INHERITANCE LAW IN THE BIBLE: A LEGAL AND THEOLOGICAL ESSAY

Abstract

The article examines the issues of inheritance law through the prism of its religious and ideological origins, in particular the provisions enshrined in the Bible. It is argued that the formation of basic ideas about property, family and succession was largely influenced by religious norms that have the characteristics of proto-legal regulators. The significance of biblical prescriptions in the formation of modern institutions of inheritance, including those reflected in the Civil Code of Ukraine, is revealed. It is emphasized that biblical texts contain norms that regulate the order of inheritance, determine the circle of heirs and establish certain principles of property distribution. At the same time, attention is drawn to the fragmentation of modern research in this area, which does not provide a holistic combination of legal and theological approaches. It is emphasized that despite the significant scientific achievements of both Ukrainian and foreign scholars, the issue of a comprehensive understanding of inheritance as a legal and theological phenomenon, in particular in the context of the idea of salvation as a spiritual heritage, remains insufficiently developed. This necessitates further interdisciplinary research aimed at deepening the understanding of the relationship between the legal and theological foundations of the institution of inheritance. The problem of the correlation of religious prescriptions with modern principles of law, in particular equality and justice, is analyzed. The scientific significance of the study of inheritance law for a deeper understanding of individual theological concepts, in particular those related to salvation and sacrifice, is emphasized. The concept of salvation as a human inheritance from God is studied in the light of the texts of the Holy Scriptures and Protestant theology. It is concluded that the concept of salvation as an inheritance from God allows us to consider the relationship between God and the believer not only in the moral or spiritual dimension, but also through the prism of legal and family ties. It is argued that, according to the Bible, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, believers acquire the status of children of God and joint heirs with Christ, receiving the right to a spiritual inheritance that includes the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the Kingdom of God, and the blessings of the Covenant.