„… und redet seltsam wie sonst nirgends in der Schrift“

Abstract

In Paul’s writing style we often find a literary we. But why does Paul write “in our hearts”, even if his own one is meant. This wording is not an error, but tries to include all who read or listen to his letter. The other way around in 2 Cor 3,15 he changes the wording: “the heart of people”, because he tries to use here the biblical sentence of Ex 34,34 in a new understanding, in which “the heart” of 2 Cor 3,15 shall be the subject of the phrase of Ex 34,34 that he’ll cite in V. 16. KJV translates correctly: “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” But the greatest problem of the Pauline text is the fact that he seems to read the text of Ex 34 not in the same terms as we know it. In the beginning of his allegorical interpretation Paul implements what he had said in V. 7: Like Philo, Vit Mos 70, Paul tells the story that Moses hid the splendour of his face until Israel could look at him. It is our problem to see that Paul neglects the fact, that the biblical text doesn’t mention a δόξα that disappeared, but until the last verse of Ex 34 we can read: “And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” But this doesn’t metter for Paul, for by the words of V. 13 combined with V. 7 he alters the perspective: There was an end of Moses’ doxa, but not an end of his vail. By the way of hardening this vail endured on the heart of Israel until “it shall turn to the Lord”.