MODELS OF HOSPITALITY AND THEOXENIA IN THE BIBLE

Abstract

This essay offers an approach to the theme of hospitality in a bib­lico-theological perspective. Hospitality and theoxenia are two literary genres that are seen also in extra-biblical literature and so, first we attempt to identify the specific elements of these literary genres in some extra-biblical literature. Second­ly, following the study of Gen 18,1-15, we try to identify a symbolic grammar and a specific structure proper to the literary genres of hospitality and theoxenia. From the results obtained, a comparative analysis is made between Gen 18,1-15 and Gen 19,1-29. And finally we verify the theological intentionality of Luke by utilizing the above literary genres within Lk 7,36- 50. It is not just a question of applying the methods of analysis of the literary genre, but of identifying within the biblical stories the hints of the literary genres theoxenia and hospitality and their intentionality in the chosen pericopes of study.