volume 12, issue 1, 2020, pages 43 – 50

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsCYUU7479
Published online: 2020-06-01
Published in print: 2020-06-30

Abstract: Rahab who was a prostitute in Jericho (Josh 2:1) and hid two Israelite spies (vv. 4-6) being therefore spared with her whole house (6:17-25) is mentioned three times in the New Testament (Matt 1:5; Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25). This contribution tries to analyze and explain these relatively short mentions and seeks to point out the theological significance of these texts. It is significant for the message of the Gospel of Matthew that Rahab is named among the ancestors of Jesus Christ. And the mentions in the letters seem to be especially important. There Rahab the prostitute, despite her sinful enterprise, is given as an example of faith (Heb 11:31) and of works (Jas 2:25). There is no real contradiction between these two texts (“faith” in one and “works” in the other) because both can be united as it was expressed, e.g., by the apostle Paul in his theologically very important proclamation in Gal 5:6: “the only thing that matters is faith working through love”.