1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910457931203321

Autore

Baynes Leslie

Titolo

The heavenly book motif in Judeo-Christian apocalypses, 200 B.C.E.-200 C.E [[electronic resource] /] / by Leslie Baynes

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Leiden ; ; Boston, : Brill, 2012

ISBN

1-283-34564-1

9786613345646

90-04-21078-4

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (246 p.)

Collana

Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism, , 1384-2161 ; ; v. 152

Disciplina

220/.046

Soggetti

Apocalyptic literature - History and criticism

Judaism - History - Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D

Eschatology

Eschatology, Jewish

Catastrophical, The

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Preliminary Material -- One: Introduction -- Two: “But if Not, Blot Me Out of the Book:” Earthly and Heavenly Books in the Hebrew Scriptures up to Daniel -- Three: “Everyone Who Is Found Written in the Book:” The Heavenly Book of Life in Daniel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other Second Temple Literature -- Four: “And Books Were Opened:” The Heavenly Book of Deeds in Daniel and other Second Temple Literature -- Five: “It Has Been Written and Ordained:” Heavenly Tablets and the Book of Fate in Jubilees, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other Second Temple Literature -- Six: “Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?” The Adaptation of the Motif in the New Testament -- Seven: “But Not Like the Books of This World:” The Heavenly Book in Christian Literature of the Second Century -- Eight: Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index of Modern Authors -- Subject Index -- Index of Primary Texts.

Sommario/riassunto

Books and writing, according to Jacques Derrida, are always concerned with questions of life and death. Nowhere is this more true than



regarding the heavenly book motif, which plays an important role in early Judeo-Christian literature, and particularly in apocalypses. This book identifies four sub-types of the motif—the books of life, deeds, fate, and action—and examines their development and function primarily in Jewish and Christian apocalypses. It argues that the overarching function of the motif is to signify life and death for those inscribed: earthly life and death in its early appearances and eternal destiny in later texts. The first full-length analysis of the heavenly book motif in English, this study highlights a vital element of the genre apocalypse.