Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

437 Pages·2013·57.1 MB·German

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
und die Kunde der älteren Kirche
Herausgegeben von
Erich Gräßer
Band 59
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1991
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Gregory C. Jenks
The Origins and Early Development
of the Antichrist Myth
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1991
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© Printed on acid-free paper which falls
within the guidelines of the ANSI to ensure
Permanence and durability.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Jenks, Gregory C. (Gregory Charles), 1952—
The origins and early development of the Antichrist myth /
Gregory C. Jenks.
p. cm. — (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutesta-
mentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche ;
Beiheft 59)
Originally presented as the author's thesis (Ph. D.) —
University of Queensland, 1989.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-89925-707-0 (New York) - ISBN 3-11-012405-X
(Berlin)
1. Antichrist —History of doctrines —Early church, ca. 30-
600. I. Title. II. Series.
BS410.Z7 Heft 59
[BT985]
225.6 s-dc20
[236] 90-21517
CIP
Deutsche Bibliothek Cataloguing in Publication Data
Jenks, Gregory C.:
The origins and early development of the antichrist myth / Gregory
C. Jenks. - Berlin ; New York : de Gruyter, 1991
(Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamcntliche Wissenschaft
und die Kunde der älteren Kirche ; Bd. 59)
Zugl.: University of Queensland, Diss., 1989
ISBN 3-11-012405-X
NE: Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die
Kunde der älteren Kirche / Beihefte
ISSN: 0171-6441
© Copyright 1990 by Walter de Gruyter & Co., D-1000 Berlin 30
All rights reserved, including those of translation into foreign languages. No part of this
book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Printed in Germany
Printing: Werner Hildebrand, Berlin 65
Binding: Lüderitz & Bauer, Berlin 61
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To
Beverley
Danelle and Adam
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FOREWORD
This work was accepted by the Department of Studies in Religion of the
University of Queensland as a Ph.D. dissertation in July 1989. It is published,
in virtually the identical form as that in which it was submitted to and
accepted by the University, as a contribution to the continuing investigation of
early Christianity and of the Antichrist tradition in particular.
Dr Michael Lattke, Associate Professor in the Department of Studies in
Religion, University of Queensland, has encouraged me throughout this project.
It is due to his encouragement and practical support that this manuscript finds
its way into publication so quickly. I also owe a considerable debt to the
senior colleagues who examined the dissertation and encouraged me to seek its
publication: Dr Paullen Allen, Professor Francis I. Andersen and Professor John
J. Collins. I am deeply grateful, too, for the confidence which Professor Dr
Erich Crasser has shown in accepting this study as part of the series Beihefte
zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft.
Adelaide, Australia Gregory C. Jenks
December 1989
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD VII
ABSTRACT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS XV
LIST OF TABLES XXI
ABBREVIATIONS XXIII
1. THE QUESTION OF THE ANTICHRIST MYTH 1
1.1 The Question of the Origins and Early
Development of the Antichrist Myth 1
1.2 Recent Research into the Origins of the
Antichrist Myth 3
1.3 The Present Study 24
I. THE ANTICHRIST MYTH IN THE THIRD CENTURY CE
2. INTRODUCTION: THE WITNESSES AND THE PERIOD 27
2.1 The Witnesses 27
2.2 The Period 36
2.3 The Method 37
3. USE OF SCRIPTURE TO ELUCIDATE THE MYTH 41
3.1 The Book of Daniel 41
3.2 2 Thessalonians 43
3.3 The Book of Revelation 44
3.4 Other Biblical Passages 45
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X Table of Contents
4. SKETCHES OF THE ANTICHRIST FIGURE 49
4.1 The Antichrist Figure and the Satan Figure 49
4.1.1 Satan and the Antichrist 50
4.1.2 The Deceiver 55
4.1.3 Signs and Wonders 57
4.2 False Teachers and Heretics 60
4.3 The Unparalleled Evil of the Antichrist 64
4.4 The Sinful Pride of the Antichrist 67
4.5 The Antichrist's Claim to Divine Honours 69
4.6 The Sovereignty of God 72
5. THE ACTIVITY OF THE ANTICHRIST FIGURE 77
5.1 The Origins of the Antichrist 77
5.2 The Military Conquests of the Antichrist SI
5.3 The Antichrist's Treatment of the Jews 83
5.4 The Dominion of the Antichrist 86
5.5 The Name of the Antichrist 88
5.6 The Destruction of the Antichrist and his Domain 93
5.7 Ambivalence Towards the Roman Empire in the
Antichrist Literature of the Third Century 99
5.8 Summary: The Antichrist Myth in Christian
Literature of the Third Century 112
II. ANTECEDENT TRADITIONS TO THE ANTICHRIST MYTH
6. INTRODUCTION: THE SEARCH FOR ORIGINS 117
7. DEMONIC POWERS IN EARLY JEWISH WRITINGS 123
7.1 Non-Qumran Literature 124
7.1.1 The Documents 124
7.1.2 The Demonic Powers 130
7.2 Qumran 135
7.2.1 The Angel οϊ Darkness 137
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Table of Contents XI
7.2 Qumran (cont'd)
7.2.2 Belial 139
7.2.3 Melchiresha' 1*9
7.2.4 The Prince of the Dominion of Ungodliness 150
7.2.5 Mastemah 151
8. ANTIOCHUS IV IN JEWISH TRADITION 153
5.1 The Crisis and the Tyrant 153
8.2 Daniel 155
8.3 The Animal Apocalypse 161
8.* Jubilees 162
8.5 1 Maccabees 163
8.6 2 Maccabees 16*
8.7 The Testament of Moses 16*
8.8 Sibylline Oracles 167
9. ASPECTS OF HELLENISTIC JEWISH WRITINGS WITH
PARALLELS TO THE LATER ANTICHRIST LITERATURE 169
9.1 False Teachers and Heretics 169
9.2 Lawlessness and the Climax of Evil 172
9.3 The Deceit Motif 173
9.* The Endtyrant Figure 175
9.Λ1 Daniel 7-12 175
9.*.2 Martls 2 176
9.*.3 Qumran 176
9ΛΛ TMos 8 182
9.5 The Jewish People 183
9.6 Persecution of the Elect 185
9.7 Divine Sovereignty 185
9.8 The Destruction of the Hostile Powers 186
9.9 Ambivalence Towards the Roman Empire 187
9.9.1 Qumran 187
9.9.2 PssSol and SibOr 189
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XII Table of Contents
III. THE EMERGING ANTICHRIST MYTH
10. INTRODUCTION: CONVERGING STRANDS IN JEWISH
AND CHRISTIAN LITERATURE PRIOR TO 175 CE 193
11. THE ENDTYRANT TRADITIONS PRIOR TO 70 CE 199
11.1 The Synoptic Gospels 199
11.1.1 Eschatological Traditions in the Synoptic Gospels 201
11.1.2 The Synoptic Eschatological Tradition and the
Antichrist Myth 206
11.2 2 Thessalonians 207
11.2.1 Authenticity 208
11.2.2 The Occasion of 2 Thessalonians 210
11.2.3 Exegesis of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 213
11.2.4 The Literary Relations of 2 Thessalonians 2:1:17 225
11.3 The Book of Revelation 228
11.3.1 Significance of the Apocalypse for this Study 228
11.3.2 Composition, Setting and Structure 230
11.3.3 The Hostile Powers in the Apocalypse 236
11.3.4 Parallels in the Apocalypse to the Later
Antichrist Myth 247
11.3.5 The Book of Revelation and the Origins of
the Antichrist Myth 254
12. THE ENDTYRANT TRADITIONS AFTER 70 CE 257
12.1 Sibylline Oracles 257
12.1.1 SibOr IH.63-74 257
12.1.2 SibOr IV 259
12.1.3 SibOr V 261
12.2 The Epistle of Barnabas 268
12.2.1 Satan and the Demonic Powers in Barnabas 270
12.2.2 Endtyrant Traditions in Barnabas 271
12.3 4 Ezra 274
12.3.1 Eschatological Themes in 4 Ezra 276
12.3.2 Rome and the Endtyrant in 4 Ezra 279
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Table of Contents XIII
12.4 The Apocalypse of Abraham 284
12.5 2 (Syriac Apocalypse of) Baruch 288
12.6 The Odes of Solomon 291
12.7 3 (Greek Apocalypse of) Baruch 294
12.8 The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 297
12.9 Sibylline Oracles 304
13. THE EARLIEST ANTICHRIST TRADITIONS 307
13.1 The Didache 307
13.2 The Testament of Hezekiah 312
13.2.1 Introduction 312
13.2.2 Text of THez 316
13.2.3 The Endtyrant Tradition in THez 320
13.2.4 THez and the Antichrist Tradition 327
13.3 The Johannine Epistles 328
13.3.1 Significance of 1 and 2 John for this Study 328
13.3.2 The Composition of the Johannine Epistles 329
13.3.3 The Antichrist Myth in the Johannine Epistles 335
13.3.4 1 and 2 John and the Tradition-History of the
Antichrist Myth 346
13.4 The Apocalypse of Peter 347
13.5 Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 350
13.6 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 353
14. CONCLUSION: THE ORIGINS OF THE ANTICHRIST MYTH 357
14.1 Points of General Agreement 357
14.2 Matters Süll Subject to Debate 359
14.3 The Synthesis Proposed in this Study 362
BIBLIOGRAPHY 367
INDEX 413
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