2 Esdras (Guides to the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha)

By Bruce W. Longenecker

Some of the greatest moments of religious history have occurred when a poignant experience or event flies in the face of the traditional theological worldview cherished by an individual or society. A fascinating case study of one such occurrence lies open in the text of 4 Ezra (2 Esdras 3-14), wherein a learned Jewish scribe of the first century CE rethinks his inherited theological views concerning a trascendent creator who is powerful, loving and just. This guide introduces the reader in a non-technical but informed manner to the text of 4 Ezra, locating it in its historical, theological and social setting, reviewing interpretive approaches, and demonstrating how the author boldly struggles to understand God's grand reputation in the light of a world out of joint. The guide also examines 4 Ezra's influence within the Christian Church, and introduces the historical situations and theologies of the Christian texts, 5 Ezra (2 Esdras 1-2) and 6 Ezra (2 Esdras 15-16).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1850757267
• ISBN13: 9781850757269
• Release Date: June 1995
• Publisher: Sheffield Academic Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"