Written between the 2nd and 5th centuries AD, in Greek, the Apocalypse of Sedrach, also known as the Word of Sedrach, is an ancient apocryphal text.[1] It is preserved only in one 15th century manuscript (Bodleian Cod.Misc.Gr. 56, fols. 92–100). The text was published by M. R. James[2] and translated into English by A. Rutherford.[3][4] Apparently the original apocalypse was composed between AD 150 and 500, it was joined with a lengthy sermon on love to reach its final form shortly after AD 1000 (Agourides, 606). The original was probably Jewish, but this was later edited to take on a Christian flavour.[5]
The name of the titular figure, Sedrach may simply be the Greek form of Shadrach, the name of one of the three individuals put into the fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel. It may however simply be a corruption of Esdras, the Greek form of Ezra, particularly since the text has much similarity with other apocryphal texts attributed to Ezra, such as the Apocalypse of Ezra.
Like much other apocalyptic literature, the text narrates how Sedrach was given a vision of heaven, first describing someone being sent by God take him there. In the Apocalypse of Sedrach, it is Jesus himself who comes to take Sedrach, but while the text seems superficially Christian, it appears to be a corruption of an earlier Jewish text, with Jesus simply having been substituted in place of the name of an archangel.
Unlike other apocalyptic texts, however, the Apocalypse of Sedrach heavily discusses ethical issues, particularly repentance, and God being merciful. In a marked contrast to the bitter attitude often expressed in the genre, God is depicted as patient, keen to help people make the right choices, and keen to allow them repentance at every opportunity.[6]
^A. Rutherford, The Apocalypse of Sedrach, ANF, vol. 10, pp. 175-80
^S. Agourides, Apocalypse of Sedrach (Secondo to Fifth Century A.D.). A New Translation and Introduction, in James H. Charlesworth (1985), The Old Testament Pseudoepigrapha, Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company Inc., Volume 2, ISBN0-385-09630-5 (Vol. 1), ISBN0-385-18813-7 (Vol. 2). Here cited vol. 1, p. 605.
^Mercati, Giuseppe Silvio (1910). "The Apocalypse of Sedrach". The Journal of Theological Studies (4): 572–573. doi:10.1093/JTS/OS-XI.4.572. S2CID 161754570.
^"The Apocalypse of Sedrach, in: Jan N. Bremmer / Veronika Hirschberger / Tobias Nicklas (Hrsgg.): Figures of Ezra (Studies on Early Christian Apocrypha 13), Leuven 2018, 205–225".
Sourcesedit
S. Agourides (trans. & introduction), "Apocalypse of Sedrach", in J.H. Charlesworth (ed.), The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (New York: Doubleday, 1983), 1.605-613.
A. Rutherford, "The Apocalypse of Sedrach", Ante Nicene Fathers, vol10, 175–80. English Translation.
External linksedit
English translation
Early Jewish writings
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apocalypse, sedrach, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, februa. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Apocalypse of Sedrach news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Written between the 2nd and 5th centuries AD in Greek the Apocalypse of Sedrach also known as the Word of Sedrach is an ancient apocryphal text 1 It is preserved only in one 15th century manuscript Bodleian Cod Misc Gr 56 fols 92 100 The text was published by M R James 2 and translated into English by A Rutherford 3 4 Apparently the original apocalypse was composed between AD 150 and 500 it was joined with a lengthy sermon on love to reach its final form shortly after AD 1000 Agourides 606 The original was probably Jewish but this was later edited to take on a Christian flavour 5 The name of the titular figure Sedrach may simply be the Greek form of Shadrach the name of one of the three individuals put into the fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel It may however simply be a corruption of Esdras the Greek form of Ezra particularly since the text has much similarity with other apocryphal texts attributed to Ezra such as the Apocalypse of Ezra Like much other apocalyptic literature the text narrates how Sedrach was given a vision of heaven first describing someone being sent by God take him there In the Apocalypse of Sedrach it is Jesus himself who comes to take Sedrach but while the text seems superficially Christian it appears to be a corruption of an earlier Jewish text with Jesus simply having been substituted in place of the name of an archangel Unlike other apocalyptic texts however the Apocalypse of Sedrach heavily discusses ethical issues particularly repentance and God being merciful In a marked contrast to the bitter attitude often expressed in the genre God is depicted as patient keen to help people make the right choices and keen to allow them repentance at every opportunity 6 References edit Apocalypse of Sedrach M R james Apocrypha anecdota pp 130 137 A Rutherford The Apocalypse of Sedrach ANF vol 10 pp 175 80 S Agourides Apocalypse of Sedrach Secondo to Fifth Century A D A New Translation and Introduction in James H Charlesworth 1985 The Old Testament Pseudoepigrapha Garden City NY Doubleday amp Company Inc Volume 2 ISBN 0 385 09630 5 Vol 1 ISBN 0 385 18813 7 Vol 2 Here cited vol 1 p 605 Mercati Giuseppe Silvio 1910 The Apocalypse of Sedrach The Journal of Theological Studies 4 572 573 doi 10 1093 JTS OS XI 4 572 S2CID 161754570 The Apocalypse of Sedrach in Jan N Bremmer Veronika Hirschberger Tobias Nicklas Hrsgg Figures of Ezra Studies on Early Christian Apocrypha 13 Leuven 2018 205 225 Sources editS Agourides trans amp introduction Apocalypse of Sedrach in J H Charlesworth ed The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha New York Doubleday 1983 1 605 613 A Rutherford The Apocalypse of Sedrach Ante Nicene Fathers vol10 175 80 English Translation External links editEnglish translation Early Jewish writings nbsp This article about a book related to Christianity is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apocalypse of Sedrach amp oldid 1192064193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
