Browsing by Author "Piwowar, Andrzej"

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
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    Ben Sira’s Idea on the Role and Tasks of the Physician in the Process of Healing the Sick (Sir 38:12–15)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2024) Piwowar, Andrzej
    The last part of Ben Sira’s reflections on the activities of his contemporary physicians and the medicine of the time contained in Sir 38:1–15 is devoted to the attitude of the medical practitioner when healing the sick person (38:12–15). The pericope has a concentric structure with the attitude of the physicians towards God at its centre (38:13–14). The frame verses are devoted to the attitude of the sick person (38:12) and the sinner (38:15) towards the physician. According to the sage, it is not enough for a suffering person to turn to God alone asking to restore their health (Sir 38:9–11), but they should call on a doctor to help them recover (38:12a). The sick person needs a doctor’s help (38:12b). The Greek text emphasises that one should not be afraid of a doctor because God created them (the Hebrew version omits this argument; see 38:12a). Therefore, physicians are desired by the Lord and, like all creatures, God has also assigned them a specific task. However, physicians cannot rely solely on their knowledge and skills while healing a sick person. They should ask (pray to) God to allow them first to make the correct diagnosis (as explicitly stated in the Hebrew version), and then to heal their patient. The last verse of the pericope (38:15) poses many difficulties, which are reflected in numerous interpretations of its content. According to the analysis made in the article, it does not contain a negative image of a medical practitioner because its main message is the link between the cause of illness and sin (traditional perception of illness expressed in the Old Testament based on the principle of retribution). In Sir 38:12–15, as well as in the entire reflection on the contemporary medicine (38:1–15), Ben Sira made an excellent synthesis between this field of sci­ence and Israel’s faith in the divine Physician.
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    Did Sirach See Himself as a Prophet?
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2022) Piwowar, Andrzej
    The article reviews J.J. Pudełko’s book-length study titled Profetyzm w Księdze Syracha [Prophetism in the Book of Sirach]. Following an initial presentation of the book, the author focuses on its methodological aspect and offers an assessment of its merit before discussing the main thesis of Pudełko in the context of other scholarly opinions on the issue. Based on her meticulous analysis of prophetism in the works of the Jerusalem sage, Pudełko concludes that Sirach saw himself as an heir to the Old Testament prophets, as his role of a sage corresponded to the tasks fulfilled earlier by prophets. Although this argument is questioned by most contemporary analysts of the Book of Sirach, still Pudełko’s book constitutes an important intervention in the debate on Sirach’s prophetic self-awareness.
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    Dlaczego Syrach pominął Ezdrasza w Pochwale Ojców (Syr 44-50)?
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2011) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Ben Sira in the Praise of the Fathers (Sir 44:1-50:21) speaks about Nehemiah, but does not mention Ezra. This peculiar omission has elicided a lively discussion concerning the reasons of this silence. The present paper presents the most important exegetical attempts to solve this problem. There are essentially two ways of approach to Ben Sira's omission: the fi rst one concentrates on the literary and historical motifs, the most important of which questions the historical character of Ezra. The second approach proposes to solve the problem by pointing to some theological motivations that might have caused the omission. One of the proposals sees a different conception of theocracy between the author of Ben Sira and the book of Ezra, where the latter is presented as an offi cer of Persian authority, and therefore responsible for foreign infl uence on Israel in Judea. This reason together with a different understanding of priesthood in these two texts have most probably led to the omission of any mention of Ezra in Ben Sira's book. The ultimate answer to that question, however, must remain hypothetical.
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    Elisa Chiorrini, Corso di greco biblico. Fonetica, morfologia enote di sintassi (Analecta 93; Milano, Terra Santa Edizioni 2022)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2023) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Recenzja książki: Elisa Chiorrini, Corso di greco biblico. Fonetica, morfologia e note di sintassi (Analecta 93; Milano: Terra Santa 2022). Ss. 543. 39 EUR. ISBN 979-12-5471-133. Book review: Elisa Chiorrini, Corso di greco biblico. Fonetica, morfologia e note di sintassi (Analecta 93; Milano: Terra Santa 2022). Pp. 543. 39 EUR. ISBN 979-12-5471-133.
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    Lending and Borrowing in the Teaching of Sirach (Sir 29:1–7)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2023) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Among the various topics and issues that Ben Sira discusses in his book is the issue of borrowing. The sage covers it in detail and at length in Sir 29:1–7, presenting it not from a financial and economic perspective, but from a sapiential viewpoint, appropriate to the nature of his work. The purpose of this article is to explore Sirach’s teaching on the subject of borrowing and lending of material goods. As a preliminary matter, the issue of borrowing in the setting of the ancient Near East and in biblical Israel is presented in a highly synthetic manner. Next, the boundaries of the literary unit that is the subject of the presented analyses and its structure are defined. In the remainder of the article, the Greek text of Sir 29:1–7 (the Hebrew version of this pericope is not known) is exegetically analyzed drawing on the historical-critical method. The examined literary unit is divided into two main parts. The first is a discussion of the general rules concerning lending and borrowing, i.e. based on the texts of the Torah, the obligation to grant a loan also reminds one of the obligation to return the debt according to the terms agreed upon. The second part of the pericope depicts the difficulties associated with not returning borrowed goods on the part of dishonest borrowers (delay in returning the loan, making excuses, even aggression towards the creditor). Fundamental to the sage’s teaching on the subject of borrowing are the texts of the Pentateuch saying that one should give loans. However, the author is a realist and therefore devotes much of his reflection on the issue to the difficulties involved in returning borrowed goods, with a view to encouraging his disciples to adopt an attitude of prudence and caution lest they suffer the loss of some of their possessions. Yet, despite these risks, he encourages them to support those in need with loans.
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    Nowy podręcznik do nauki składni nowotestamentowej greki. Analiza merytoryczno-dydaktyczna
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2019) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Artykuł jest dokładną analizą treści książki D.P. Bécharda Syntax of New Testament Greek. A Student’s Manual . W zamyśle autora tej gramatyki ma to być podręcznik lub ewentualnie główna pomoc dla studentów Papieskiego Instytutu Biblijnego w Rzymie w nauce składni greki nowotestamentalnej. Szczegółowe badanie zawartości tego opracowania wykazało, że jego autor pominął wiele ważnych zagadnień syntaksy greki biblijnej, co sprawiło, że Syntax of New Testament Greek. A Student’s Manual nie może być uznane za całościowe opracowanie podjętego zagadnienia, a jedynie za gramatykę na poziomie podstawowym (wstępnym).
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    Respect for the Doctor (Sir 38:1-3)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2019) Piwowar, Andrzej
    The first part of the article synthetically presents the Old Testament Israelites’ attitude to doctors and their activities. It is an essential prerequisite for the depiction of the innovative approach to the issue proposed by Sirach in Sir 38:1-15. Subsequently, the translation of the text’s Greek version into Polish is presented and the pericope’s structure is divided into four parts: I. 38:1-3 – respect for the doctor, II. 38:4-8 – the value of medicine, III. 38:9-11 – the relation of the sick to God, and IV. 38:12-15 – the doctor’s role in treating the sick. The present article is devoted to the exegetico-theological analysis of the first part of the Greek version of Sir 38:1-15, that is of 38:1-3. Even though the article is based primarily on the Greek text of the verses, it takes into account its original Hebrew version as well. Sirach calls the believing Israelites to completely change their perception of doctors and their activities. He encourages his readers not to reject doctors but to treat them with respect and reverence, and, indirectly, not to ignore the doctor’s efforts meant to restore health to the sick one. The sage justifies his novel approach with two arguments. First, doctors were created by God and given the task of aiding the sick in their suffering. They are a mere tool in God’s hands, for God is the only Doctor that can truly heal a person (this aspect is emphasized more by the Hebrew than by the Greek text). Secondly, doctors deserve respect for even kings and dignitaries benefit from their service and treat them with respect and reverence. In 38:1-3 Sirach offers a perfect synthesis of Israel’s traditional belief in God, who is the only doctor able to heal a person, with the Hellenistic influence related to medicine and the people who dabble in it.
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    Suretyship in the Teaching of Ben Sira (Sir 29:14–20)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2025) Piwowar, Andrzej
    The article is an analysis of the teaching of Ben Sira on becoming surety for individuals in need of that form of economic and material assistance contained in Sir 29:14–20. First, the way of functioning of suretyship in Israel and the approach to it is discussed, mainly based on the Book of Proverbs, which quite strongly and emphatically forbids that practice. This is followed by a delimitation of the pericope in the work of Ben Sira devoted to that issue and the presentation of its structure. The main part of the article is devoted to the exegetical analysis of Sir 29:14–20 based on the historical-critical method, taking into account elements of syntactic and semantic analysis. Ben Sira does not forbid becoming surety for those in need of such support; on the contrary, he encourages it (cf. 29:14a, 20a). However, influenced by abuses of that practice (cf. 29:16–19), he urges his disciple to be cautious and become surety only for acquaintances – neighbours (cf. 29:14a, 20a), not to risk and become bankrupt (cf. 29:16a, 17a, 20b) or be forced to leave the home country in case the borrower (cf. 29:18), for whom one had vouched, does not pay the obligations to the creditor. At the same time, Sirach reminds the person for whom someone has vouched of the need to fulfil the obligation towards the guarantor (cf. 29:15) as not doing so means becoming a sinner (cf. 29:16a, 19a). The main motive for Ben Sira’s change in approach to suretyship, in relation to the Book of Proverbs, seems to be primarily drawing attention to the commandment to help one’s neighbour, to which the Sage refers implicitly, and the desire to protect the Jewish community and strengthen it economically at a time when Hellenistic influence on it was increasingly stronger and more significant.
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    The Origin and Significance of Medicaments According to Ben Sira (Sir 38:4-8)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2021) Piwowar, Andrzej
    In his reflection on doctors’ work and the process of treatment (Sir 38:1-15), Ben Sira draws attention to the usage of medications (Sir 38:4-8). Many contemporary Jews were probably recalcitrant to use them, as ancient medicine resorted to magic. Magic was also employed in the production of medications. The first part of the article synthetically presents the usage of medicines in ancient Israel on the basis of the Old Testament. Then a literary analysis and exegesis of Sir 38:4-8 is attempted. The present article takes into consideration the Greek version of this pericope, for it constitutes the canonical text of the Book of Sirach (the article nevertheless compares the Greek text to its Hebrew original). The pericope evinces a concentric structure (A – 38:4-5; B – 38:6; A’ – 38:7-8). The verses that frame the pericope refer to medicines (vv. 4–5 are devoted to the justification of their use, while vv. 7–8 mention the reasons they are used for). The central part (38:6), in turn, focuses on the origin of medical knowledge. Ben Sira strives to persuade his fellow Jews to use medications, as they are not related to magic and pose no threat to believers. It is God who created them, and they come from him. The sage refers in his argumentation to what happened in Marah (cf. Exod 15:25) to justify the use of medicines and their natural origin. Medicaments help cure diseases and afflictions and they restore harmony of creation, disrupted by disease and suffering (38:8). Their divine provenance is also corroborated by the fact that knowledge of medicine and medications was given to people by God (38:6). Hence, people should worship God for this great gift. In Sir 38:4-8, Ben Sira performs a perfect synthesis of contemporary medicine developed by neighboring (pagan) peoples with Israel’s faith (only God can cure a person, but he does so through medications; medicine is thus a tool in his hands). The sage noticed the positive value and usefulness of medications, but through referring to God and showing the divine provenance of medicine, he dispelled any doubts the believers might have had concerning the use of medications to cure a disease.
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    The Sick Person’s Relationship with God in the Healing Process according to Ben Sira (Sir 38:9–11)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2022) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Ben Sira’s teaching on medicine and healing in Sir 38:1–15 is divided into two parts: the first (38:1–8) deals directly with the medicine of the time (doctors – 38:1–3 and the medicines they used – 38:4–8), while the second focuses on the healing process (38:9–15). In the latter, the sage first focuses on the attitude of the sick (38:9–11) towards God and the role and tasks of the physician in the process of healing the sick (38:12–15). The article addresses Ben Sira’s teaching on the relationship of the sick man to the Lord (38:9–11). The sage, after positively evaluating and responding to modern medicine (a novelty in the Old Testament), returns in 38:9–11 to the implicitly expressed conviction found in the Bible that only God can restore health to a sick person – that He is the only physician. He therefore urges the sick person to turn to God. According to the sage, turning to the Most High (38:9a), prayer (38:9b), the rejection of sin and iniquity (38:10) and sacrifices (38:11) play an important role in the process of recovery. Sir 38:9–11 has a concentric structure with a call for a change in moral conduct at its centre (38:10). These are surrounded by appeals to turn to the Lord (38:9 and 38:11). According to Ben Sira, healing from illness is the work of God, so the sick person should make a conversion (abandon sin and turn away from evil) and renew his relationship with the Most High. According to him, conversion is crucial in the healing process – without it, the sick person cannot return to health and full strength. In this way, the sage expresses the Old Testament teaching about illness as the result of sin (retribution) and God as the only physician. What is new in Ben Sira’s teaching is the call to offer sacrifices for the recovery of health and healing from suffering.
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    Znaczenie i rola Izaaka i Jakuba w historii Izraela według Syracha (Syr 44,22-23)
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2019) Piwowar, Andrzej
    The article is devoted to the analysis of the Greek text of Sir 44:22-23, but it also takes into account the Hebrew version of the praise of Isaac and Jacob. The main aim of the article is to read Sirach’s depiction of these two patriarchs in his Praise of the Fathers (Sir 44:1 – 50:24) and the role and significance that he attributes to them in Israel’s history. The analysis conducted shows that the Jerusalem sage based his presentation of Isaac and Jacob exclusively on the Book of Genesis, not referring to any theological traditions connected with the patriarchs that were known during the Second Temple period. The principal role played by the two patriarchs in the history of the chosen nation is passing on to the subsequent generation the covenant that God made with Abraham and the promises related to it (Isaac’s substantial passivity in this role has to be pointed out). It is this motif that is emphasized in Sir 44:22-23, as a result of which other important events from the patriarchs’ lives are completely overlooked, including the justification of Jacob’s stealing of Isaac’s blessing for his firstborn son.
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    Znaczenie przymiotnika αἰώνιος w Setpuagincie, pseudoepigrafach Starego Testamentu i Nowym Testamencie w nawiązaniu do interpretacji Wacława Hryniewicza tekstu Mt 25,46
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2019) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Artykuł poświęcony jest analizie znaczenia przymiotnika αἰώνιος, które przyjmuje on w Septuagincie, pseudoepigrafach Starego Testamentu i Nowym Testamencie. Inspiracją do napisania artykułu była interpretacja tekstu Mt 25,46 przez ks. prof. Wacława Hryniewicza. Dowodzi on, że omawiany przymiotnik – użyty dwa razy we wspomnianym wersecie – w syntagmie εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον znaczy „długotrwały”, tzn. trwający przez długi czas, ale mający koniec (Hryniewicz odnosi się do znaczenia analizowanego słowa, które przyjmuje ono w grece klasycznej), podczas gdy w εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον przyjmuje znaczenie „wieczny”, tzn. ma swój początek, ale nie ma końca. Na tej podstawie Hryniewicz uważa, że kara, o której mówi Mt 25,46, nie jest wieczna, lecz ograniczona w czasie (w jego mniemaniu interpretację tę potwierdza również rzeczownik κόλασιν rozumiany jako kara ukierunkowana na refleksję, której celem jest poprawa postępowania). Artykuł analizuje znaczenie αἰώνιος w LXX, w pseudoepigrafach Starego Testamentu i Nowym Testamencie, wskazując na wyraźną ewolucję znaczenia tego słowa w powyższych tekstach. Zwłaszcza w pseudoepigrafach Starego Testamentu, posiadających apokaliptyczny charakter, przymiotnik ten przyjmuje znaczenie „wieczny” w tym sensie, że ma początek, ale nie ma końca (jest to tzw. wieczność względna). Przyczyną tej zmiany znaczenia była rodząca się wiara w życie pozagrobowe i nagrodę albo karę, która czeka na każdego po jego śmierci. Zakończenie artykułu wskazuje na błędy i nieścisłości dotyczące refleksji Hryniewicza na temat kary wiecznej na podstawie Mt 25,46.
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    Znaczenie rzeczownika κόλασις w Septuagincie, pseudoepigrafach Starego Testamentu i w Nowym Testamencie w nawiązaniu do interpretacji Wacława Hryniewicza tekstu Mt 25,46
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2019) Piwowar, Andrzej
    Artykuł jest próbą odpowiedzi na zaproponowaną przez ks. prof. Wacława Hryniewicza interpretację Mt 25,46. Odnosząc się do pierwotnego znaczenia przymiotnika αἰώνιος i rzeczownika κόλασις w klasycznym języku greckim, Hryniewicz uważa, że syntagma εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον powinna być rozumiana nie w znaczeniu kary wiecznej, lecz jako kara wychowawcza, której celem jest zmiana i poprawa zachowania osoby ukaranej. Trwałaby ona jedynie przez pewien czas, ale nie na zawsze – nie byłaby karą wieczną, tzn. nie mającą końca.410 W artykule została dokonana analiza znaczenia słowa κόλασις w Septuagincie, w greckich apokryfach Starego Testamentu i w Nowym Testamencie w celu przekonania się, czy rzeczywiście rzeczownik ten został użyty w tych pismach w znaczeniu, które przypisał mu W. Hryniewicz. Na podstawie wyników przeprowadzonych badań można stwierdzić, że κόλασις straciło swoje pierwotne znaczenie, które nadał mu Hryniewicz, a przynajmniej nie jest ono tak jednoznaczne, jak twierdzi ów teolog. Słowo to najczęściej odnosi się do kary za czyn, który jest zakazany przez Prawo, bądź do czynu moralnie podejrzanego. Jedynie niektóre teksty wyraźnie wskazują na dydaktyczny aspekt analizowanego słowa. W zdecydowanej większości wypadków obecności wymiaru dydaktycznego kary jest jedynie domniemywana, ponieważ każda kara (oprócz kary śmierci i sądu ostatecznego) może być postrzegana jako mająca charakter dydaktyczny. Analiza znaczenia κόλασις dokonana w niniejszym artykule podważa twierdzenie W. Hryniewicza, że w Mt 25,46 słowo to zachowało swoje pierwotne – odnoszące się do kary wychowawczej – znaczenie.