Texts in Conversation
The Dead Sea Scroll 4Q521 and the Psalms of Solomon include resurrection in their hopes for messianic renewal, shaped by Isaiah. Both link the resurrection to justice and healing, describing a future where the righteous are upheld and the poor restored.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
4Q521 2 ii+4 12
A Messianic Apocalypse
Dead Sea Scrolls, Apocalyptic and Eschatological Texts
5 For the Lord seeks out the faithful and calls the righteous by name. 6 Over the humble his spirit hovers, and the faithful he renews with his strength. 7 For he will honor the faithful on the throne of an everlasting kingdom, 8 setting prisoners free, opening the eyes of the blind, raising up those who are bowed down. 9 And forever I will cling to those who hope, and in his kindness … 10 and the fruit of a good [deed] will not be delayed for anyone. 11 And the Lord will do glorious things that have not been, as he [said]. 12 For he will heal the wounded and give life to the dead; he will bring good news to the humble, 13 and the [poor] he will satisfy, the uprooted he will lead, and the hungry he will make rich, 14 and the [discerning …] … and all of them like the [holy ones]
Date: 100–50 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Psalms of Solomon 3:12
Pseudepigrapha, Wisdom and Poetry
9 The sinner stumbles and curses his life, the day he was born, and his mother's labor pains. 10 He adds sin to sin while he lives (?); He falls, his fall is truly terrible, and he never rises again. 11 The destruction of the sinner is forever, and he will not be remembered when God attends to the righteous person. 12 This is the fate of sinners forever. But those who fear the Lord shall rise to eternal life, And their life (shall be) in the light of the Lord, and will never end.
Date: 65–30 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
"... On the resurrection of Israel or the 'righteous' on the last day, see Daniel 12:1-2; 2 Maccabees 7; 4Q521 2.11; 1 Enoch 92:3-4; Psalms of Solomon 3:12; Testament of Judah 25:1 ..."
Michael F. Bird, An Anomalous Jew: Paul among Jews, Greeks, and Romans (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2016), 126.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,