"If only they were all prophets" (Num 11:29)

The latest issue of the Revista Bíblica, published by the Asociación Bíblica Argentina and published by Editorial Verbo Divino, contains an article by Professor Francesco Cocco on the book of Numbers, prophecy and synodality.

Professor Cocco's article is entitled"Would that they were all prophets" (Num 11:29). Glimpses of synodality in the book of Numbers?" (vol. 86, no. 1-2, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47182/rb.86.n1-2-2024396).

The following is a summary of the article:

The article offers a contribution to the understanding of synodality from a biblical point of view. In particular, the aim is to show how some of the foundations of synodality that emerge clearly in the New Testament can already be traced back to the religious and spiritual heritage of ancient Israel, preserved in the Old Testament. For this purpose, the story of the election of the seventy elders (Num 11:4-30) is chosen, centred on the theme of the exercise of authority among the people of Israel. Through the exegetical analysis of the story and the semantic study of key words, the thesis that the story points to the theme of a shared authority among the different components of the people of God will be demonstrated.

The full article is available to subscribers by clicking here.

Professor Pierfrancesco Cocco holds a PhD in Biblical Sciences from the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Italy, is a member of the Department of Sacred Scripture and Church History, and is an expert in Sacred Scripture, with a special focus on the book of Numbers.

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