The heavenly book motif in Judeo-Christian apocalypses, 200 B.C.E.-200 C.E / by Leslie Baynes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Baynes, Leslie.

Series:

Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism ; v. 152.

Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism, 1384-2161 ; v. 152

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Apocalyptic literature--History and criticism.

Apocalyptic literature.

Judaism--History--Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D.

Judaism.

Eschatology.

Eschatology, Jewish.

Catastrophical, The.

Bible--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Dead Sea scrolls.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (246 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Books and writing, according to Jacques Derrida, are always concerned with questions of life and death. Nowhere is this more true than regarding the heavenly book motif, which plays an important role in early Judeo-Christian literature, and particularly in apocalypses. This book identifies four sub-types of the motif—the books of life, deeds, fate, and action—and examines their development and function primarily in Jewish and Christian apocalypses. It argues that the overarching function of the motif is to signify life and death for those inscribed: earthly life and death in its early appearances and eternal destiny in later texts. The first full-length analysis of the heavenly book motif in English, this study highlights a vital element of the genre apocalypse.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

One: Introduction

Two: “But if Not, Blot Me Out of the Book:” Earthly and Heavenly Books in the Hebrew Scriptures up to Daniel

Three: “Everyone Who Is Found Written in the Book:” The Heavenly Book of Life in Daniel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other Second Temple Literature

Four: “And Books Were Opened:” The Heavenly Book of Deeds in Daniel and other Second Temple Literature

Five: “It Has Been Written and Ordained:” Heavenly Tablets and the Book of Fate in Jubilees, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other Second Temple Literature

Six: “Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?” The Adaptation of the Motif in the New Testament

Seven: “But Not Like the Books of This World:” The Heavenly Book in Christian Literature of the Second Century

Eight: Conclusion

Bibliography

Index of Modern Authors

Subject Index

Index of Primary Texts.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

1-283-34564-1

9786613345646

90-04-21078-4

OCLC:

769432562

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004207264.i-234 DOI