An Introduction to the Books of the Apocrypha

356 Pages·1937·7.68 MB·English

by  William Oscar Emil Oesterley

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOKS
OF THE APOCRYPHA
AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE BOOKS OF THE
APOCRYPHA
BY
W. O. E. OESTERLEY
D.D., LITT.D.
NEW YORK
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
Firstpublishedin1935
PREFATORY NOTE
THIS book is in no sense a new edition of The Books ofthe
Apocrypha : their Origin, Teaching and Contents (1914). It is
from beginning to end a new and whollyindependent work.
Since the earlier volume appeared, twenty-one years ago,
much new literature on the Apocrypha generally, and
on its individualbooks, has been published; and the present
writer has had, duringtheseyears, opportunitiesfor studying
a good deal, at anyrate, ofthis newmaterial, besides paying
attentiontotheolderliterature. Itmay, therefore, behoped
that this book will be found to be a considerable improve-
ment on the former.
The work consists of two parts, the earlier of which is
perhaps the more important, as it deals with subjects of
wider interest than the necessarily more technical intro-
ductions to the several books.
Part I, Prolegomena to the Apocrypha, has for its object
to show the interest and importance ofthis neglected body
ofliterature from the literary, historical, doctrinal, and New
Testamentpoints ofview; whilePart II dealswith theusual
subjects of introduction necessary for the study of the
individual books.
That my friend Theodore Robinson has not seen his way
to collaborate with me in this work is a matter of much
regret to me, I had hoped that he would have done so;
but he pleaded that inasmuch as during the many years of
reading and teaching in preparation for the books we have
written together, he had concentrated more particularly on
the earlier periods of the religion, history, and literature
of the Hebrews, he did not fed competent to deal with the
literature belonging to this late period,
PREFATORY NOTE
vi
I wish to express my warm thanks to Dr. H. H. Rowley
for having read through my manuscript and the proof-
sheets, and for many valuablesuggestions.
It should be added here that the large number ofquota-
tions from the books ofthe Apocrypha given in full, instead
of mere references, was thought advisable because most
people are less familiar with the text ofthese than with that
ofthe canonical Scriptures.
The text of the Septuagint used is that of Swete but
;
reference should be made also to Rahlfs' edition, which is
and
marvellously cheap beautifully produced.
W. O. E. QESTERLEY.
February 1935.
CONTENTS
PART I: PROLEGOMENA T.O T.HE.APO.CRY.PHA..
CHAP PAGB
I. THE BOOKS OF THE APOCRYPHA 3
I. The term "Apocrypha"
II. The Greek Canon.
III. CharacterandgeneralcontentoftheApocrypha.
IV. Hellenisticinfluence observablein theApocrypha.
II. THE APOCRYPHA AS LITERATURE 13
III. THE BOOKS OF THE APOCRYPHA IN THEIR CHRONOLOGICAL
ORDER 24
IV. A SURVEY OF THE HISTORIC.AL B.ACKG.ROU.ND .26
. .
V. THE WISDOM LITERATURE 41
I. TheHebrewWisdomLiterature.
II. Extra-IsraeliteWisdomLiterature.
III. Purposes and Characteristics of the Hebrew Wisdom
Literature.
IV. The HebrewConceptionofWisdom.
VI. THE APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE 56
I. Eschatplogical and Apocalyptic elements in the Pro-
phetical Literature.
II. TheOrigin ofOldTestamentEschatology.
IIIVI,. TThheeAAppooccaallyyppttiisctsLiatnerdattuhreeir.Teaching. ...
VII. THE DOCTRINAL TEACHING OF THE APOCRYPHA 74
I. TheDoctrineofGod.
II. TheLaw:
i. Utterances ofa general character concerning the
Law.
ii. Non-PharisaicconceptionsoftheLaw.
in. ThePharisaicstandpointregardingtheLaw.
III. TheScriptures.
IV. Sacrifices,
V. TheDoctrineofSin.
VI. TheDoctrineofWorks.
VII, Messianism:
i. IncidentalreferencestotheMessianicAge.
ii. TheSignsoftheadventoftheMessianicAge*
iiivl TThheeMFeelsisciiathy.oftheMessianicAge.
VIII. TheHereafter:
i. ThetraditionalSheoI-beKcf.
!i. TheIntermediateState.
iii. TheJudgement,
iv. TheResurrection.
vii
CONTENTS
viii
CHAP. PAGE
IX. Angelology:
i. Angelicactivitieson earth,
ii. Angelicactivitiesintherealmsabove.
X. Demonology.
VIII. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE APOCRYPHA FOR NEW TESTAMENT
STUDY 111
I. TheLaw.
II Works.
Sm
III.
IV Wisdom
V. Eschatology.
VI, Miscellaneous.
IX. THE APOCRYPHA IN THE CHURCH . . . . . is:
PART II: THE BOOKS OF THE APOCRYPHA.
i ESDRAS (THE "GREEK EZRA") 133
I. Title.
II. ContentsoftheBook.
III. TheHistoricityoftheBook
IV. TextandVersions.
V. Date.
VI. Literature
iiESDRAS (THE "EZRA APOCALYPSE") 142
I. Title
II. ContentsoftheBook.
III. TheComponentPartsoftheBook,andtheirDates.
IV RedaclipnalElements.
V. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBook.
VI. TheVersions.
VII. Literature.
THE BOOK OF TOBIT . 161
I. Title.
II. ContentsoftheBook.
III. TheMainThemesoftheBook.
IV. SourcesoftheBook.
V. IntegrityoftheBook.
VI. Date.
VII. ManuscriptsandVersions.
VIII. Literature.
THE BOOK OF JUDITH 173
I. Title.
II. ContentsoftheBook-
Ill* CharacterandPurposeoftheBook.
IV. HistoricityandDate.
V. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBook.
VI. TheVersions.
VII. Literature.
THB REST OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER * , .183
I. PurposeandContentsoftheAdditions.
II. EstherLegends.
III. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBook*
CONTENTS
ix
PAGE
IV. Date
V. ManuscriptsandVersions.
VI. Literature.
THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON 196
I. Title.
II. ContentsoftheBook.
III. Authorship.
IV. Date.
V. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBook.
VI. PurposesoftheBook.
VII. TheConceptionofWisdom.
VIII Manuscript.san.dVers.ions........
IX. Literature.
ECGLESIASTIGUS 222
I. Title.
II. Date.
III. ContentsoftheBook.
IV. TheAuthorandhisBook.
V. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBookandtheHebrewMSS.
VI. TheGreekVersionandtheSecondaryGreektext.
VII The.other.Anci.entV.ersio.ns ......
VIII. Literature.
BARUCH 256
I. Title
II. ContentsoftheBook.
III. TheHistoricalBackground,andDate.
IVV. CompositionoftheBook
DatesoftheComponentPartsoftheBook.
VI. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBook.
VII. ManuscriptsandVersions.
VIII. Literature.
THE EPISTLE OFJEREMY 268
I. Title.
II. Contents.
III. PurposeandDateoftheEpistle.
IV. TheOriginalLanguageoftheEpistle.
V. Literature.
THE SONG OF THE THREE HOLY CHILDREN 272
I. Title.
II. ContentsoftheAdditions.
III. TheProblemoftheAdditions
IV. DateoftheAdditions.
V. TextandVersions.
........
VI. Literature.
Tna HISTORY OF SUSANNA s8o
I, Title.
II, Contents.
III. PurposeoftheStory.
IV. OriginalLanguageandthetwoformsoftheGreektext.
V. Date,
VL ManuscriptsandVersions.
VII. Literature.
x ..CO.NTE.NT.S .
PAGE
BEL AND THE DRAGON . 287
I Title.
II Contents
III. Origin andPurposeoftheStories.
IV. TheOriginalLanguageoftheStories.
V. ManuscriptsandVersions. ....
VI. Literature.
THE PRAYER OP MANASSES . 294
I. Title.
II Contents
III Origin ofthePrayer.
IV. DateofComposition.
V. TheOriginal LanguageofthePrayer.
VI. ManuscriptsandVersions.
VII Literature
THE FIRST BOOK or MACCABEES 300
I. Title.
II. TheOriginalLanguageoftheBook.
Ill Date.
IV. Sources:
i. DocumentsrelatingtointernalJewish affairs,
ii. Documents concerning the relations between the Jews
andRome,
iii. Documentsconcerning therelations between Spaita and
theJews,
iv. Documents purporting to be communications from the
SyriankingstotheJewishHigh-priests.
V. CharacteristicsoftheBook.
VI. Contents oftheBook:
i. Introductory.
ii. TheBeginningoftheMaccabaeanRevolt,
hi. TheLeadership ofJudas,calledMaccabaeus.
iv. TheLeadershipofJonathan,
v. TheLeadershipofSimon.
VII. TheGreekTextandVersions.
VIII. Literature.
THE SECOND BOOK OF MACCABEES 3x5
I. Title,Author,andCharacteristicsoftheBook.
II. DateoftheBook.
III. HistoricityoftheBook.
IV. ContentsoftheBook.
V. TheGreekTextandtheVersions.
VI. Literature*
INDEXES: ModernAuthorscite.d .. .. .. .. .* .... 331
Biblicalreferences 333
GeneralIndex. 340
PART
I
PROLEGOMENA TO THE APOCRYPHA