Jezus Arcykapłan – Λογός źródłem miłosierdzia według Hbr 4,12-16

Abstract

Verses 4, 12-13 comprise an exceptionally beautiful, if difficult to interpret, parallel. Their author used as many as seven terms which appear in the New Testament just once, while some of them are not present in the Holy Scriptures at all and are taken from cultic terminology. A serious interpretative problem, extensively discussed by exegetes, is the Greek term λογός which makes a stylistic figure of these verses. The paper presents and justifies the translation of this term in the meaning in which it appears in the prologue to the Gospel according to John, as the Word, which in Jesus Christ, became a human being. The verses under analysis deal with the problem of the last judgement shown in a form of, what seems to be, an Old Testament offering. Appearing before God at the time of judgement man is no mystery to Him, just like an offering is known in every detail to a priest who is making it. Understanding the pericope in such a way we get a smooth transition between the two sections of the Letter to the Hebrews, with the former presenting Jesus as the Great High Priest sympathising with human being and the letter depicting Him as the merciful High Priest. Verse 4,12 constitutes a terse summary of the first theme, while 4, 13, of the second. The author goes on to explain that Christians should look ahead with hope because they have Jesus, the merciful High Priest, who made an offering of Himself for them and became a source of mercy for all who believe in Him.