Die voorwaardelike karakter van God se vergifnis in die Ons Vader-gebed

Authors

  • MJ Nell

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17570/ngtt.2007.v48n3.a12

Keywords:

Forgiveness, Honour and shame, Lord’s Prayer, Matthew, Patron client relationships,

Abstract

This article examines Matthew 6:12 as a crux interpretum for understanding the forgiveness of others as a prerequisite for receiving God’s forgiveness in the Gospel according to Matthew. It utilises the insights gained into the nature of patron-client relationships in the first century Mediterranean world by historical anthropology in order to read Matthew 6:12, 14-15 and Matthew 18:23-35 within its original cultural context. It concludes that as the Patron of believers, God demands that they repay his patronage by living according to his code of conduct and not that of the world. Believers are therefore expected to do what was regarded as dishonourable by the dominant culture: they should forgive others unconditionally. In honouring God as their Patron in this manner, believers do not earn his forgiveness but rather act according to their expected role as clients in an intrinsically asymmetrical relationship that has been established through the grace of God.

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Published

2007-12-31

How to Cite

Nell, M. (2007). Die voorwaardelike karakter van God se vergifnis in die Ons Vader-gebed. NGTT | Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 48(3&4). https://doi.org/10.17570/ngtt.2007.v48n3.a12

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 3&4 (2007)

Section

Articles | Artikels

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