Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BARUCH, THIRD

(GREEK APOCALYPSE OF)

A pseudepigraphon in which an angel is sent to console Baruch, who is weeping over the destruction of Jerusalem. The angel seems to offer consolation by way of distraction as he reveals “the mysteries of God” (3 Bar. 1:8). The angel takes Baruch on a guided tour to five heavens (chs. 2-16). At the end, the angel returns Baruch to the earth where Baruch praises God (ch. 17).

In the first three heavens one finds some novel interpretations of the tower of Babel, the garden of Eden, the Flood, and the movements of the sun and moon. In the fourth heaven Baruch sees the souls of the righteous. The angel Michael descends to the fifth heaven in order to collect the virtues of the righteous. The good works are put in a huge bowl by other angels, and Michael carries the bowl to God. Michael returns with blessings for the righteous and curses for those who do evil.

The message of the book is that God remains in control of the world and does reward the righteous and punish the wicked. Jerusalem and the temple have been destroyed, but the angel Michael carries out a priestly service when he offers the virtues of the righteous at the heavenly altar.

The text is extant in Greek and Slavonic. While originally written in Greek, the content of some chapters appears to be more reliably preserved in the Slavonic version. The text is probably Jewish, with some Christian interpolations. The place and date of composition are uncertain, although many scholars favor a date in the 2nd century c.e.

Bibliography. H. E. Gaylord, Jr., “3 (Greek Apocalypse of) Baruch,” OTP 1 (Garden City, 1983): 653-79.

Randal A. Argall

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BARUCH, THIRD

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)