Bulletin of Biblical Studies, Volume 2, June 1974, issue 7, pp. 183-270.
The June 1974 volume of the Bulletin of Biblical Studies contains three (3) articles.
Savas Agouridis annotates the Sermon on the Mount. The present article is the first part of his study, the introduction. He presents and analyses the literal and historical problems of the Sermon on the Mount. In this frame he focuses, with regard to the first category of problems, on the question of the composition of Jesus speeches in the Gospel of Mathew and particularly on the composition of the Sermon on the Mount. With regard to the second category of problems he gives emphasis in the historical reasons and factors that prompted Mathew in this composition. Then follows the presentation and analysis of the theological problems of the Sermon on the Mount. This problem has two parts. The first part is connected with the question: what precisely wanted Jesus by making this speech, while the other is connected with the relation of Jesus’ aim with the objectives of the common people and society. The writer analyses systematically the problem. The article is continued in the next volume.
St. Papadopoulos writes about the relation of elders, reported by Papia of Ierapolis, with the Apostles, and investigates the authenticity or not of that tradition. Simultaneously he evaluates Papia’s contribution as shepherd and writer. St. Papadopoulos at the beginning examines Papia’s relation with the Apostles, a problem that arises from the testimonies of Irenaeus and historian Eusebius. He also attempts to evaluate the reliability or not of Eusebius testimony for Papia. Finally, the writer supports that Papia was not nor a disciple of Apostles, nor saved genuinely “words” of Jesus, but on the contrary, he gave faith in elders who did not follow the authentic apostolic tradition and the authentic apostolic preaching.
G. Patronos analyses the meaning of terms “apostle” and “mission” in New Testament. The first part of his article is constituted by clarifications, concerning the use and the importance of the terms in New Testament. In the second part the writer investigates the particular meanings of the biblical theological term “apostle”, in order to interpret the essential content of the term “mission”, which in the frame of New Testament has a fundamental soteriological significance for the work and the role of the Church. According to the above, he is referring succinctly to the basic characteristics of the term “apostle” and “apostolicity”. Thus he examines the issue of the calling, which is held by the God, an election and a calling up that takes place for the shake of the Church, of the resurrection of Christ as a starting point but also as a central element of apostolicity, of the historical importance of apostolic power and of the eschatological understanding of apostolic mission and finally, of martyrdom as the aim and the end of apostolic life.
In Chronicles, it is described the work of the Fifth International Congress of Biblical Studies of Oxford, that took place in Oxford, 3 - 7 September 1973.
The volume closes with reviews of modern Greek and foreigner books.