The Jewish Pseudepigrapha: An Introduction to the Literature of the Second Temple Period

by Susan Docherty

An understanding of the Jewish Pseudepigrapha forms an integral part of all courses on New Testament background and Christian origins. This is a concise yet comprehensive guide to the Pseudepigrapha: the Jewish texts of the late Second Temple Period (circa 250BCE100CE) that are not included in the Hebrew Bible or standard collections of the Apocrypha. Each chapter deals with a specific literary genre (e.g. apocalyptic, testaments, rewritten Bible), encouraging readers to appreciate the texts as literature as well as furthering their understanding of the content and significance of the texts themselves. As well as providing helpful introductions to the different genres, the book surveys key issues such as: date, authorship, original language; purpose; overview of contents; key theological themes and significance.

Genres: Theology

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2014

Reviews

[Anthony Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the Pseudepigrapha with major themes and relation to the biblical canon. Great resource for anyone doing biblical studies.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good, brief review of various Pseudepigrapha - concentrating on those works that have stronger evidence for Jewish origins, and have strong evidence that they originated during the Second Temple Period. This is an excellent, starting point for getting to know this world better - and thus very useful for a better understanding of the Jewish as well as Greco-Roman world that our New Testament was formed in (as well as during which the Old Testament was on the path to canon).

The Author gives good explanations and introductions to the various genres covered: Rewritten Bible, Para-Biblical, Non-narrative, Testaments and Apocalyptic - as well as a good into to the whole field of Pseudepigrapha. Given the size of the book, she has wisely avoided getting lost in the many of the arguments / disagreements of this field - rather has mentioned, when appropriate, some of them briefly. Leaving the fine collection of further reading at the end of each chapter for those who would enjoy more.

Books covered include: 2 Baruch, Biblical Antiquities, 1 Enoch, 4 Ezra, Joseph and Aseneth, Jubilees, Life of Adam and Eve, Psalms of Solomon, Sibylline Oracles, Testament of Abraham, Testament of Job, Testament of Moses, Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs.

I’ve had a long interest in Pseudepigrapha, and read all the books covered here for the first time over 30 years ago. I would’ve benefited greatly from a book like this at that time. It is a good book for those wanting to get into more of the meat of “the background of the New Testament”, as well as those who are interested in the background to Judaism (or early Judaism at least).