„Ewangelia Boga, obiecana od dawna przez proroków w Pismach Świętych” (Rz 1,2). Stary Testament w interpretacji Apostoła Pawła

Abstract

The article addresses the question of understanding and interpretation of the Old Testament by Apostle Paul. Paul does not only acknowledge the authority of the Old Testament as the Word of God but also devises in his Letters certain hermeneutical principles for the relation of the Old Testament and the work of salvation in Christ, which will then be continued and developed by the Christian tradition in the interpretation of the Bible. The basis for the presentation of Paul’s understanding of the Old Testament is the beginning of “the Letter to the Romans”, in which the Apostle states that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was “promised through prophets in the Holy Scriptures” (1:2). This sentence shows that the Apostle sees the Old Testament as first and foremost a promise, which should be interpreted in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. It is the prehistory of the Gospel, the work of salvation in Jesus and the Christian faith. The entire Old Testament has a prophetic dimension. It proclaims the mystery of Christ and directs the history of salvation towards its centre and climax- Christ himself. The article also contains the description of main hermeneutical principles (keys) such as typology and allegory, which are proposed and used by Paul in the correct interpretation of the relation of the Old Testament and Christ. They allow us to understand the continuity and uniformity of God’s plan of salvation, which God faithfully and consistently fulfils.