Apocalypse Of Ezra

The Fourth Book of Esdras or Ezra Apocalypse a Biblical book is inauthentic Jew attributed to the scribe Ezra , written in the ^first century. It reports to the apocalyptic genre. It appears in many editions of the Bible in English . It is among the Apocrypha by Thirty-Nine Articles and is regarded as such by many Protestant churches , among others.

Scholars differ on the question of the original language text, Hebrew or Aramaic . Paredejordi considers it established that the author was Jewish, because of the frequent presence of Hebraisms in the text and because "the author peppers his discourse of fictions and very close to the Talmudic rabbis . "However, chapters I, II, XIII and XIV of the Latin (and English translations) are not from the original book but later additions, probably due to Christian writers .

The Latin translations from the Codex Sangermanensis, including that of the Vulgate, differ from Ethiopian and other versions by the addition of four chapters and the lack of a chapter.

Manuscripts in Armenian , Syriac , Georgian and Arabic are also retained. Experts estimate that these versions are translations from a Greek text, which remains only a few old quotes, especially those of Clement of Alexandria ^, . This lost text should not be confused with another book in Greek, also bearing the title "Apocalypse of Ezra, but later composition (by 850 ) .

Content

Semitic original text: the "seven visions of Ezra"

Part of the book is considered after the Hebrew (or Aramaic) original (Chapters III to XIV of the Latin version), can be divided into seven revelations, the so-called "seven visions of Ezra" . The context is the humiliation of God's chosen people and the triumph of their opponents, the protagonists are Ezra and the archangel Uriel.

At first sight, when Ezra asks God if Babylon is better than Zion , Uriel responds with a reflection on the inability of men to understand the designs of God , the transitional nature of the situation, and the advent of fair reward when their number is complete .

Ezra continues his questions and asked the reasons for the dishonor inflicted on the Jewish people. Uriel says in the second vision the Day of Judgement will occur for all in his time, all will be judged first by the Son of Man and God, announcing the end of time.

In the third vision, Uriel explains that happiness is only achieved after many toils and torments. Ezra is concerned about humanity and then asks the angel why so few people will be saved. Uriel said that those who are saved are like gold and precious stones which, though fewer, are precious. God does not, however, that men are perishing, he bestows his blessings to all and, "if it does not lighten the burden of the sins of sinners, humanity can not live. "

Two doctrinal issues emerging from the third vision, specifically in the missing chapter of the Latin version (7:35-36). Ezra asked what happens after death, when the soul leaves the body each, and if souls are at rest awaiting Judgement. Uriel responds with a statement of what will be later a prevailing belief in Christianity: the souls of the righteous will of God and the wicked "does not enter the eternal abode, but wander and are punished, tormented and afflicted. "

The other issue was highly controversial, is the inability to intercede for the dead. Missing from the Latin version preserved at the Bibliotheque nationale de France a page torn (7:102-112) , precisely where it is treated this issue. The response of Uriel (7:105) is that "everyone will respond in its own justice or injustice. "

The fourth vision is of a woman remained barren for thirty years and whose son died on his wedding day, the woman suffering disappears and in its place is a huge city. Uriel Ezra explains that the woman is Zion and the death of his son is the ruin of Jerusalem, but the glory of the new holy city reflect back later.

The fifth vision is of an eagle, which symbolizes the Roman Empire or any other oppressor of the earth and the righteous. Uriel says he will disappear and the land will be released from his torment. The eagle is identified (12:11) to the "fourth beast" of the Book of Daniel .

The sixth vision is of a man who rises from the sea and flies with the clouds, many men come together to fight it, but when attacked, "he did not raise his hand against them or the sword or any weapon, but his mouth came a fireball, a burst from his lips and tongue hot embers like a whirlwind, and all mingled and it was like a storm that struck the crowd of those who 'attacked and devoured them "(see Apocalypse 19:11-21 ).

In the seventh vision, Ezra, while he is under a tree, hear the voice of God, who tells her he will snatch the world, Ezra asked him to send the Holy Spirit on him so he can "write what is happening in the world and what is written in the law. The voice of God told him that, along with five scribes, he moves away for 40 days, during which he will switch at its heart the "lamp of wisdom" until he finishes what he write. Ezra drinks a glass and filled with wisdom in the past 40 days 94 books are written. "While Ezra was captured and placed alongside those who are like him. "The seventh vision presents the division of history into ten parts resumption of the Book of Enoch (from 93.3 to 10, 91:15-17), and a design highlighted by the Kabbalists : part of the revelation is accessible while another is hidden, so that only a few can know (14:6,26).

Content specific to the Latin version

The first two chapters, added to the Latin version, how to expose Israel's sins caused God to turn to other nations and say how to receive salvation, the "eternal light" fleeing "the shadows of this century "" doing justice to the widow, the orphan, the poor "(reference to Isaiah 1:16-20 ). These two chapters are firt also known as the Fifth Book of Ezra (Ezra V).

The last two chapters, also added to the original text, dealing with end times : "Falling prices will be on this earth, we imagine that peace is granted, but then the earth will show the evils, battles, hunger and disorders. He announces major disasters that will precede the release of the righteous. These last two chapters are also known as the sixth book of Ezra (Ezra VI).

These four chapters are required for late additions of Christian origin, by many authors which is why it has been explicitly separated from the rest of IV Ezra.

Influence

The Apocalypse of Ezra is mentioned by several ancient Christian writers: Clement of Alexandria , Tertullian , and especially Ambrose of Milan , the Epistle of Barnabas is also referred.

Although all the churches, only the Ethiopian Church , the Coptic Church and some Eastern Churches do not exclude this book from the biblical canon, most favored its spread by including an appendix of the editions of the Bible. Catholic liturgy includes prayers based on verses of Chapter II of the Latin version.

In addition, the Kabbalistic identifies "the ten parts of the world" to the ten Sephiroth , the latter being the Malkuth or messianic kingdom . Kabbalists, among them Pico della Mirandola in his Apology, also identify all disclosure for the Law (the Torah ) and its slope esoteric to the Kabbalah itself .

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Pico della Mirandola , Apologia.
• Jean-Brierre Narbonne , The Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament Jew in agreement with the New Testament, P. Geuthner, 1933, 105 pages.

External link

• (In) The Apocalypse of Ezra , New Revised Standard Version

• Portal of Jewish culture and Judaism
• Bible Portal

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