Analiza narracyjna jako jedna z metod analizy tekstu biblijnego rozwinęła się pod koniec lat 80. XX w. W artykule autor wskazuje twórców i prekursorów tej metody (G. Genette, S. Chatman, D. Rhoas, D. Michie, A. Culpepper), następnie omawia podstawowe elementy narracji: treść i formę (story, discours) oraz sposoby ich analizy. W aspekcie treściowym analizie podlegają wydarzenia, postacie i okoliczności, w warstwie zaś formalnej analizowane są określone zabiegi narracyjne decydujące o sposobie przekazania danego wydarzenia. Autor zaznacza, że analiza narracyjna nie powinna być stosowana w sposób wyłączny, ale wraz z innymi metodami, przede wszystkim, metodą historyczno-krytyczną.

This essay deals with, or rather attempts to explore, the problem of irony and humour (sensu largo) in the Bible. On the whole Polish theology, homiletics and academic biblical studies have hardly anything to say about it, and when they do mention it, it is done in a rather perfunctory and unsatisfactory manner. This article asks what may be reasons for this ‘exegetical retouch’ (tabooing?), i.e. why has the question of biblical irony, which is a staple of international scholarship, received so little attention in Poland? Why do contemporary Polish biblical and homiletic studies cultivate a staid and solemn tone, and steer clear of a direct and plain exposition laced with subtle irony and a touch of asteism, a sure sign of a wise sense of humour that characterizes ancient Judaism? For Gary Webster, Terri Bednarz and Yehuda Radday the recognition level of biblical humour, sophisticated wordplay or irony depends on the reader’s competence, his linguistic and cultural sensitivity, his ability to detect cognitive presuppositions, and his knowledge of relevant contexts. Yet even a thorough understanding of the biblical text and its cultural conditioning cannot rule out doubts, moot points and interpretative dilemmas that bedevil the work of every translator and hermeneutic analyst and stoke up unending debates.

The article is based mainly on the Pontifical Biblical Commission's document Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (1993), but it also refers to The Jewish Peopleand his Holy Scriptures in the Christian Bible (2001). The first part of the article deals with an outline of the history of OT Exegesis, particularly the common heritage of Samaritan, Jewish and Christian faith. The second part describes modern methods and approaches of biblical enquiry.

Methodology of New Testament studies reflects the way(s) which are commonly accepted by scholars working with the second part of the Christian Bible in order to solve difficulties and problems connected with the proper reading, understanding and interpretation of biblical text. Taking into consideration the important document of Pontifical Biblical Commission Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (1993), the article describes the fundamental distinctions between approaches and methods as two general modes of enquiry of the Bible. The special attention is given towards the historical-critical method, stressing that her use is necessary in the scientific studies of the four Gospels as well as the other canonical books. Methodology of New Testament studies should also reflect the serious knowledge of the interpretation given by the Church Fathers and the Wirkungsgeschichte of the Bible.

This study focuses on potential athletic language in Phil 3:12-16. The main focus is the question what the assumption of the presence of athletic language in this text contributes to understanding it and especially its theological meaning better. The study consists of three parts. In part 1, the author analyses the preceding and the subsequent context of Phil 3:12-16 joining the defenders of a concentric structure: 3:1-11 (A), 3:12-16 (B), 3:17-4:1 (A’). The two framing sections (A and A’) focus on the opposition between Paul and his opponents, but the main point is Paul’s command to the Philippian addressees to “stand firm in the Lord”. Part 2 contains a brief exegetical analysis of 3:12-16. Our analysis focuses on the most important words (gaining/attaining; movement; thinking) and the goal of heavenly perfection with which they are connected. In the third part we analyse the potential athletic images in 3:12-16 which finds its “anchor point” in the noun τὸ βραβεῖον in 3:14. Based on the acceptance of this noun as an agonistic terminus technicus, other verbs and nouns which are not in and of themselves referring to athletics are interpreted as having an athletic meaning in our context. The study concludes with the caution that Paul counterbalances the “effort-reward scheme” of athletic language with the “giving-receiving scheme” of his call language. In this way, Paul introduces an emphasis on the future-orientedness of the message which is characteristic of his preaching and living.

This paper focuses on three issues. First, it is about the context and environment of pre-Nicene theology. It is emphasized that pre-Nicene theology did not neglect ca-techetical and liturgical reflection (ad intra) while at the same time successfully ente-red into a critical and creative dialogue with both the Semitic and Greco-Roman world where first Christians lived (ad extra). For contemporary theology its means that it cannot reject historical reasoning, placed in space and time. The second part stresses that, in spite of different situations and all historical and cultural contexts, theology before Nicea was above all an understanding of Sacred Scripture to which the key is the Risen Christ as the source and definitive fulfilment of the inspired writings. Finally, the third part of the paper focuses on the existential and spiritual experience from which pre-Nicene theology originated. For this theology the Gospel of Christ is not just the rule of faith but also the rule of life. This leads to a conclusion that a contem-porary theologian is a to take up an existential-personalistic reflection on Revelation using the historical-hermeneutic method .