In fact, it has been said that the apocalyptic was really an attempt to rationalize and systematize the predictive side of. Chapters 1 to 6 describe daniel s interpretation of king nebuchadnezzars dream. Daniel belongs to the latter group, a type of writing that in many respects sharply contrasts prophetic literature. Introduction apocalypse 1 f 0 0 is a greek word meaning revelation, an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling. The book of daniel in the ot and the revelation in the nt are possible exceptions. Reflection on the book of daniel apocalyptic literature.
Chapters 16 are a collection of stories that introduces the reader to daniel and three other israelites as unwilling guests of the babylonia empire ruled by nebuchadnezzar. What does apocalyptic literature mean for us today. The book of ruth, in which a foreign woman enters the community of israel and becomes greatgrandmother to none other than king david, expresses a view of gentiles entirely opposed to that of ezra and nehemiah. Bce the book of daniel contains many features and themes of apocalyptic literature, including an eschatology according to which god.
The elements of apocalyptic literature in daniel 712. It also occurs in especially jewish apocalyptic literature, probably under rabbinical influence ditomasso 2005. The book of daniel i have been arguing that to understand the radically new view of the afterlife that emerged in ancient judea in the horrible years leading up to the maccabean revolt, it is important to know something about a new genre or literature that. Although daniel and revelation are sometimes designated as prophecy, the two books are more accurately labeled apocalyptic literature, a specific type of prophetic writing. Collins has served for over thirty years as a helpful, relevant, comprehensive survey of the apocalyptic literary genre. One of the most widely praised studies of jewish apocalyptic literature ever written, the apocalyptic imagination by john j. The book of daniel differs from the majority of hebrew prophecy. This is the greek name of the book of revelation, and the book is known as the. In the bible, we find this genre in the book of revelation and in the second half of daniel theres also a lot of apocalyptic literature outside the bible. As has been said of the book of revelation, so we might say of daniel 712, that it is a picture book rather than a code book. One feature of this section is daniel s reliance on heavenly figures to interpret and explain his visions. This book is a thorough introduction to literature such as daniel, 1 and 2 enoch, and 3 baruch, 4 ezra, revelation, the sibylline oracles, the. The book of daniel is a 2ndcentury bc biblical apocalypse combining a prophecy of history with an eschatology a portrayal of end times cosmic in scope and political in focus. Apocalyptic comes from the greek word apokalupsis, meaning disclosure or revelation revelation 1.
One feature of this section is daniels reliance on. Daniel, with an introduction to apocalyptic literature forms of the old testament literature paperback december 1, 1984. Theres also a lot of apocalyptic literature outside. Ancient people would have read lots of apocalypses and would have understood how these apocalypses were. The apocalyptic literature interpreting biblical texts. Eight characteristics of apocalyptic literature apocalypse is a literary term coined by german scholar k. The oxford handbook of apocalyptic literature is a thematic and phenomenological exploration of apocalypticism in the judaic and christian traditions. It refers to works written by jews and christians between 200 b. In the bible, we find this genre in the book of revelation and in the second half of daniel.
The book of daniel is an apocalypse, a literary genre in which a heavenly reality is revealed to a human recipient. We appreciate the nature of apocalyptic literature far better today than we did in centuries past. The use of daniel in jewish apocalyptic literature and in. Link to kregel this new contribution to kregels handbooks of old testament exegesis has a more narrow focus since apocalyptic literature only appears in parts daniel and a few other prophetic books. The book of daniel and the book of revelation may seem strange to us but its because theyre the only two apocalypses were familiar with. Doc apocalyptic of daniel and revelation meajor eric. He addresses both the bestknown examples the biblical books of daniel and revelation and other important but lesser known examples zechariah and some. This style of writing filled with symbolism and visions has become known as apocalyptic and the books as apocalyptic literature. The book of daniel has sometimes been classified with the prophetic books of the old testament, a mistake owing largely to a failure to distinguish between the predominant characteristics of prophetic and apocalyptic writings. The use of daniel in jewish apocalyptic literature and in the revelation of st. This book takes its name not from the author, who is actually unknown, but from its hero, who was allegedly among the first jews deported to babylon, where he lived at least until 538 b. Apocalyptic literature, literary genre that foretells supernaturally inspired cataclysmic events that will transpire at the end of the world.
Daniel, with an introduction to apocalyptic literature forms of. My data base for the book of daniel approaches four thousand items. A literary device divides the book into two halves. Daniel, with an introduction to apocalyptic literture is volume xx of the forms of the old testament literature, a series that aims to present a formcritical analysis of every book and each unit in the hebrew bible.
Other old testament books relevant to the study of apocalyptic literature, such as zechariah, also have significant bibliographies. The apocalyptic style seems to have been inspired by prophetic books of the bible, especially daniel. Fundamentally exegetical, the fotl volumes examine the structure, genre, setting, and intention of the biblical literature in question. An introduction to the bibles apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic literature this type of literature is most readily recognized in the book of daniel in the old testament and the revelation to john in the new testament. In addition, we can also find a reflection of the socio. Chapters 1 to 6 describe daniels interpretation of king nebuchadnezzars dream. Apocalyptic literature encyclopedia of the bible bible.
The book of daniel offers a fully matured and classic example of this genre of literature unfulfilled prophecy. But actually, we are not left to attempt a stab in the dark. How to read and teach the apocalyptic literature of the bible. What are the characteristics of apocalyptic literature. Why is some literature in this style included in the bible. Revelation, apocalyptic writing and the old testament. Apocalyptic literature is a specific form of prophecy, largely involving symbols and imagery and predicting disaster and destruction. The book of daniel is the apocalyptic book of the hebrew bible.
The book of daniel, the first of the apocalyptic writings, did not represent an entirely new type of literature. I found this book to be one of the best introductory books i have read on apocalyptic literature in the bible, and highly recommend it for anybody who wants to study, teach, or preach through any of the apocalyptic books or sections of the bible. In more mundane language, it is an account of the activities and visions of daniel, a noble jew exiled at babylon, its message being that just as the god of israel saved daniel and his friends from their enemies, so. The book of daniel is the only fullblown apocalyptic book in the protestant recognized version of the canon.
The early chapters of daniel are historical, and revelation includes letters to seven churches in asia minor. Apocalypse had its beginnings in passages in the works of the prophets. Apocalyptic in the old testament apart from the book of daniel. But just as the distinctive themes of apocalyptic appear throughout the scriptures, so we find that its literary forms have walkon parts in many other books eze. Apocalyptic literature frequently contains strange descriptions and bizarre imagery. However, there are sources of apocalyptic literature in addition to these. A product of the judeochristian tradition, apocalyptic literature is characteristically pseudonymous. I take this opportunity to express my thanks to some of those who. The four visions of chapters seven to twelve are an early example of apocalyptic literature and, in contrast to the earlier chapters, are introduced in the first person. The bible contains two great examples of apocalyptic. Try to read 1520 minutes before the move, and you will be amazed at how much your focus as soon as you read the book. Most of the volume is devoted to the apocalyptic literature of antiquity. Strictly speaking, the book does not belong to the prophetic writings but rather to a distinctive type of literature known as apocalyptic, of which it is an early specimen. An introduction to jewish apocalyptic literature by john j.
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