The Image of God in the Second Epistle of Peter

Authors

  • Krzysztof Suszko Papieski Wydział Teologiczny we Wrocławiu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.241

Keywords:

vocation, Divine Trinity, eternity, faith, glory, grace, image of God, Jesus Christ, knowledge, Kyrios, perfection, recognition, Savior, virtue

Abstract

An analysis of this text reveals the two essential issues handled in the epistle: (1) the constant presence of the theme of God considered from the viewpoint of His glory and (2) an ultimate Christocentrism of all content references in the image of God. The word “glory” (δόξα) appears five times, always in key places of the inspired text under study. The epistle exposes the theology of faith from the aspects of knowledge and calling, so as to successively reveal the mystery of Jesus Christ being the Divine Person – in the context of the Divine Trinity – and, furthermore, to disclose His subsequent Christological titles leading to a complete revelation in the expression: “Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (κύριος ἡμῶν καὶ σωτήρ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός). At the same time, the epistle describes the main practical goal, i.e. “partaking of the divine nature” (cf. 2 Peter 1 : 4) through “God and Jesus, our Lord” (θεός καὶ Ἰησοῦς κύριος ἡμῶν), and the method of reaching this goal; it also warns against going a different way by contrasting the two dimensions of reality: the earthly and the eternal.

Author Biography

Krzysztof Suszko, Papieski Wydział Teologiczny we Wrocławiu

Krzysztof Suszko, wieloletni pracownik Redakcji Wydawnictw Wydziału Teolo­gicznego Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, absolwent teologii na Papieskim Wydziale Teologicznym we Wrocławiu o zainteresowaniach biblijnych, dogmatycznych i z zakresu teologii duchowości. Publikował na łamach rocznika „Scriptura Sacra” i półrocznika „Wrocławski Przegląd Teologiczny”. Jest doktorantem na Papieskim Wydziale Teologicznym we Wrocławiu w Instytucie Nauk Biblijnych w Katedrze Egzegezy Starego Testamentu.

References

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Popowski, R. (2006). Wielki słownik grecko-polski Nowego Testamentu: wydanie z pełną lokalizacją greckich haseł, kluczem polsko-greckim oraz indeksem form czasownikowych (4th ed.). Warszawa: Vocatio.

Published

2017-09-30

How to Cite

Suszko, K. (2017). The Image of God in the Second Epistle of Peter. The Biblical and Liturgical Movement, 70(3), 223–244. https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.241

Issue

Vol. 70 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Articles

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