Digital Logos Edition
Western culture has been shaped largely by the Bible. In attempting to understand the Scriptures, scholars of the last three hundred years have intensively studied both these sacred texts and other related ancient writings. A cursory examination reveals that their authors depended on other sources, some of which are lost and some of which have recently come to light. Part of these extant sources are the pseudepigrapha. Though the meaning of the word can be disputed by scholars, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha is a collection of those writings which are, for the most part, Jewish or Christian and are often attributed to ideal figures in Israel’s past. Volume 1 of this work contains two sections. The first is Apocalyptic Literature and Related Works. An apocalypse, from the Greek meaning revelation or disclosure, is a certain type of literature which was a special feature of religions in late antiquity. In the past, the definition was derived from the study of only some of the extant apocalypses, especially the Apocalypse, the Book of Revelation. This has changed, and the present edition of the pseudepigrapha includes nineteen documents that are apocalypses or related literature. It will now be easier to perceive the richness of apocalyptic literature and the extent of early Jewish and Christian apocalyptic ideas and apocalyptic religion. These new translations present these important documents, many for the first time in modern English, for all “People of the Book” to study, contemplate, and understand.
“shall tell forth his mysteries to men. You shall announce the one who is about to redeem” (Volume 1, Page 788)
“At that place, I saw the One to whom belongs the time before time.a And his head was white like wool, and there was with him another individual, whose face was like that of a human being.b His countenance was full of grace like that of one among the holy angels.” (Volume 1, Page 34)
“‘And after this there shall arise for you a Star from Jacoba in peace: And a man shall arise from my posterity like the Sun of righteousness, walking with the sons of men in gentleness and righteousness, and in him will be found no sin. 2* And the heavens will be opened upon him to pour out the spiritb as a blessing of the Holy Father. 3* And he will pour the spirit of grace on you. And you shall be sons in truth, and you will walk in his first and final decrees. 4 This is the Shoot of Godc Most High; this is the fountain for the life of all humanity. 5 Then he will illumine the scepter of my kingdom, 6 and from your root will arise the Shoot, and through it will arise the rod of righteousness for the nations, to judge and to save all that call on the Lord.” (Volume 1, Page 801)
“He said to me, ‘Take heed. Don’t worship me. I am not the Lord Almighty, but I am the great angel, Eremiel,c who is over the abyss and Hades, the one in which all of the souls are imprisoned from the end of the Flood, which came upon the earth, until this day.’” (Volume 1, Page 513)
“For they have denied the Lord of the Spirits and his Messiah.” (Volume 1, Page 36)