Bóg - ״budowniczy Izraela"1 i Kościoła. Przesłanie Rdz 2,18-24 w świetle tajemnicy paschalnej Chrystusa
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2008
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Wydział Teologiczny UAM
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God - The "Builder of Israel" and the Church. The Message of Gn 2,18-24 in the Light of Christ's Paschal Mystery
Abstract
This article aims mainly at revealing the spiritual sense o f the pericope according to wording
of the Papal Biblical Commission: the spiritual sense conceived according to Christian faith, as
sense expressed through biblical texts, when they are read under the influence o f Holy Spirit in the
context o f paschal mystery o f Christ and the new life springing from it.
JHWH is expressed in the words: It is not good fo r the man to be fo r himself (Gen. 2,18a). In
BHS there is a particle of purpose 19, for, in purpose of, overlooked by exegetes in a Hebrew word
hbaddó, consisting of a particle of purpose 19, a noun bad = separation, a part of, and a pronoun
suffix 6. That is why the standard translation of this verse should be changed (istead to be alone,
for to be fo r himself). ‘The man-Adam, being alone, not having any relation to anybody else, was
not yet image o f God’ (Kiemikowski), because ‘God is love’ in the relation of the three divine persons,
and because it is said in Gn 1,27 that woman and man were created together in God«s image
and the word 3àdam means both man and woman (1,26).
The deepest carrier of the message of the pericope is the verb banah - built, occuring here in
the form of wajjiqtol wayylben. It is full of meaning that the theme of God as a builder or an architect
in himself appears in the exile or post-exile texts Is 45,13; 62,5; lKgs 11,39; Jer 5,5n; 31,2-6;
Ez 36,33-38; Ps 102,17; 127,1; 147,2.
Biblical authors use a verb ״bnh”- to build because a conception and birth o f the man was
always related to activity of God who ‘was building’ man in his mother's womb (Gn 16,2; 30,5; Ps
139,13), who was building a dynasty (2 Sm 7,27; 1 Kgs 17,25), and consequently he was building
the nation and the state, (cf. Ex 1,21 Dt 25,9). The following conlusions result from this article:
1. The key to understanding the pericope is the allusion of the verse Gn 2,23a to the formula
of the covenant (W. Briiggemann), which does not say about origin o f the woman in a biological
sense. Exegetical tradition interpreting the text as supposedly saying about the biological origin of
the woman is based on familiarization of the word ‘rib’ and with inappropriate play of words in
23b, which blurrs and misinterpretes the meaning of the text. While the main intention of the text
is to emphasize solidarity o f man and woman and their mutual responsibilty for each other and for
the world.
2. This solidarity is mutual but it refers both to cultivating soil - 3àdàmàh (3iSSah - 5adama11)
and to observing the Law of the covenant.
3. Image of God and his bride Israel is close to the prophets.That is why Gn 2,18-24 refers to
the teachings of the prophets about the covenant (H. Renckens), especially to Hos 1-3; Ez 16 i 23;
Deutero- i Trito-Isaiah. This image was presented both in terms of infidelity and restored relations
of the covenant. The metaphor o f marriage says about the covenant of God with Israel. However,
on basis of Gn 2,23a it is clear that this marriage is not a more personal or auxiliary image of the
covenant but speaks directly about permanent relations which last between God and Israel in weal
and woe, in weakness and power, in faithfulness and infidelity.
4. The same imagery is used by St. Paul in Eph 5,21-33. The relation between Christ and
Church was built on the community o f fate, loyalty and responsibility which has a guarantee to
survive in any lot. Christ and Church are one body. This is a formula of the covenant repeated by
Paul from Gn 2,24. The words of St. Paul His purpose fo r dying fo r all was that men, while still in
life, should cease to live fo r themselves, and and should live fo r him, who fo r their sake died and
was raised to life (2C0r 5,15) are found as a prolongation of Gn 2,18 It is not good fo r the man to
be fo r himself.
5. The text does not suggest any superiority o f male element over female or justifies sexual
intercourses since such a problem did not exist in Israel. Marriage was based on community of fate, loyalty and commitment which ought to be treated seriously. It is neither light nor accidental,
grounded on mood or feeling. It is based on an oath of solidarity. Its general aim is not to find
mutual joy, though not excluded, but it is the job of cultivating soil and obeying the Law of the
covenant. Thus, human relations were grasped in context o f solidarity and responsibility for people
and the world.
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Poznańskie Studia Teologiczne, T. 22, 2008, s. 21-42