Szilágyi Alpár

This study investigates the concept of humility (ʿānāw) as a religious virtue in the Old Testament, analyzing its linguistic, theological, and ethical dimensions. The Hebrew term ʿānāw, far from denoting weakness, reflects a spiritual disposition that shapes human relationships with God, others, and self. Through a comprehensive exegetical and theological framework, the thesis explores humility across prophetic, wisdom, and historical literature, with particular focus on the figures of Joseph, Moses, and David. Their narratives illustrate humility as a moral strength in leadership, divine calling, and repentance. The research applies historical-critical, narrative, and comparative methods, engaging key scholarly voices such as Gerhard von Rad, Walter Brueggemann, and Christopher J. H. Wright. The analysis highlights the dual character of humility: it is both a personal moral stance and a communal ethical imperative. The study concludes that in the Old Testament, humility is an essential response to divine initiative, a prerequisite for just leadership, and a spiritual resource for social harmony, with enduring relevance for contemporary theological reflection.

A dolgozat az עָנָו (ʿānāw) héber kifejezés nyelvészeti, teológiai és etikai vizsgálatán keresztül tárja fel az alázat vallási erényként való megjelenését az Ószövetségben. Célja annak bemutatása, miként határozza meg ez a gyakran félreértett fogalom az ember viszonyát Istenhez, önmagához és embertársaihoz. A tanulmány szisztematikusan elemzi az alázat jelentéstartományát a történeti, prófétai és bölcsességi irodalom szövegkorpuszaiban, különös figyelemmel József, Mózes és Dávid alakjára. A kutatás lexikográfiai és kommentári forrásokra támaszkodva alkalmaz nyelvészeti, történetkritikai és teológiai módszereket, valamint párbeszédet folytat több kortárs tudós, köztük Gerhard von Rad, Walter Brueggemann és Christopher J. H. Wright megközelítésével. Az elemzés rámutat arra, hogy az Ószövetségben az alázat nem gyengeségként, hanem spirituális és erkölcsi erőforrásként jelenik meg, amely szorosan összefonódik az istenfélelemmel, a vezetői felelősséggel, a bűnbánattal és a társadalmi igazságosság kérdéskörével. A dolgozat végkövetkeztetése szerint az alázat dinamikus természetű erény, hiszen egyszerre válasz az isteni megszólításra, az önkorlátozás etikai aktusa, valamint a közösségi hűség kifejeződése.

Humanity is constantly evolving, which exerts a powerful impact on religion and the church as well. The postmodern era, which spread from the second half of the 20th century, presents a new direction that the church must respond to. The research examines how the gospel can be effectively conveyed in the postmodern world, with special consideration for the relationship between youth and the church, as well as the resulting challenges and opportunities. Based on my university studies and experiences, my viewpoint is that postmodern thinking essentially questions traditional values and systems. It emphasizes diversity, relativism, and subjectivism. This new approach shapes people's worldviews and influences their everyday decisions. The central premise of the paper is that the church has long functioned as a proponent of absolute truth and universal values. However, the doubts of the postmodern era raise questions about the existence of absolute truth and whether it can be known, if at all. Thus, the church must find new answers to the challenges of human existence and faith. The church must pay particular attention to postmodern youths, who are most affected by the changes of the era. The new generations often possess different values and worldviews, so the church must identify points of communal connection. I firmly believe that the church must be open and welcoming to the youth. It should provide a space where they can find answers to their questions and doubts. Additionally, it's of utmost importance for the church to understand the communication preferences of the youth and employ them for the effective transmission of the gospel. To substantiate all these points, the paper reviews the characteristics of postmodern philosophical traits and their impact on the relationship between youth and the church. Furthermore, it demonstrates how to align this with the core church mission of proclaiming the gospel. Detailing elements of communication theory is also prominent, as the church needs to adapt to the new communication environment. Remembering to emphasize the importance of the message of joy, the church must always remain prominent in the rapidly changing world!