Texts in Conversation
In Baruch, the prophet calls Jerusalem to look east and see her children gathered home in the glory of God. The Christian theologian Irenaeus quotes this as a promise of the resurrection of the just, attributing it to Jeremiah.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Baruch 4:36
Deuterocanon
34 I will take away her pride in her great population, and her insolence will be turned to grief. 35 For fire will come upon her from the Everlasting for many days, and for a long time she will be inhabited by demons. 36 Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy that is coming to you from God. 37 Look, your children are coming, whom you sent away; they are coming, gathered from east and west, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.
Irenaeus Against Heresies 5.35.1
Early Christian
And Jeremiah the prophet has pointed out, that as many believers as God has prepared for this purpose, to multiply those left upon earth, should both be under the rule of the saints to minister to this Jerusalem, and that [His] kingdom shall be in it, saying, Look around Jerusalem towards the east, and behold the joy which comes to you from God Himself. Behold, your sons shall come whom you have sent forth: they shall come in a band from the east even unto the west, by the word of that Holy One, rejoicing in that splendour which is from your God. O Jerusalem, put off your robe of mourning and of affliction, and put on that beauty of eternal splendour from your God. Gird yourself with the double garment of that righteousness proceeding from your God; place the mitre of eternal glory upon your head. For God will show your glory to the whole earth under heaven.
Date: 175-190 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
“... Early Christians often found Baruch to be valuable. The earliest citation is in Athenagoras of Athens (second century), Legatio pro Christianis 9, citing Bar. 3:36 under the title 'Jeremiah'. Irenaeus provides an extensive citation of Bar. 4:36-5:9 at Haer. 5.35.1, again, under the title 'Jeremiah'. Many other writers cite material from Baruch as from Jeremiah (see esp. Civ. 18.33, citing Bar. 3:36-8), showing that they considered Baruch to be a part of Jeremiah. We can thus assume that for many of the canon lists collected in this volume, the title 'Jeremiah' includes Baruch. The lists that name Baruch as a part of Jeremiah include those from Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius, Epiphanius (Pan. 8.6.2; Mens. 5), and the list associated with the Synod of Laodicea. ...”
Gallagher, Edmon L., and John D. Meade
The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis
(p. 263) Oxford University Press, 2017
* 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.