Apocalyptic Literature (Matt Corbitt)
Introduction
Apocalyptic literature is best
understood when studied with its counterparts: pseudographical and Apocryphal
writings. Isolation of any of these components, such as apocalyptic literature
alone, leads to false
conclusions that evolve from a lack of historical and psychological context.[TE1]
The vivid imagery found in apocalyptic literature is meant to inspire,
motivate, and translate the author's point. Whether divinely inspired, or the
product of a well-meaning author inspired by another man, apocalyptic literature
continues to make far-reaching impacts on the Judeo-Christian world two
thousand years after its initial writing.
Apocalypse: Definition,
Inspiration, and Historical Context
Apocalyptic literature is a genre
of allegedly divinely inspired writings that predict the end of the world.
Apocalyptic literature has its roots in the Judeo-Christian world and is
typically dated from around 200 BC to 165 AD (Lerner 2013).
The Greek definition for ‘apocalypse’ could literally be translated as
"unveiling". Therefore, the book of Revelation in the New Testament
canon could adequately be referred to as the "unveiling" of Jesus
Christ (Grenz 1999, 12).
In
contrast, the Apocrypha, which includes some apocalyptic literature[TE2] ,
spanned from 300
BC to 300 AD. [TE3] The
time period that spans from Malachi to the appearance of John the Baptist is
sometimes referred to as the “silent years" due to the lack of canonical
scripture written in those years. During the silent years there was no prophet
of God until John the Baptist stepped onto the scene.
It should be noted that Palestine changed
political hands several times before the Romans came to power. The Jews
experienced the challenges of new conquerors, and, with each new overlord, the
Jewish people lost faith and hope. The end of the Davidic dynasty heralded the
diaspora from which the Hebrew people have not yet fully recovered.
Specifically, Jesus’ native homeland of Galilee was not fully conquered by the Romans
until 63 BC, and was one of the last areas of Palestine to join the Roman
Republic (Mack 2013, 55). Knowing this
background is essential to understanding why and how apocalyptic literature
came to being and has gained so much prominence both in ancient times and
today.
There are several parts of the
Protestant recognized canon that are of the apocalyptic genre. These canonized
apocalyptic books represent only a fraction of the total amount of apocalyptic
literature that was written in the same time period. Good.
Authorship of
Apocalyptic Literature and Apocryphal Literature
The authors of the apocryphal
writings are not known. However, scholars have found that different books were
written at different time periods and have attempted to make educated guesses
at their authorship. For example, scholars have used historic clues to deduce
that a Hellenistic Jew in Alexandria, Egypt, most likely wrote the book of
Enoch in the first century. The book of Jubilees was written in the second
century BC (Barnstone 2005, 3, 10). Some,
but not all of the Christian or Jewish apocalypse literature were either included
in the Apocrypha or the Canon. The dubious nature of the apocryphal writings
was translated into much of the apocalyptic literature. This was done to add
weight and gravitas to the works, which would have been overlooked otherwise.
Characteristics and
Sacredness of Apocryphal and Apocalyptic Literature
The best definition to match what
the Jewish people mean by "sacred" in addressing the Apocrypha is
found as Webster’s dictionary’s third definition. Sacred means highly valued or
deserving great respect. This is contrasted to "God breathed" or
Divinely inspired. The canon is considered to be divinely[TE4]
inspired and not just sacred. In like manner, the apocalyptic literature is
defined as "One
of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the
expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling
powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom"(Merriam-Webster
n.d.).
Due to the distraught and desperate state of the Jewish people when
these books were written, great faith and personal identity was invested in the
fulfillment of these prophecies.
Conclusion
A clear understanding of the
historical and psychological context is vital to a proper understanding of
apocalyptic writings. The Jewish people were conquered many times and moved
around relentlessly without concern for their wellbeing or religious faith,
resulting in a situation ripe for the acceptance of apocalyptic writings.
Apocalyptic literature gave the Jewish people something they had not had in
hundreds of years: hope.
It
is for this reason that non-canonical literature continues to captivate the
faith and imaginations of the current generation, thousands of years after its
writing. As the writings became popular throughout the Christian ranks, the
message was changed from the restoration of an Earthly kingdom in Palestine to
a heavenly spiritual one, and still inspires hope and faith in our world today.