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Apocalypse of Moses

About this book

Adam's Last Words to Eve

And when Eve had said this among her sons, while Adam was sleeping in his illness and had only one day left before dying from the sickness that had taken hold of him, she says to him: 'Why are you dying while I am still living, and how long will I live after your death? Tell me.' And Adam says to her: 'Do not worry about this, because you will not live long after me; both of us must die. And you will be buried in my grave. But when I die, leave me alone and do not let anyone touch me until the angel of the Lord says something about me. God will not forget me, but will look for the vessel he formed. And instead, get up now and pray to God until I give my spirit into the hands of the One who gave it to me, because we do not know how we will meet our Maker, whether He will be angry with us or turn to have mercy on us.'⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Apocalypse of Moses 31:4 and James 4:5

Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions · New Testament

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Summary

James quotes a scripture whose source is unknown. The Apocalypse of Moses uses similar language that may represent a form of the lost proverb James cites, showing how early writers drew on sayings that did not survive.

Passages

Apocalypse of Moses 31:4

Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions
1 And when Eve had said this among her sons, while Adam was sleeping in his illness and had only one day left before dying from the sickness that had taken hold of him, 2 she says to him: 'Why are you dying while I am still living, and how long will I live after your death? Tell me.' 3 And Adam says to her: 'Do not worry about this, because you will not live long after me; both of us must die. And you will be buried in my grave. But when I die, leave me alone and do not let anyone touch me until the angel of the Lord says something about me. 4 God will not forget me, but will look for the vessel he formed. And instead, get up now and pray to God until I give my spirit into the hands of the One who gave it to me, because we do not know how we will meet our Maker, whether He will be angry with us or turn to have mercy on us.'
200–140 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Apocalypse of Moses

James 4:5

New Testament
4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” 7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.
80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in James

References

"... James 4:5 appears to cite an unknown Scripture (pseudepigraphal?) ... The pseudepigraphal writings Life of Adam and Eve and Apocalypse of Moses have several parallels in the writings of the New Testament. In this last reference, life of Adam and Eve and Apocalypse of Moses are the names given to somewhat different versions (respectively, Latin and Greek) of the same ancient book, which is also called Life of Adam and Eve. Several New Testament themes may be found in these two pseudepigraphal books: worship of God by angels (Heb 1:6; LAE 13-14); God as light (Jas 1:17; LAE 28:2; Apoc. Mos. 36:3); tree of life (Rev 22:2; Apoc. Mos. 9:3); Eve as the source of sin (2 Cor 11:3: 1 Tim 2:14; Apoc. Mos. 14:2); death following the sin of Adam (Rom 5:12-21; Apoc. Mos. 14:2); death as the separation of soul and body (2 Cor 5:1-5; Apoc. Mos. 31); Satan as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14: LAE 9:1; Apoc. Mos. 17: I); paradise located in the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2; Apoc. Mos. 37:5); and covetousness as the root of all sin (Rom 7:7; Apoc. Mos. 19:3) ..."
Lee Martin McDonald, The Formation of the Biblical Canon (London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2017), 311.

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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Apocalypse of Moses 31:4 and James 4:5

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