Semantyka form imperatiwu w Listach Pawła z Tarsu

Abstrakt

The above paper deals with the semantics of the inflexional formatives of the imperative occurring in the letters of Paul the Apostle. The author is not interested in the designation of the imperative stems. He distinguishes the following oppositions:

1. Tempus praesens − tempus aoristum; 2. Numerus singularis − numerus pluralis; 3. Persona secunda − persona tertia; 4. Genus activum − genus passivum; He adds the fifth opposition which does not follow from the designation of inlexional forms, though, namely, injunction-prohibition.

The Apostle demands only active attitudes among people (the attitude of autoformation) toward the surrounding world, including God, other people (both Christians and non-Christians) and objects. This activity has to express a kind, accepting and acquisitive attitude rather then disapproval and escape. The latter attitude would only be taken against the moral evil and its conscious and stubborn instigators. The Apostle adopts injunctions and prohibitions to the present situations of the addressees. He frequently tries to shape their ethic maturity and introduces general principles and preventive orders as a basis for choice and decisions in particular situations. Paul’s injunctions refer to all addressees in any disjunctive way but they have to be complied with by all members of the christened community.