The books of the Apocrypha : $b their origin, teaching and contentsOesterley, W. O. E. (William Oscar Emil)
Religion
The books of the Apocrypha : $b their origin, teaching and contents
Oesterley, W. O. E. (William Oscar Emil)
Bible. Apocrypha -- Introductions
In the Book of Wisdom there is no resurrection of the
body; the only immortality is that of the soul, and it begins on this
earth. Judgement takes place immediately after death, and there is no
Intermediate state. The bliss of the righteous and the torment of the
ungodly are of a purely spiritual kind. It seems as though the author
were acquainted with more than one Jewish eschatological scheme, and
used them without recognizing their inconsistency. He says nothing as
to where the scene of the Judgement will be laid; he is not ignorant
of the Palestinian Jewish belief, but, being of an Hellenic cast of
mind, he cannot accept it.
(_g_) _The Doctrine of Angels._
In Ecclesiasticus there are but few references; in xlii. 16 the
“holy ones” are unable to recount God’s marvellous works, though
strength is given them to stand in His presence. In Tobit the angel
Raphael plays an important part; he binds Asmodeus, and appears as
guardian angel to Tobit on his journey. The angelic host is referred
to in viii. 15. There is no mention of angels in Judith, but in the
Additions to Daniel the angel of the Lord appears in each of the
stories. The angelic host is spoken of in the Prayer of Manasses, and
a guardian angel in the Epistle of Jeremy, and there is an incidental
reference to angels in the Additions to Esther. A somewhat fantastic
representation of the activity of angels is given in 2 Maccabees in
the stories of Heliodorus and of the rider leading Israel to battle
and of the “reliable dreams” of Maccabæus. No other books refer
to angels till we come to 2 (4) Esdras, and here in the Salathiel
Apocalypse a greatly developed angelology appears. At the head of the
angelic host stand seven archangels, and God communicates with the
seer by means of the angels. In the Book of Wisdom the place of these
is taken by the Word or by Wisdom, the development of doctrine having
here eliminated angelology altogether.
(_h_) _Demonology._
It is doubtful whether there is any reference to demons in
Ecclesiasticus; there may be one in xxxix. 18-31. In Tobit there is
an evil demon who slays men. The only other reference is in Baruch;
but in the Book of Wisdom, though there is no demonology in the
ordinary sense, there is a belief in the devil.
_PART II_
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOKS OF THE APOCRYPHA
Introductory
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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