Svévolníci v Božím lidu (Juda 22–23)

Abstract

The wicked in the people of God (Jude 22–23) Most of the epistle of Jude is devoted to the depiction of the „wicked“ people (ἀσεβεῖς). Nevertheless, vague OT allusions and picturesque images from the natural world do not allow us to identify these „wicked“ safely (contra „Gnostic“ hypothesis). It is only in 22–23 that we learn how believers are to treat the wicked, but this passage is full of text variants and allows for a number of inter-pretations. These are divided into two sections and six subsections according to the classification of Bauckham and Frey. Our interpretation is based on the A4 subsection which allows for two (not three) groups of opponents and the double appeal of „have mercy“ (ἐλεᾶτε). In 22, we prefer the reading διακρινομένους, i.e. the accusative relating to opponents: „(have mercy) with the doubters“, whereas the nominative διακρινόμενοι would apply to readers and give them too much power: „discern (different groups of wicked and treat them differently)“. Behind the „fire“ and the „tainted cloak“ (23) we see neither hell nor sexual transgressions, but figuratively expressed calls for determination (cf. ἁρπάζοντες) and prudence (ἐν φόβῳ). Similarly, we translate σάρξ (23) as „sin“, together with ČEP and indirectly SNC, as opposed to the translation „body“ („tělo“) in the most Czech NT translations. From the fifteen Czech interpretations monitored, we incline to the line crossing the denominations, marked by Sušil (in his commentary), Žilka, Škrabal, ČEP, B21 and SNC.