05_Biblica_Do_Layout 1 08/07/13 12:57 Pagina 432 432 TOAN DO those who do not. In this respect, Strecker offers a helpful obser- vation. There exists a separation between God and the world whose alternative power is the devil. In this tension, the faithful are rooted in God whereas the world is left to the power of evil. It is important for the believer to know this separation between God and the evil power of the world. However, it would be misleading to conceive this expression as an arrogant self-awareness only for the Christian community. The salvific work of the Christ is not exclusively for the church (evkklhsi,a), but is ordered universally toward the whole world (peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou; cf. 2,2; 4,14) 71. In this way, the expression peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou in 2d may be taken syntactically as a parallel to peri. tw/n a`martiw/n h`mw/n in 2b and to peri. tw/n h`mete,rwn in 2c. But the main connection for 2d is 2a, allowing i`lasmo,j to be the syntactic link with the triple peri, in 2b // 2c // 2d. This proposed syntax implies a stronger theological interpretation of 2d in view of the entire verse 2abcd. This demands a closer look at the meaning of i`lasmo,j in 2a. VIII. Reading peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou in 2d with i`lasmo,j in 2a (cf. 4,10) Graph 1 indicates that the noun ilasmoj in 2a stands at the crux ` , of our understanding of the triple peri,-clauses. This very word ilasmoj occurs only in 1 John 2,2; 4,10 and is used by no other NT ` , author 72. Hence, the meaning of i`lasmo,j in this context is vital. In 2,2 the author uses i`lasmo,j to speak of Jesus’ death as a means to re- move sins (peri. tw/n a`martiw/n h`mw/n in 2b). In 4,10 he employs ilasmoj to explain how God loves humanity by sending his Son into ` , the world concerning our sins (i`lasmo.n peri. tw/n a`martiw/n h`mw/n). There has been continuing debate over the meaning of the i`la,skomai word-group, both in the LXX as well as the NT. Two theological positions are often held: (a) the propitiatory sense of the word, and (b) the predominantly expiatory connotation. STRECKER, Johannesbriefe, 306. 71 The i`la,skomai word-group appears eight times in the NT (Matt 16,22; 72 Luke 18,13; Rom 3,25; 1 John 2,2; 4,10; Heb 2,17; 8,12; 9,5). Only four, however, arguably imply either expiation (of human sins) or propitiation (of God’s wrath), namely, 1 John 2,2; 4,10, Rom 3,25, and Heb 2,17. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2013 - Tutti i diritti riservati