Folia Theologica 11. (2000)
László Vanyó: The Patristic Interpretation of 'Redemptio'
THE PATRISTIC INTERPRETATION OF ‘REDEMPTIO’ 33 The recapitulation as restauration of God’s image and likeness: The deliverance of the man from the domination of Satan, the recapitulation of the previous history of mankind, the “anakephalaiosis” is still the “terminus a quo” of the redemptio, his terminus “ad quem” is that of the restoration of God’s image and likeness, which gives the positive aspect of the redemptio-salvation. The matter at issue is not only the restoration of the original state, because the original state of the first Adam was still a childhood before the sin-according to Irenaeus —,w the state of the redeemed Adam however was that of the growth and mature age. The line of the “oikonomia” is ascending in this sense, the end transcends the beginning. The first Adam carrys in itself the germ of the whole human race, the second Adam by means of the incarnation recapitulates not only every individual lived until that, but also his revelation is adressed to all peoples and languages. The “peoples” and “languages” refers to the Pentecost, to the role of the Holy Spirit in the recapitulation. The “anakephalaiosis'’ looks at not only the past, but means an overture towards the future. It contain :the “oeconomia lignis” (the tree of the knowledge of the good and of the wrong, to them corresponds the tree of the cross); the “oeconomia primi et secundi Adae” (Adam-Christ); the “oeconomia pi- mae et secundae Evae” (Eva, the listnes to the Serpent, Mary, the receiver with faith the words of the Angel). Irenaeus speaka about four testaments: l. before the fall of Adam; 2. after the Deluge; 3. The Law given to Moses; 4. The Gospel that recapitulates everything, which renews and lifts up the man into the kingdom of heavan.32 The subject of the creation and the redemption is the man of the same nature, the Creator and the Redeemer is the same God, the intention of the redemption is the realisation of the will of the Father. It is a requirement: “antiquam plasmationem in se recapi tulans ”33 The recapitulation of the “käth eikona kai kath homoiosin" is the order of the Father, whose original project said: “Faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram” and his two “hands” (manus Dei) that is the Logos and the Pneuma who accomplish the work both in the first and the second crea32 “Et propter hoc quatuor data sunt testamenta humano generi: unum quidem ante cataclysmum sub Adam, secundum vero post cataclysmum sub Noe; legislatio sub Moyse; quartum vero quod renovat hominem et récapitulai in se omnia, quod est per Evangelium, elevans et pennigerans homines in coeleste regnum” (AH III, 11,11 Harvey 11,50) 33 AH III, 19, 6 Harvey 11,102
