Męskość i kobiecość jako znamiona obrazu Bożego w człowieku według Jana Pawła II

Abstract

John Paul H's teaching on God's image and likeness inscribes itself in the whole rich theological tradition, which is present especially in the writings of the Fathers of the Church. According to Pope John Paul II, God's image in man has four basic dimensions. In the first place, it is expressed in the complementary duality of man created as a man and a woman, capable of building a community of persons, and also, on the basis of this communion, forming a relationship with the whole created world. Secondly, God's image speaks of cleverness and freedom of man, who thus becomes the subject, a person. Thirdly, man created to God's likeness is open to God internally, from his own nature, and is capable of entering into a relationship with God, search for Him and enter into a covenant with Him. In this calling to the communion with God, i.e. in the religious life, is the climax of God's image and likeness. Lastly, God's image is a point of reference which makes participation in the life of God Himself possible thanks to Christ's saving act. This participation is the aim of all relationships with God. This is this aspect of the image which theological tradition connected with the notion of “likeness” A different issue is a clear concurrence of John Paul Il's thought with the interpretations of God's image present in the Orthodox theology and in K. Barth. It is difficult to settle the question whether this is the outcome of a visible inspiration of this theology as we never find direct references to particular authors or whether it results from an individual quest based on a common source, which is the biblical truth about the creation of man as an image and likeness to God. Both hypotheses seem equally credible.