Przejście Izraelitów przez Jordan (Joz 3–4) w interpretacji patrystycznej

Abstract

First of all it is presented a brief reflection on the typological value of the person and work of Joshua in the ancient Church. Christians were reading the Book of Joshua as a foreshadowing of the saving work of Jesus Christ, accomplished on the cross. Joshua replaces Moses as the lawgiver, so the order of grace in Jesus Saviour replaces the ancient order of the Law. On the basis of homonymy Joshua is associated with Christ. He was the one who would lead God’s people into the Promised Land and and he gave to them the true inheritance. Fathers conceived of the history of Israel as a unique sign announcing the Christian life. For the Christian interpretation, not only the passage through the Red Sea was a typological form of baptism, but so it was also the Israelites’ crossing of the Jordan River. It was the gateway to the Promised Land. Aver it is analyzed the problem of topographical location of Gilgal. The location fits well with the biblical narratives relating the crossing of Jordan River by Joshua and the parting of the waters by both Elijah and his successor Elisha. The Jordan River was tied with the baptism of the Saviour. The typological reading of the biblical narrative in question takes on sacramental and Christological characteristics. Origen of Alexandria saw the divided waters of the Jordan as a symbol of two kinds of people who seek Christian baptism: those who turn away from their old lives and remain in God’s grace and those who returned to their old sinful habits. The early Christian writers saw the other dimensions of the narrative of Joshua 3–4, that it is ecclesial, sacramental, moral and spiritual. The Fathers of the Church saw the memorial stones in Gilgal as a foreshadow of Jesus' twelve Apostles. They were called to become the ministers of Christian baptism and the foundation stones of the Church. In it is offered instead the forgiveness of sins, the knowledge of the truth, the entry in the new earth, God's grace, the legacy of heavenly goods, union with Christ.