Bibliography
| Title: Revealed History. A Jewish and Christian Technique of Interpreting the Past Type: Thesis Year: 1986 Abstract: "The practice of interpreting the past by revelation pervaded the ancient world, yet remains a neglected factor in the study of ancient Jewish and early Christian literary works. This study examines Jewish and Christian writings which claim inspiration in unraveling the past and which date between 200 B.C.E. and 130 C.E. It seeks to analyze the Jewish and Christian use of revealed history and to improve understanding of works in which it is found. While revealed history is much more than the sum of certain forms, it does divide nearly into genera and species. Prophetic histories base a chronicle of past events on revelation. Interpretive prophetic histories know past events by experience but interpret them by revelation. Inspired prophetic histories know by revelation both past events and their interpretation. Historical prophecies have two major parts: the historical resume in which a divine being or prophet recounts past events and the consequence which draws a conclusion from the historical summary in the resume. Apocalyptic histories recount events in the apocalyptists' past before considering the present and future. Apocalyptic world histories review history from creation to consummation; limited apocalyptic histories review a segment of history which concludes with the consummation. Taking revealed history seriously resulted in fresh interpretations of the works considered; these are probably the greatest gains of this study. Recognizing that Luke-Acts, John, and Josephus' Jewish War are interpretive prophetic histories casts light on the purposes of the authors and the arguments by which they make their case. The same can be said of viewing Jubilees and the Vision of Isaiah as inspired prophetic histories, or 1 Enoch 83-90, 2 Baruch 53-74, and Apocalypse of Abraham 21-32 as apocalyptic world histories, or passages from Daniel, Ascension of Isaiah 4 Ezra and Shepherd of Hermas as limited apocalyptic histories. The form historical prophecy clarifies the arguments of speeches in acts, Biblical Antiquities, Judith, Jewish War, 4 Ezra, and Daniel. Since revealed history was a supple, vigorous means of making a point, many revelations of this past resist classification according to form. Surviving ancient Jewish and early Christian works used the technique with flexibility and power. Based on a doctoral dissertation directed by D. M. Smith and presented to Duke University, this volume investigates ancient Jewish and Christian uses of "revealed history", i.e. accounts of the past that are based on information received from gods or their messengers. It first treats examples of revealed history in Jewish literature: prophetic history (Josephus, Jubilees), inspired historical sermons (Ezekiel, ps.-Philo, Judith, Josephus), apocalyptic world history (1 Enoch 83-90, 2 Baruch 53-74, Apocalypse of Abraham 21-32), limited apocalyptic history (Daniel), and a flexible technique for persuasion (4 Ezra, Sibylline Oracles). Then it deals with cases of revealed history in early Christian works: Sheperd of Hermas, Ascension of Isaiah, Odes of Solomon, Lk-Acts, and John's Gospel. Ancient writers frequently sougth to persuade by claiming to understand the past through special revelation. Hall shows how the long recitals of past events ar not to be seen as mere preludes to predictions, but prove inegral to the ancient author's argument. Josephus (in the Jewish War), the authors of Jubilees, John, and Luke Acts claim to reveal heavenly plans in history to vindicate a world view. Additional sources consindered in this thoughtful study include the book of Daniel, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Ascension of Isaiah, the Odes of Solomon, and 2 Baruch". Keywords: Theology of Ancient Judaism and early Christianity |