Abstract

What conclusions of the Pope’s doctrine are significant for our way of teaching
the treaty on Redemption?
/) e lecture should include an analysis of the concrete existential situation
of today’s individual, our nation and all modern humanity. Awareness
of the contemporary existential situation and contemporary conditions should
be both a starting point in the considerations on the Redemption, their relevance
and indispensability, as does political theology or liberation theology in their
own way, and the basis which makes it possible that lectures on Redemption
would demonstrate its significance for today’s man and teach people effective
concern for specific matters of existence of Others. When talking about the
effects of Redemption, one should ask what is its significance today for human existence, for example in the burning matter of human dignity and rights, or
in the field of the Church’s tasks in the world. us, both the starting point and
effects of the Redemption should be presented in a concrete way, in relation
to the current socio-historical situation, based on current experience.
() All teaching on the Redemption should be based on biblical sources,
obviously interpreted in light of the last Council and entire Christian Tradition.
Referring – to a greater extent – to the content and statements presented
in the Bible, may help to overcome the abstractness and the one-sidedness
of traditional soteriological treaties, which consider Redemption only in terms
of substitute compensation, the most perfect sacrifice and individualistic and
ethical participation in the atonement and merits of Christ.
X) It is necessary to harmoniously combine – as the Pope does in his Encyclical
– various aspects of the doctrine of the Redemption, o6en interpreted separately
in earlier theological treaties. In the spirit of such a harmonious synthesis,
it is necessary to demonstrate the relationship between the work of Redemption
and the work of creation, between the Incarnation and the Passover of Christ,
between man’s Redemption and the Redemption of the whole world, between
moral liberation from sin and social liberation from all forms of oppression,
the concern for eternal salvation and for authentic humanism in earthy life.
Z) Among many biblical categories that provide a closer view on the mystery
of Redemption, it is especially important to present the category of love, not
only in order to overcome the narrow, legal and social approach to Redemption
in terms of satisfaction and merit, but above all because love is a preeminent
category in the theory of Christian revelation, the attitude and action most
appropriate for God and for every human being, and the source or bond of true
and full communion between people and God.
9) One should teach about the Redemption using a concrete language,
and not the abstract one. When analyzing the biblical texts it is necessary to explain
that the revelation of the mystery of the Redemption took place gradually,
within the framework of history, in the context of certain cultural categories,
that people were redeemed from the situation of sin through concrete events,
carried out by God throughout history, especially through life, death and resurrection
of Christ.
e Christ who lived in a certain place and in a certain time carried out
the Redemption by restoring the broken covenant of mankind with God, and
today He allows us to enjoy the effects of the Redemption. rough meeting
and uniting with Him in faith and love, confirmed and strengthened in the
sacraments, each person regains the highest dignity and the possibility of full
development. us, the teaching on Redemption using a concrete language will be thus also tantamount to emphasizing the historical, Christocentric and
personalist character of Redemption.
Y) Finally, following the biblical approach, one should refrain from confining
oneself to recognize the mystery of the Redemption in a purely objective
and essentializing manner – which was common in earlier textbooks – from
carrying out considerations about its essence in isolation from man and his
situation, but instead one should try to recognize this mystery in terms of its
role in human life and humanity, its significance for specific human history, its
influence on human activity and human culture.