Biblical apocalyptic literature should not be regarded as a separate literary genre from fulfilled prophecy, though prophecy in general is a genre separate from other forms of biblical literature, like historical narrative or didactic literature. Entry for apocalyptic literature international standard bible encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, the isbe is hailed for its authoritative explanations of every significant word, person and place. First published in 1919, the apocalypse of john focuses extensively on the eschatology and apocalyptic works of the old testament and late jewish writers, as well as the analysis of johns own writing in the last book of the bible. According to an unsubstantiated jewish tradition the ascension of isaiah, he was sawed in half during the reign of manasseh cf. Collins 1998a represents the standard introduction to ancient jewish apocalyptic literature, providing a survey of apocalyptic literature s historical development and the consensus definition of a literary apocalypse. Reviewing history in apocalyptic literature as ideological strategy enoch 8590 and 2 baruch 5671, the hi story of the world is tracked down from a point in the past to the time of the authors. The stated purpose of this dissertation was to derive and present systematically principles of hermeneutics which might be employed in the interpretation of old testament apocalyptic. Isaiah son of amoz is often thought of as the greatest of the writing prophets. Apocalyptic writing resources american bible society. Daniel 712 in the old testament also is an apocalypse as is mark and 1 thessalonians 4. The word apocalyptic comes from a greek word, apokalypsis, meaning revealing or unveiling. Indeed, i fear that the average student would be hard put to it to give more than one or two characteristics of this kind of literature. Apocalyptic literature was meant to offer hope to a down cast people through describing the ultimate defeat of evil and victory of god for his people.
The latest research on the subjects of apocalyptic, the history of late antiquity and jewishchristian relations. The historicist view teaches that the book of revelation is a symbolic presentation of church history beginning in the first century ad through the end of age. The books that form the apocrypha are included in some bibles between the old and new testaments. Collins debt to hanson was acknowledged by collins to me personally on november 19, 2000. Apocalyptic literature developed as a distinctly jewish genre. The rule of thumb with apocalyptic literature ought to be that, unlike historical, doctrinal or other literature, things should be taken figuratively, unless the context demands a literal interpretation. Chapter 5 is where the rubber meets the road and walks the reader through how to interpret biblical apocalyptic literature. Intro to isaiah biblica the international bible society. In form, an apocalypse is an autobiographical prose narrative. Apocalyptic literature is a specific form of prophecy, largely involving symbols and imagery and predicting disaster and destruction. Chapter 2 looks at the historical background of propheticapocalyptic books in both the old and new testaments.
The first known record of apocalyptic literature is isaiah 24. The most striking is the resemblance they all bear to the book of. A historical introduction to the early christian writings, remains the best source for basic information about the entire new testament. The book is made up primarily of historical narrative found mainly in chs. The international standard bible encyclopedia also explains that pseudepigraphic works have many features in common. The prophecies of revelation are fulfilled in various historic events such as the fall of the roman empire, the protestant reformation, and the french revolution. Biblical literature apocalyptic and eschatological works. Apocalyptic literature depicts heavenly visions in. There is no guarantee that a specific passage will have important elements in each of these categories, but there will definitely be at least general historical, cultural, or literary aspects to your passage. An introduction to the interpretation of apocalyptic.
It is used throughout the hebrew bible in reference to a wide variety of individuals and objects. Apocalyptic literature is a genre of prophetical writing that developed in postexilic jewish culture and was popular among millennialist early christians. Apocalyptic themes have formed a significant part of the jewish and christian religions. Historical background of the new testament wikipedia. It was one manifestation of the typical eschatological trends of the time and the expectation of a crisis in world history. The origins of the new testament helsingin yliopisto. The book of daniel, a book of the old testament found in the ketuvim writings, the third section of the jewish canon, but placed among the prophets in the christian canon.
Floyd 1999 traces shifts in the research on zechariah. The earliest attestations of matthean authorship are recorded by papias, the secondcentury bishop of hierapolis, and irenaeus, bishop of lyons ca. They produced some of the apocalyptic literature to which paul makes reference in one of his letters to the thessalonians. They look at second temple judaism, the tensions, trends, and changes in the region under the influence of hellenism and the roman occupation, and the jewish. Intro to daniel biblica the international bible society. The hermeneutics of biblical apocalyptic by jon paulien. Apocalyptic literature frequently contains strange descriptions and bizarre imagery. Historical context for matthew the core curriculum. This is the exact reverse of historical or doctrinal literature, in which things should be taken l iterally unless. Literary genre and hermeneutics of the apocalypse1 robert l.
Apocalyptic literature encyclopedia of the bible bible. Thomas professor of new testament the masters seminary a relatively new field of specialized nt study is a careful examination of the literary genre or style of different books. Apocalyptic literature has features in common with both prophecy and poetry. Carey 2005 and cook 2003 include christian apocalyptic. How is apocalyptic literature similar to and different from typical biblical prophecy. Apocalyptic in history and tradition christopher rowland. Apocalyptic literature apocalyptic literature appears in both early judaism and early christianity. Chapter 3 deals with the function of apocalyptic literature in israels story. This is becoming more widely recognized, but it is the pervasiveness of such themes in art, literature and history which contributes most to this collection of essays, moving from the study of biblical apocalyptic to its role in wider culture. Really, all apocalyptic literature is much more a response to a concrete set of circumstances, often political circumstances that drive this sense that we have to look for a mode of deliverance.
Biblical literature biblical literature apocalyptic and eschatological works. Like daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. Apocalyptic literature, literary genre that foretells supernaturally inspired cataclysmic events that will transpire at the end of the world. Like poetry, apocalyptic literature uses symbols and intense images to describe realities that cannot be communicated any other way. In the bible, daniel in the old testament and revelation in the new testament are the most clear examples of apocalypses. Determinism in history, ending is cosmic cataclysm. Apocalyptic literature international standard bible. Papias reports only that the evangelist compiled a collection of jesus sayings in hebrewaramaic, while irenaeus. After this period, the genre further developed after the exiles end.
Apocalyptic literature is a type of writing containing symbols and visions. Apocalyptic literature seeks to make its readers aware of the very real crisis surrounding them. Apocalyptic literature biblical studies oxford bibliographies. Most commentaries also have introductory material that provides a general overview of the historical background, contents, themes, and history. And you can always recognize it because its not linear, its not straight history. The book of daniel is a good beginning in the study of apocalyptic literature. Historical context for the new testament the core curriculum. The book itself suggests that the crisis was ruthless persecution of the early church by the roman authorities.
Collins 1998a represents the standard introduction to ancient jewish apocalyptic literature, providing a survey of apocalyptic literatures historical development and the consensus definition of a literary apocalypse. The latter may be defined as symbolic, visionary, prophetic literature, usually composed during oppressive conditions and being chiefly eschatological in theological content. During the greek persecution, the popularity of apocalyptic literature. The literal translation of the hebrew word mashiach is anointed, which refers to a ritual of consecrating someone or something by putting holy anointing oil upon it. Prophetic literature and apocalyptic literature the bible contains both prophetic literature and apocalyptic literature. Like prophecy, apocalyptic literature may speak to the future of gods people and a coming day of judgment. Many old testament prophets were given visions by god of what society would be like when israel and judah returned to god and the kingdom of god was established on earth. Examine the historical, cultural, and literary background. Apocalyptic literature was written to people in need of reassurance. Eight characteristics of apocalyptic literature apocalypse is a literary term coined by german scholar k. It was a form usually utilized to communicate the content of a prophetic vision or dream. In apocalyptic literature, we have more of a vision of the distant future with a succession of kingdoms and what god is going to be doing in the future.
Apocalyptic literature often uses symbols and highly charged language to relate the seers heavenly journey and vision of the end. Hoglund and walton 2009 gives an introduction to the historical background of zechariah. An introduction to the interpretation of apocalyptic literature. Well explore the nature of apocalyptic literature first by looking at its characteristics, and second by summarizing its historical development. Apocalyptic literature is a genre of prophetical writing that developed in postexilic jewish culture and was popular among millennialist early christians apocalypse. The themes of the prominance of angels, the last judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the establishment of the final kingdom are not themes that are limited to later apocryphal literature, but have their roots in earlier biblical literature and even zechariah 19. Hansons undertaking, as indicated by its subtitle, is ambitious. Mar 06, 2011 so here is the historical background to the book of the revelation, especially chapters and 17.
Individual books are also related to others and to their historical background. Even though there is a dramatic contrast in genre between the two halves of the. The first known record of apocalyptic literature is isaiah. The book of daniel chapters 1 to 6 describe daniels interpretation of king nebuchadnezzars dream. Daniel belongs to the latter group, a type of writing that in many respects sharply contrasts prophetic literature. Works of apocalyptic literature were mainly of jewish origin and appeared during the period between 210 bc and 200 ad the international standard bible encyclopedia, apocalyptic literature introduction. During this time, due, in large part, to the publication of the persian zendavesta. The book of daniel has sometimes been classified with the prophetic books of the old testament, a mistake owing largely to a failure to distinguish between the predominant characteristics of prophetic and apocalyptic writings. But there are many other books from the jewish and christian world that can be classified as apocalypses. A product of the judeochristian tradition, apocalyptic literature is characteristically pseudonymous. In some ways apocalyptic literature is like parables in that it is meant to reveal and hide truth. Hermeneutics of old testament apocalyptic literature thd dissertation, dts, 1968. Stages of the history of apocalyptic literature first is the biblical stage of the genre.
It is hoped the student will gain a feeling for apocalyptic writings which are found in revelation. Although these books are not part of gods word, some of them such as 1 maccabees provide interesting historical details. Apocalyptic literature introduction international standard. This is the exact reverse of historical or doctrinal literature, in which things should be taken l. Why is some literature in this style included in the bible.
Apocalyptic literature is a style, or genre, of writing that was common from about 200 b. Revelation has often been classified as a kind of literature called apocalyptic, but the category of. Historical, cultural, and literary background exegetical. The final six chapters 712 are apocalyptic and prophetic. Prophetic literature apocalyptic literature examples in the bible isaiah, jeremiah, amos daniel 712, revelation period of biblical history when most. Prophecy, babylon, and 1 enoch by sarah robinson a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts department of religious studies college of arts and sciences university of south florida major professor. Most scholars who study the historical jesus and early christianity believe that the canonical gospels and the life of jesus must be viewed within their historical and cultural context, rather than purely in terms of christian orthodoxy. Also, apocalyptic literature was almost always a kind of literature for insiders, that is to say, it was written for people who already knew something of the situation and of the symbols that. The phrase apocalyptic literature is used to describe some of the noncanonical writings called the apocrypha.
The first half of the book chapters 16 contains stories in the third person about the experiences of daniel and his. Nickelsburg 2005 interprets jewish apocalyptic texts in the context of historical developments. This chart shows some of the key differences between those two genres. In challenging both traditional and contemporary notions of the nature and history of the biblical apocalyptic literature, professor hanson begins by saying that the origins of apocalyptic cannot be explained by a method which juxtaposes seventh and second century compositions and then proceeds to account for the features of the latter by reference to its immediate environment. The book of revelation cannot be adequately understood except against the historical background that occasioned its writing. It refers to works written by jews and christians between 200 b. Having successfully completed this module you will be able to.
The comparatively large number of people who belonged to the poorer classes were known as the amhaaretz, or people of the land, manual laborers who performed menial tasks. All of this reading should enable you to write a 12 page section on the historical, cultural, and literary background of your passage. Of the innumerable commentaries and scholarly works dedicated to paul and his letters, exceptionally interesting and thoughtprovoking reflections can be found in. Apocalyptic literature is complex, and may be summarized in various ways. Reviewing history in apocalyptic literature as ideological. He was a contemporary of amos, hosea and micah, beginning his ministry in 740 b. Mar 30, 2020 all of this reading should enable you to write a 12 page section on the historical, cultural, and literary background of your passage. The most popular has been that of john nelson darby 18001882, which is known as dispensationalism, a view made popular in england and america in. Apocalyptic literature shows up in many places in the ancient world, and of course, it is in the bible as well. Discuss the historical background of jewish and christian apocalyptic thought and literature in late antiquity. John oakes taught a class on apocalyptic literature, including the book of revelation on six consecutive saturdays beginning september 28 at the mission center of hope in san diego. Jesus status as messiah also carries political overtones.
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