Nietenolaf hat geschrieben:Ansonsten würden mich ein paar für die Westkirche traditionelle (also antike bis mittelalterliche) Auslegungen dieser Stelle interessieren.
In der Catena Aurea zitiert der hl. Thomas neben Hieronymus, den du schon gebracht hast, noch Papst Gregor und Hilarius mit ein paar zusätzlichen Gedanken:
Gregorius hat geschrieben:Per regnum caelorum supernum solium signatur, quo cum peccatores quolibet facinore polluti ad poenitentiam redeunt, et semetipsos corrigunt, quasi praedatores in locum alienum intrant et violenter regnum caelorum rapiunt.
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Greg., Hom in Ev., xx. 14: By the kingdom of heaven is meant the heavenly throne, wither when sinners defiled with any evil deed return in penitence, and amend themselves, they enter as sinners into the place of another, and take by violence the kingdom of heaven.
Hilarius hat geschrieben:Vel aliter. Dominus apostolos ire ad oves perditas Israel iusserat; sed omnis haec praedicatio profectum publicanis et peccatoribus afferebat. Itaque vim regnum patitur, et violenti diripiunt: quia gloria Israel patribus debita. Prophetis nuntiata, a Christo oblata, fide gentium occupatur et rapitur.
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Hilary: Otherwise; The Lord bade His Apostles go “to the lost sheep of Israel,” but all their preaching conveyed profit to the publicans and sinners. Therefore “the kingdom suffers violence, and the violent take it by force,” for the glory of Israel, due to the Fathers, foretold by the Prophets, offered by Christ, is entered and held by force by the might of the Gentiles.
Thomas selbst kommentiert die Stelle in der Summa so:
Thomas (IIª-IIae, q. 140 a. 1 ad 1) hat geschrieben:Ad primum ergo dicendum quod vetus testamentum habebat temporalia promissa, novum autem spiritualia et aeterna, ut Augustinus dicit, contra Faust. Et ideo necessarium fuit ut in veteri lege populus instrueretur qualiter pugnare deberet etiam corporaliter, pro terrena possessione acquirenda. In novo autem instruendi fuerunt homines qualiter, spiritualiter certando, ad possessionem vitae aeternae pervenirent, secundum illud Matth. XI, regnum caelorum vim patitur, et violenti diripiunt illud. Unde et Petrus praecipit, I Pet. ult., adversarius vester Diabolus tanquam leo rugiens circuit, quaerens quem devoret, cui resistite fortes in fide; et Iac. IV, resistite Diabolo, et fugiet a vobis. Quia tamen homines ad spiritualia bona tendentes ab eis retrahi possent per corporalia pericula, fuerunt etiam in lege divina danda fortitudinis praecepta ad sustinenda fortiter temporalia mala, secundum illud Matth. X, nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus.
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The Old Testament contained temporal promises, while the promises of the New Testament are spiritual and eternal, according to Augustine (Contra Faust. iv). Hence in the Old Law there was need for the people to be taught how to fight, even in a bodily contest, in order to obtain an earthly possession. But in the New Testament men were to be taught how to come to the possession of eternal life by fighting spiritually, according to Mt. 11:12, "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away." Hence Peter commands (1 Peter 5:8-9): "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist ye, strong in faith," as also James 4:7: "Resist the devil, and he will fly from you." Since, however, men while tending to spiritual goods may be withdrawn from them by corporal dangers, precepts of fortitude had to be given even in the New Law, that they might bravely endure temporal evils, according to Mt. 10:28, "Fear ye not them that kill the body."