Kryzys w życiu proroka Eliasza

The Old Testament presents prophet Elijah as an uncompromising defender of Yahwism who saves the Israeli nation from religious syncretism prevailing in the times of king Ahab. Although Elijah left no written records, the role he played in the history of ancient Israel makes him one of the most remarkable figures in the Old Testament. The greatness of Elijah can be measured not only by his accomplishments in defending Yahwism but also by the ability to experience and overcome personal crises. The author begins his paper with a short analysis of the term ’crisis’, based on the Old and New Testament as well as apocryphal literature. Then, a biography of prophet Elijah is presented followed by the analysis of Elijah’s religious activity, taking into account the role of personal crises in his life. The author ends the paper by emphasizing the universal dimension of Elijah’s religious experience.