ORIGINI DELLA METAFORA SIMBOLICA DEL FUOCO DELLO SPIRITO SANTO NEI TESTI DI QUMRAN
The Origins of the Metaphor of the Fire of the Holy Spirit in Qumran Texts

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to study the origin of the symbolic metaphor of the Holy Spirit’s fire in the Qumran community texts. The topic is introduced by an overview of the symbolic use of “fire” in the cult and in Jewish apocalyptic-eschatological writings. Subsequently, the Qumran texts speaking about fire are discussed. The analysis demonstrates that the term is found as symbol of the Divine Presence, the Divine Glory, the Word of God or the Divine Voice. The term “fire” is in direct connection with other keywords: call and mission, devotion, fear of God, offering, answer to prayer. The same term is also used with its practical functions: it emphasizes, develops, accompanies, purifies, protects, consumes, challenges, consecrates, deifies. In conclusion, one can observe the continuity in the use and functions of the “fire” metaphor from Jewish literature including intertestamentary texts up to the Christian writings of the first centuries.

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