ST JOSEPH AS PREFIGURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND HIS ROLE IN THE REDEMPTIVE MYSTERY OF GOD

Authors

  • Joy Philip Kakkanattu DVK, Bangalore

Keywords:

Faith, Foreshadowing, Righteousness, St. Joseph, Zaddiq

Abstract

St Joseph is portrayed in the Bible with a theologically rich and pregnant word righteous (dikaios in Greek, and zaddiq in Hebrew). However, the nuances of this word are very profound and rich as is demonstrated from the life of St Joseph.  St Joseph in his quality of zaddiq is prefigured in Biblical characters like Noah, Patriarch Joseph. There is also the possibility of tracing thematic foreshadowing of St. Joseph like Abraham’s faith, Moses’ risk-taking attitude, Ark of the Covenant, prophet as sentinel etc.  St Joseph in the line of these foreshadowed personalities and themes plays an important role in the redemptive or salvific mystery of God as the foster-father of Jesus.

Author Biography

Joy Philip Kakkanattu, DVK, Bangalore

Joy Philip Kakkanattu, CMI, born in Kerala, India, belongs to the Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) holds a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, and a Doctorate in Theology with specialisation in Biblical Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He is a resident professor at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, for the last 15 years, where he served also as the Dean of Faculty of Theology. At present, he serves as the President of the Catholic Biblical Association of India (CBAI). He has been a visiting faculty at JDV, Pune; Samanvaya Theology College, Bhopal; Kristujyothi College, Bangalore, Indian Institute Spirituality, Bangalore, etc. He has authored books and articles in the area of OT biblical studies. His doctoral thesis was published by Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, titled God’s Enduring Love in the Book of Hosea. A Synchronic and Diachronic Analysis of Hosea 11,1-11, Forschungen zum Alten Testament 2. Reihe 14, 2006. He teaches subjects in Old Testament such as Prophetic Literature, Psalms, Wisdom Literature, Prayer in the Bible, and Biblical Hebrew.

References

Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, 41.

Charlie Trimm, “God’s Staff and Moses’ hands(s): The Battle Against the Amalekites as a Turning Point in the Role of the Divine Warrior,” JSOT 44, 1 (2019): 198-214, 199.

Elie Wiesel, Messengers of God: Biblical Portraits and Legends, New York: Pocket Books, 1977, 163.

H. Ringgren and B. Johnson, “zadaq,” TDOT 12: 257.

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2021/documents/papa-francesco_20211201_udienza-generale.html, accessed 05.12.2021.

Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, 19, 39, 41.

Pope Benedict XVI, Prayer, Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2013, 25.

Pope Francis, Patris Corde, Introductory note.

Pope Francis. Patris Corde, § 7, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/ en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html , accessed 07.12.2021.

Pope John Paul II, apostolic exhortation Redemptoris Custos, §5, §25, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.htmlhttps://www.vatican.va/content/ john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_15081989_ redemptoris-custos.html, 07.12.2021.

Ulrich Luz, Mathew 1-7: A Commentary (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1990), 114.

Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, Interpretation, Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1982, 80.

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Published

2022-03-31

How to Cite

Kakkanattu, J. P. . (2022). ST JOSEPH AS PREFIGURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND HIS ROLE IN THE REDEMPTIVE MYSTERY OF GOD. Asian Horizons, (2), 60–72. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/3713

Issue

2022: Special Issue 2: ASIAN HORIZONS

Section

Articles