Nowe życie jak ziarno gorczycy. Spójność argumentacji retorycznej Pawła w Rz 5–8

Abstract

In the present article, the author employs rhetorical method to analyze the coherence of Paul’s argumentation on the new life in Christ in Rom 5–8. First, the topic of new life is examined in the global context of the dispositio rhetorica of Rom 5–8. The three dangers to which the gift of new life is exposed are: 1) the slavery of sin (Rom 6), 2) the defective human self-righteousness (Rom 7,7-25), and 3) the suffering and corruption of the present world (Rom 8,19-23). At the end, the role of the Spirit in Rom 5–8 is discussed. He is the one that liberates mankind from the triple slavery and leads to the fullness of new life, which is to be revealed in the Kingdom of God. The rhetorical reading shows the coherent strategy of Paul who describes the gift of new life in a germinal state, which calls for man’s reliance on the Spirit and the Spirit empowered deeds.