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2 Baruch

Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch

About this book

The Twelve Tribulations

Chapter 27

1 And He answered and said to me: ‘Into twelve parts is that time divided,⁠ and each one of them is reserved for that which is appointed for it. 2 In the first part there shall be the beginning of commotions. 3 And in the second part there shall be killings of the great ones. 4 And in the third part the fall of many by death. 5 And in the fourth part the sending of the sword. 6 And in the fifth part famine and the withholding of rain.⁠ 7 And in the sixth part earthquakes and terrors.⁠ 8 And in the eighth part a multitude of spectres and attacks of the Shedim. 9 And in the ninth part the fall of fire. 10 And in the tenth part robbery and much oppression, 11 And in the eleventh part wickedness and unchastity. 12 And in the twelfth part confusion from the mixing together of all those things mentioned. 13 For these parts of that time are reserved, and shall be mixed one with another and minister one to another. 14 For some shall leave out some of their own, and receive in its place from others, and some complete their own and that of others, so that those may not understand who are upon the earth in those days that this is the consummation of the times.

Texts in conversation

Compare Mark 13:8 and 2 Baruch 27:7

New Testament · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

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Summary

In Mark 13, Jesus describes war, famines, and earthquakes, describing these events as birth pains at the end of the age. 2 Baruch describes a vision with similar turmoil as signs that history is entering a new age.

Passages

Mark 13:8

New Testament
1 Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!” 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” 3 So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?” 5 Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.
60–75 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Mark

2 Baruch 27:7

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch
1 And He answered and said to me: ‘Into twelve parts is that time divided, and each one of them is reserved for that which is appointed for it. 2 In the first part there shall be the beginning of commotions. 3 And in the second part there shall be killings of the great ones. 4 And in the third part the fall of many by death. 5 And in the fourth part the sending of the sword. 6 And in the fifth part famine and the withholding of rain. 7 And in the sixth part earthquakes and terrors. 8 And in the eighth part a multitude of spectres and attacks of the Shedim. 9 And in the ninth part the fall of fire. 10 And in the tenth part robbery and much oppression, 11 And in the eleventh part wickedness and unchastity. 12 And in the twelfth part confusion from the mixing together of all those things mentioned. 13 For these parts of that time are reserved, and shall be mixed one with another and minister one to another.
70–135 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Baruch

References

"... Despite the absence of the terms ‘woes’ or ‘birthpangs’, the details in this passage use the same vocabulary to describe the same familiar phenomena. Such descriptions in the rabbinic writings bear remarkable consistency in content and approach to the centuries-old Old Testament prophecies of the Day of the Lord and its antecedents previously described; equally, they bear striking similarity to many of the much more nearly contemporary sayings of Jesus relating to the End, which are stated in terms full of Old Testament allusion: he describes the beginning of the birth-pains in Mark 13:8 as follows: ‘Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.’ On family breakdown he says: ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death’ (Mark 13:12); and regarding the spiritual health of the people: ‘And then many will be caused to stumble and will betray and hate one another. Because of the increase in wickedness, the love of many will vanish’ (Matthew 24:10, 12). Jesus’ ready usage of themes and terminology familiar from both Old Testament and the later writings of the Rabbis is entirely consistent with his own rabbinic background. The apocalyptic literature of the period up to the 2nd century AD is essentially eschatological in content, employing many of the same themes and motifs as the rabbinic writings. Here, consequently, the woes are mentioned far more frequently: Charles goes as far as to state that ‘The woes before the Messianic Age are a feature of all Apocalypse.’ Three typical examples show very similar themes to both the biblical and the rabbinic texts: 2 Baruch 27:1-13 (early 2nd century AD) ..."
Robin Anthony Steedman, “Colossians 1:24 and Vicarious Suffering in the Church” (PhD diss., University of Birmingham, 2013), 251–252.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Mark 13:8 and 2 Baruch 27:7

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