2 KINGS 5: A PREFIGURATION OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Abstract

The story of Naaman’s healing may, at first glance, seem simple and ancient, dating to around 850 BC. But when revisited, it is actualized in our daily lives as followers of Christ, so much so that in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus himself takes Naaman as an example of faith (Lk 4:27). The timelessness of the story of Naaman’s healing may depend on the reader’s exegetical ability to rise above the literalness of the text. So, which approach allows us to discover the story of Naaman differently? This article opts for a metaphorical reading of 2 Kings 5, drawing an analogy between the aftermaths of Naaman’s healing and the exigencies of the Christian life. The story of Naaman displays some baptismal features such that it could be understood as a prefiguration of Christian baptism.