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Vol. 29 (2022)

Artykuły

Through thorn and weakness to power and grace. The Word of the Lord in 2 Cor 12:9 as rhetorical-theological climax of pauline “fool’s speech”

  • Arkadiusz Wojnicki
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52097/rs.2022.645-662  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2023-09-19

Abstract

In nowadays Bible studies a rhetorical approach towards analysis of Corpus Paulinum allows not only to understand the structure of the Pauline letters, but also the used terminology and – consequently – the Apostle of the Gentiles’ theology. The “Fool’s Speech” present in the 2 Cor 11-12 proceeds to its climax, which is – rare in the Pauline letters – word of the Lord (Herrenwort): “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). This paper, founded on the rhetorical methodology, presents an analysis of the passage 2 Cor 12:7-10 and of the Pauline pairs of terms σκόλοψ – ἀσθένεια and δύναμις – χάρις to shed light on its theological interpretation. Use of the word of the Lord turns out to be the key to carry out a synkrisis of Paul with Christ as well as with the addressees of the letter, and even with every Christian.

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