Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 2.djvu/193

Rh APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE 179 the reign of Odenatus ; and the fourteenth brings down the sketch to Aureolus. The names of the emperors and rulers are partially disguised, and eventually become unre cognisable. See Friedlieb, Oracula Sibyttina, 1852; Alexandre, Oracula Sibyllina, 1841, 1856 ; and Ewald, Ueber Entstehung, Inhalt, und Werth der sibyllinischer Biicher, 1858. 7. The Apocalypse of Baruch. In this rhetorical produc tion Baruch receives revelations respecting the future of Israel. Though Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Romans, and the calamities of the chosen people seem excessive, the prophet is comforted with the hope of better times, since the Messiah will come shortly to set up his kingdom after the Roman one has been destroyed. Then will be the judgment and the consummation; sinners will be punished, and the righteous rewarded. Part of this production, viz., the epistle of Baruch to the nine tribes and a half (chapters Ixxviii.-lxxxvi.), was published in the Paris and London Polyglotts in Syriac and Latin. The Syriac was again edited more correctly by De Lagarde. Whiston translated the Latin into English ; and he has been followed by Jolowicz, 1855. The whole book was pub lished from a Syriac MS. in the Ambrosian library by Ceriani, first in a Latin translation 1 and then in the Syriac itself. 2 The Latin is reprinted with a few emendations by Fritzsche. It was written after the destruction of Jeru salem, how long it is difficult to say. The author was acquainted with the Book of Enoch and the Apocalypse of Esdras, for he has many passages which are echoes of sentiments contained in them. He has also later Jewish legends, which point to the 2d century of the Christian era as that in which he wrote ; and there is little doubt that Greek was the original. Laageu 3 thinks that the author was a Palestinian. From, its length and wordiness, with the absence of poetic spirit, the perusal of the docu ment becomes wearisome. II. CHRISTIAN APOCALYPTIC. Christians followed the example of the Jews in using the sibyl as a vehicle of their ideas. Besides referring to the past, which they did mainly with reference to the person and work of Jesus Christ, they looked forward to the destruction of the world-power, and the consummation of all things at the second coming of Christ. They employed to a considerable extent both Jewish and heathen documents, interpolating or modifying them not very strongly. Often content with non-Christian sources, they adapted them but slightly, so that the ideas peculiar to Christianity shine forth dimly. The prophetic form of the Apocalypse does not demand the enunciation of doctrine, but rather a general indication of historic events, or the threatening announcement of destruction to the enemies of God. It deals with the utterance of principles exempli fied by kingdoms and their rulers. 1. The Sibyllines. We have already seen that books i., ii., iii. 1-96, iv., v. 1-51, vi., vii., viii., xi.-xiv., belong to this head, though they incorporate Jewish as well as heathen pieces with small adaptation. 2. The Apocalypse of Esdras. This Greek production resembles the more ancient fourth book of Esdras in some respects. The prophet is perplexed about the mysteries of life, and questions God respecting them. The punishment of the wicked especially occupies his thoughts. Since they have sinned in consequence of Adam s fall, their fate is considered worse than that of the irrational creation. The description of the tortures suffered in the infernal regions 1 Monumcnta Sacra et Prof ana, torn, i fasc. 2, p. 73, &c 3 Ibid., v. fasc. 2. 8 Do Apocalypsi Baruch, etc., commaitatio, pp. 8-10. is tolerably minute. At last the prophet consents to give up his spirit to God who has prepared for him a crown of immortality. The composition is feeble and tame, a poor imitation of the ancient Jewish one. There are no internal marks of date in it. It may belong, however, to the 2d or 3d centuries of the Christian era. Tischendorf published the Greek text for the first time in his Apo calypses Apocrypha;. 3. The Apocalypse of Paid. This work contains a description of the things which the apostle saw in heaven and hell. The text, as first published in the original Greek by Tischendorf, consists of fifty-one chapters, but is imper fect. The narratives descend to minute particulars, and possess no force or poetic power. Imitated from the Revelation of St John, their great inferiority is apparent. Internal evidence assigns it to the time of Theodosius, i.e., about 390 A.D. Where the author lived is uncertain. Dr Perkins found a Syriac MS. of this Apocalypse, which he translated into English, and printed in the Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. viii. This version is an enlarged and exaggerated edition of the Greek, which it sup plements and illustrates. See Tischendorf s Apocalypses Apocrypha?. 4. The Apocalypse of John contains a description of the future state, the general resurrection, and judgment, with an account of the punishment of the wicked, as well as the bliss of the righteous. It appears to be the work of a Jewish Christian, for the bodily appearance of Antichrist is derived from Jewish sources ; and there are numerous quotations from the Old Testament, especially from David. The date is late, for the writer speaks of the &quot; venerable and holy images,&quot; as well as &quot; the glorious and precious crosses and the sacred things of the churches,&quot; 4 which points to the 5th century, when such things were first introduced into churches. We cannot put it earlier than the 5th. This Apocalypse was first published by Birch, 6 but incorrectly ; afterwards by Tischendorf. The Greek appears to be the original. It is a feeble imitation of the canonical Apocalypse, devoid of literary value, and with the marks of a corrupted Christian age on its face. 5. The Apocalypse of Peter contains a narrative of events from the foundation of the world till the second advent of Christ. The book is said to have been written by Clement, Peter s disciple. This Arabic work has not been printed, but a summary of the contents is given by Nicoll in his catalogue of the Oriental MSS. belonging to the Bodleian. There are eighty-eight chapters. It is a late production ; for Ishmaelites are spoken of, the Crusades, and the taking of Jerusalem. 6. The Revelations of Bartholomew. In the year 1835, Dulaurier 7 published from a Parisian Sahidic MS., sub joining a French translation, what is termed a fragment of the apocryphal Revelations of St Bartholomew, and of the history of the religious communities founded by St Pachomius. After narrating the pardon obtained by Adam, it is said that the Son ascending from Olivet prays the Father on behalf of His apostles ; who consequently receive consecration from the Father, together with the Son and Holy Spirit Peter being made archbishop of the universe. The late date of the production is obvious. 7. The Apocalypse of Mary, containing her descent into hell, is not published entire, but only several portions of it from Greek MSS. in different libraries, by Tischendorf in his Apocalypses Apocrypha?. 4 Tiscnendorf, ell. xiii. s Atictariwn Codicis Apocryphi N. T. Fdbridani, p. 261, &c. 6 Bibliothecce Bodleiance codd. MSS. Orientalium catalogi parti* Becundae vol. primum, etc., p. 49, xlviii. 7 Fragment dea Revelations Apocryphes de Saint Barthelemy, &0. Paris, 1835.