the image of rising sun has been contrasted with the image of the lack of root and branch. The total destruction of „root and branch” means no messianic hope for the wicked (Mal 3:19), but for the God­fearing the rising of the sun of righteousness is prelude to the fulfillment of this hope, about which the prophet Malachi convinces us also in these words: the sun of righteousness will rise „with its heeling rays” (Mal 3:20). On the basis of the Old Testament exegesis, the Messianic interpretation of the expression „the sun of righteousness” is fully justified.

Keywords:

The Book of Malachi, sun of righteousness, justice, salvation, the day of the Lord, messianic interpretation, root, branch


Published
2014-12-01


Dogondke, D. (2014). Interpretacja mesjańska wyrażenia „słońce sprawiedliwości” (Ml 3,20). Verbum Vitae, 26, 33–47. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.1591

Dariusz Dogondke  akubis@gmail.com



License

The author(s) grant (s) to the Licensee a non-exclusive and royalty-free license in accordance with the provisions of the Appendix: LICENSE TO USE THE WORK