La “famiglia umana” in tensione tra due utopie speculari

Unità originaria e universalismo escatologico nei testi veterotestamentari

Abstract

First published in La società del genere umano («Politica e Religione», 2019-2020), pp. 13-39. 

This essay examines the concept of the “human family” within Old Testament literature, navigating the tension between original unity and eschatological universalism. An analysis of Genesis 10 and 11 shows a shift from a neutral, egalitarian representation of humanity to a non-parity pluralism centered on Israel’s unique role among the nations. The study explores how Abraham serves as an ecumenical mediator of universal blessing, while the actual covenant remains strictly limited to a single chosen lineage, excluding collateral descendants. Ultimately, it is argued that while the “family” metaphor evokes deep communal values, it often remains a conventional linguistic tool rather than suggesting a fully realized historical equality.