“Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9) as Interpreted by the Church Fathers Cover Image

„Błogosławieni, którzy wprowadzają pokój” (Mt 5,9) w interpretacji ojców Kościoła
“Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9) as Interpreted by the Church Fathers

Author(s): Bogdan Czyżewski
Subject(s): History of Church(es), Philosophy of Religion, Biblical studies
Published by: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II - Wydział Teologii
Keywords: peace; Fathers of the Church; blessings; interpretation; unity;

Summary/Abstract: In the first centuries of the Church’s history, the Scriptures – both the Old and the New Testaments – were eagerly commented upon. Thus an interesting exegesis of the Seventh Beatitude – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Mt 5:9) – was offered by the Church Fathers, and the article presents the patristic interpretation of this passage from the Sermon on the Mount. In their exegesis, early Christian writers compare peace to love, warning against committing the sins that disturb peace and love, namely anger and envy. Bringing peace depends primarily on a man himself, who ought to live in harmony with God, with others and with himself. To make peace is to have control over carnal desires (the superiority of the mind over the body), to transmit to posterity a steadfast faith, to avoid divisions in the Church, and to actively preserve unity.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 30
  • Page Range: 231-257
  • Page Count: 27
  • Language: Polish