Zasada odpłaty w Księdze Malachiasza

Abstract

The doctrine of retribution is a generally accepted and used theological concept that describes the mentality of those who believed that careful obedience to God’s law should lead to reward, whereas disobedience should end up in punishment. Reward and punishment were defined first and foremost in terms of worldly retribution and linked to divine justice. It was only later on that the possibility of retribution after death was taken into account. This issue is present in all types of books of the Old and New Testaments. This exegetical study deals with the doctrine of retribution in the Book of Malachi. The article stresses the prophet’s specific approach to the concept, which is known as the principle of reciprocity. This approach is demonstrated in Malachi’s fifth oracle; then in the book’s epilogue, which says of turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; and finally in the second oracle, where the contempt of God Himself shown by the priests and Levites leads to the contempt they themselves receive from the people. Minor issues in the Book of Malachi containing the principle of reciprocity include love and choice in the prophet’s first oracle, as well as changelessness and uprightness in the fifth oracle. All this ends with a discussion of punishment and reward in the last oracle, bearing in mind this one is clearly different. The study suggests further search for the principle of reciprocity within the framework of the doctrine of retribution present in the Bible.