No term equivalent to vocation is found in classical Greek and Latin. An officium was exercised by virtue of a preexisting status, usually by birth. Trades (including medicine) fulfilled the conditions of a regular vocation (τέχνη/téchnē), but had no self-awareness reflected in terminology. In the New Testament, κλῆσις/klḗsis mostly refers to the “calling” of a Christian (1 Cor 7:20); in the national church of L…
Cite this page
Heesch, Matthias,
Klöcker, Michael,
Ulrich, Hans G.,
Sprondel, Walter M.,
Drehsen, Volker and
Herms, Eilert,
“Vocation”, in:
Religion Past and Present.
Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_COM_01823>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013