LIFE AFTER DEATH: In the Intertestamental Palestine Context
Keywords:
Book of Jubilees, Ethiopic Enoch (1 Enoch), Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Resurrection of the Ancient Heroes of the Hebrew Bible, Resurrection of the Twelve Patriarchs, Resurrection of the Righteous and the Gentiles Who Believed in God, Resurrection: A Reversal in the Fortune of Humankind, Psalms of Solomon, Qumran Writings, Resurrection Fragment (4Q521), Hôdayôt (Thanksgiving Hymn), Wicked and the Holy (4Q181), Life of Adam and Eve, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum, 4Ezra and 2BaruchAbstract
The intertestamental history of the people of Israel, the Jews, marked a new kind of identity, an identity amidst the silence of God. The humiliating experience of slavery and their acquaintance with the foreign culture, religion and philosophy had its own influence on them. This was further aggravated by the Hellenistic and Roman culture and philosophy through invasions. In addition, there was no new revelation from God. This experience made a great impact in their understanding of life and death: while looking for a survival in terms of nation as a whole, they tried also to see a survival beyond death in the form of resurrection. This new climate of religious and philosophical thinking and expression favoured Jesus and the early Church towards quite a new understanding of life, death and afterlife. Most of these writings are of apocalyptic nature. A word on apocalyptic, the Child of Prophecy,would surely help us to understand its importance.
References
A Priestly Messiah from the tribe of Levi (T. Reuben 6:7-12; T. Judah 21:2ff) and a Kingly Messiah from the tribe of Judah (T. Judah 24:5-6).
A-M. Denis, Introduction aux Pseudépigraphes Grecs d’Ancien Testament, 82, 93, 185; D. J. Harrington, “The Biblical Text of Pseudo-Philo’s Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum,” CBQ 33 (1971) 1-17, 1-2; D. S. Russell, The Method & Message of Jewish Apocalyptic, 62-65; G. Stemberger, Der Leib der Auferstehung, 73, 106; L. Hartman, Prophecy Interpreted: The Formation of Some Jewish Apocalyptic Texts and of the Eschatological Discourse Mark 13 par, 132; P. Volz, Die Eschatologie der jüdischen Gemeinde im neutestamentlichen Zeitalter, 35, 40; R. E. Brown, et al, “Apocrypha; Dead Sea Scrolls; Other Jewish Literature,” 1062-1064; W. S. Towner, “Form-Criticism of Rabbinic Literature,” JJS 24 (1973) 101-118, 114.
Cor 15:35-54; 2Bar 52:7. G. Stemberger, Der Leib der Auferstehung, 94; H. C. C. Cavallin, Life after Death, 78, 89.
G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 391; é. Puech, “Une apocalypse messianique (4Q521),” 493, 505.
G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, 156-159, 161-164.
J. Carmignac, “Le retour du Docteur de Justice à la fin des jours?” RQ 2 (1958), 235-248, 235-239 esp. 239; R. Meyer, “Σαδδουκαîος ,” 35-54, in G. Friedrich, ed., TDNT, Vol.7, Grand Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971, 40-41; F. F. Bruce, “Paul on Immortality,” ScJTh 24 (1971), 457-472, 459; K. Schubert, “Die Entwicklung der Auferstehungslehre von der nachexilischen bis zur frührabbinischen Zeit,” 202-203; M. Mansoor, “Studies in the HODAYOT – IV,” JBL 76 (1957), 139-148, 146.
J. F. Stenning, ed. and tr., The Targum of Isaiah, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1953, 48-51; H. C. C. Cavallin, Life after Death, 83.
K. Schubert, “Die Entwicklung der Auferstehungslehre von der nachexilischen bis zur frührabbinischen Zeit,” 177-178. For the relation between the members of the body and psychical properties see, D. S. Russell, The Method and Message of Jewish Apocalyptic, 140-145; I. Abrahams, Studies in Pharisaism and the Gospels, New York: Ktav Publishing House, Inc., 1967, 98.
Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum 23:13; 28:3; 32:13; 33:4; 43:7; 44:10; 54:6; 62:9; 64:5-7; 4Ezra 7:78, 100.
P. Grelot, De la Mort a la Vie éternelle, Lectio Divina-67, Paris: Les éditions du Cerf, 1971, 210; P. Grelot further compares these habitats with that of the Ancient Greek Mytholigies. . P. Grelot, “L’eschatologie des Esséniens et le livre d’Hénoch,” RQ 1 (1958), 113-131, 124-127.
D. S. Russell, Apocalyptic: Ancient and Modern, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1978, 38-29; D. S. Russell, The Method and Message of Jewish Apocalyptic, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1964, 15, 24-26, 74, 127-133, 181-183; R. H. Charles, Lectures on the Apocalypse, London: Oxford University Press, 1923, 1-2, 6.
Damascus Document 1:5-8. . G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 127; R. E. Brown, et al, “Apocrypha; Dead Sea Scrolls; Other Jewish Literature,” NJBC, 1073-1074.
E. Bickerman, Studies in Jewish and Christian History, Part 2, Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1980, 1-5, 23; J. T. Milik, “Le Testament de Lévi en Araméen,” RB 62 (1955), 398-406, 405-406; M. De Jonge, “The main Issues in the Study of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs,” 509, 512-516; J. C. Greenfield and M. E. Stone, “Remarks from the Aramaic Testament of Levi from the Geniza,” RB 86 (1979), 214-230, 225, 227-227; M. De Jonge, “The Pre-Mosaic Servants of God in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and in the Writings of Justin and Irenaeus,” VC 39 (1985), 157-170, 160-161; M. De Jonge, “The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: Christian and Jewish,” 233-243, in M. De Jonge, ed., Jewish Eschatology, Early Christian Christology and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, SNT-63, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1991, 238.
E. Käsemann, “The Beginning of Christian Theology,” 82-107, in E. Käsemann, ed., The New Testament Questions of Today, London: SCM Press Ltd., 1969, 102.
F. Nötscher, “Hodajot (Psalmenrolle),” BZ 2 (1958), 128-133, 132-133; J. Carmignac, “Le retour du Docteur de Justice à la fin des jours?” 237; J. van der Ploeg, “The Belief in Immortality in the Writings of Qumran,” BO 18 (1961), 118-124, 122-123. . Psalm 141:7-8; 143:3-4, 7; Jonah 2:2, 6; Lamentations 3:53, 55.
G. Greshake and J. Kremer, Resurrectio Mortuorum, Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1986, 61; K. Schubert, “Die Entwicklung der Auferstehungslehre von der nachexilischen bis zur frührabbinischen Zeit,” 203; M. Mansoor, “Studies in the HODAYOT – IV,” 146, f.n.64; G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, 156. . Romans 6:3-11; Colossians 2:12-13; Ephesians 2:5-6; 5:14.
G. Stemberger, Der Leib der Auferstehung, An. Bib.-56, Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1972, 60.
G. Vermes, “Qumran Forum Miscellanea I,” 304; G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, 144, f.n.1, 151; R. A. Horsley, Bandits, Prophets & Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus, Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1999, 25; R. E. Brown, et al, “Apocrypha; Dead Sea Scrolls; Other Jewish Literature,” 1076-1077. J. J. M. Black, The Scrolls and Christian Origins, London: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., 1961, 141.
G. Vermes, “Qumran Forum Miscellanea I,” JJS 43 (1992), 299-305, 303; G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 391.
G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, 136-137; K. Schubert, “Die Entwicklung der Auferstehungslehre von den nachexilischen bis zur frührabbinischen Zeit, BZ 6 (1962) 177-214, 192.
G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, HTS-26, Cambridge/London: Harvard University Press/Oxford University Press, 1972, 32; G. L. Davenport, The Eschatology of the Book of Jubilees, 40; P. Volz, Die Eschatologie der jüdischen Gemeinde im neutestamentlichen Zeitalter, 29.
G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, 146; H. C. C. Cavallin, Life after Death, 63; G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 243-244.
Genesis 5:24; Sirach 44:16; 49:14; G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, London: Penguin Books, 1997, 513; P. Vielhauer, “Jesus und der Menschensohn,” ZThK 60 (1963), 133-177, 169; J. C. Hindley, “Towards a Date for the Similitudes of Enoch: An Historical Approach,” NTS 14 (1967/68), 551-565, 562-564.
H. C. C. Cavallin, Life after Death, 59-60, 72-74; D. S. Russell, The Method and Message of Jewish Apocalyptic, 59-60; P. Volz, Die Eschatologie der jüdischen Gemeinde im neutestamentlichen Zeitalter, 49; J. L. Sharpe, “The Second Adam in the Apocalypse of Moses,” 36, 39-40.
J. C. Vanderkam, trans., The Book of Jubilees, Lovanii: Aedibus E. Peeters, 1989, 149.
J. J. Collins, “Apocalyptic Eschatology as the Transcendence of Death,” CBQ 36 (1974), 21-43, 22.
J. L. Sharpe, “The Second Adam in the Apocalypse of Moses,” CBQ 35 (1973), 35-46, 35; J. H. Mozley, “The ‘Vita Adae,’” JThS 30 (1929), 121-149, 121; D. S. Russell, The Method and Message of Jewish Apocalyptic, 59-60; H. C. C. Cavallin, Life after Death, 72; L. S. A. Wells, The Books of Adam and Eve, AP-2, 126-127.
J. O’Dell, “The Religious Background of the Psalms of Solomon,” RQ 3 (1961) 241-257, 241-249; J. L. Trafton, “The Psalms of Solomon: New Light from the Syriac Version?” JBL 105 (1986) 227-237, 229; J. Begrich, “Der Text der Psalmen Salomos,” ZNW 38 (1939) 131-164, 131, 163-164; A-M. Denis, Introduction aux Pseudépigraphes Grecs d’Ancien Testament, 63-64; G. W. E. Nickelsburg, Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, 131-132, 134; J. Schüpphaus, Die Psalmen Salomos, LGHJ-7, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1977, 30-31.
J. T. Milik suggests eternal life in his translation and J. Strugnell suggests an angelic life to the members. J. T. Milik, “Milkî-cedeq et Milkî-Reša‘ dans les Anciens écrits Juifs et Chrétiens (I),” JJS 23 (1972) 95-144, 114; J. Strugnell, “Notes en marge du volume V des ‘Discoveries in the Judean Desert of Jordan,’” RQ 7 (1970), 163-276, 254.
K. Schubert, “Die Entwicklung der Auferstehungslehre von den nachexilischen bis zur frührabbinischen Zeit,” 192; L. Hartman, Prophecy interpreted: The Formation of some Jewish Apocalyptic Texts and of the Eschatological Discourse Mark 13 par, Coniectanea Biblica: New Testament Series-1, Lund: CWK Gleerup, 1966, 112-126.
Midrash in Hebrew means ‘Interpretation’ or ‘Exposition’.
P. Volz, Die Eschatologie der jüdischen Gemeinde im neutestamentlichen Zeitalter, Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1934, 28; G. L. Davenport, The Eschatology of the Book of Jubilees, SPB-20, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1971, 40; H. C. C. Cavallin, Life after Death, Part I, Coniectanea Biblica – New Testament Series – 7:1, Lund: CWK Gleerup, 1974, 38. Compare it with Wisdom 2:22-24.
R. H. Charles, The Ethiopic Book of Enoch, London: SPCK, 1952, 69; P. Grelot, “L’eschatologie des Esséniens et le livre d’Hénoch,” 121f.
G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English and é. Puech, “Une apocalypse messianique (4Q521),” RQ 15 (1991-1992), 475-519, 486.
