#2 baruch

[gadarene]

NOTES ON 2 Baruch

Second Baruch combines an apocalypse set during the destruction of the First Temple and a letter to the Northern Tribes of Israel.

2Bar 1-77: SyrApocBar

2Bar 78-87: EpBar (to the 9-1/2 Tribes)

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Summer Series: (More) Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

Summer Series: (More) Old Testament Pseudepigrapha -

In the summer of 2016 I began a long series on the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. I made about 75 points from May 18 through September 6 (when my fall teaching responsibilities required most of my attention). As it turned out, I only managed to post on the Enoch literature, the Sibylline Oracles, Fourth Ezra and 2 Baruch, and short posts on Treatise of Shem, The Apocryphon of Ezekiel, and Apocalyp…

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Eternal Peace – 2 Baruch 73-76

Eternal Peace – 2 Baruch 73-76 -

After the dark days, Baruch saw a last “bright waters” which indicate there will be “eternal peace on the throne of the kingdom” (Chapters 73-76). This is the messianic age when health will descend like dew and joy will encompass the earth. Wild animals will serve men and “asps and dragons” will subject themselves to a child. Those who work the fields will never tire because the produce will…

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A Vision of Many Waters - 2 Baruch 52-73

A Vision of Many Waters - 2 Baruch 52-73 -

Baruch asks a further question about those who face woe and suffering in that time (chapter 52). He falls asleep and has a vision of a cloud coming up from a great sea (chapter 53). The cloud flashes lightning and great water begins to pour out of it. The water alternates between black and bright, finally pouring out a great amount of black water. The lightning grows in intensity and finally…

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2 Baruch and the Fall of Jerusalem

2 Baruch and the Fall of Jerusalem -

2 (Syriac Apocalypse of) Baruch appears to have been written in the late first century, probably around A.D. 100. Like 4 Ezra, the book is a response to the recent fall of Jerusalem. Using the persona of Jeremiah’s scribe Baruch, the author of this book is answering a theological question, why has god allowed the Temple to be destroyed a second time? Has God cancelled his promises to his people?…

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Challenges for the Study of Pseudepigrapha

Challenges for the Study of Pseudepigrapha -

Since I intended to spend the summer reviewing the apocalyptic literature in the Pseudepigrapha, this would be a good to time think about some of the challenges reading this material. I will be using the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, edited James Charlesworth (originally Doubleday, 1983; not Yale University Press). The abbreviation OTPthroughout this series refers to the 1983 print edition of…

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