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The “Why?” question emerges inevitably whenever a tragedy or trauma happens in our human lives. The case was hardly different in prehistoric times, in the Old Testament, or in Jesus’s era. It is an intriguing question therefore what Jesus’ attitude and approach would have been to such unexpected disasters.

A hatalom (exúsziá) fogalma gyakran előfordul az Újszövetségben, és legalább négy vonatkozása van. Először is a hatalom döntési szabadságot vagy cselekvési jogot jelent minden gátló körülmény nélkül. Minden ilyen hatalom Istennel kezdődik, és Istentől ered, mert „nincs hatalom mástól, mint Istentől” (Róm 13,1). A hívőknek joguk van Isten gyermekeivé válni (Jn 1,12), és szabadságuk van a törvényre nézve (1Kor 8,9). Jóllehet a hatalom értéktelen az azt érvénybe léptető erő nélkül, árnyalatnyi különbséget kell tennünk a két fogalom között. A hatalom első értelmezése tehát elkülöníthető az erőtől, és elsődlegesen előjogra, kiváltságra utal.

Evangelisation through reformed eyes. This study was presented at a small conference of reformed and catholic theologians. The presentation of evangelisation through a reformed prism is underlined by thoughts of great reformed predecessors. There are five points, all presenting a different aspect of this question. The first treats the fashion of evangelisation. Because of the fact that evangelisation, as a term is not firmly identified, using different slogans and dealing with evangelisation as a fashion could be dangerous. This is why a good definition with the approval of all Christian churches is needed. Another important thought of this first point is the fact, that evangelisation is not new, by no means a fashion, it is only the submission to an ancient, biblical command of the great mission.

Vocation and Mission in the First Three Gospels. Jesus’ calling and ministry was chronologically followed by the vocation and election of the disciples. The calling and election happened in accordance with Jesus’ and the Father’s sovereign will. The story of the disciples’ vocation shows several resemblances with the stories on the calling of the Old Testament prophets, especially with the calling of Elisha by Elijah. The Twelve abandoned their occupations, homes, relatives, in one word everything immediately after the calling. Above all they had to give up their own lives, to share the master’s destiny. The writers of the synoptic gospels with no exception recorded the list of names of the apostles. The number of the disciples is symbolic because Jesus laid claim upon all the twelve tribes of Israel. Through his disciples Jesus gathered God’s old-new people for salvation. Their selection was done out of a larger circle of disciples.