Texts in Conversation
Isaiah 41:8 calls Abraham God's friend. In the Apocalypse of Abraham an angel greets Abraham with that same title as he rises to heaven, making his friendship with God the reason for the revelation he is about to receive.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Isaiah 41:8
Hebrew Bible
7 The craftsman encourages the metalsmith, the one who wields the hammer encourages the one who pounds on the anvil. He says of the welding, ‘It is good’18, and nails it down so it won’t fall over. 8 “You, my servant Israel, Jacob, whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham my friend, 9 you whom I am bringing back from the earth’s extremities and have summoned from the remote regions—I told you, ‘You are my servant.’I have chosen you and not rejected you.
Apocalypse of Abraham 10:5
Pseudepigrapha
4 And the angel whom he sent to me in the likeness of a man came, and he took me by my right hand and stood me on my feet. 5 And he said to me, “Stand up, Abraham, the friend of God who has loved you, let human trembling not enfold you. 6 For behold, I am sent to you to strengthen you and to bless you in the name of God, the creator of heavenly and earthly things, who has loved you.
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Notes and References
"... deity, and consequently falls face down upon the earth (10.1-3). From the ground, Abraham hears a voice calling upon an angel named Iaoel to go and consecrate him as he lies trembling (10.3). Iaoel then appears to Abraham in the likeness of a man and helps him to stand upright (10.4). The angel refers to Abraham as the ‘friend of God who has loved you’ (10.5, 6). Iaoel then reveals his identity and purpose to Abraham, informing him of all the aspects of the world over which he has charge (10.8-11). Surprisingly, Iaoel is the angel who was responsible for burning Terah’s house to the ground, because Abraham’s father ‘honoured the dead’ (10.12). But Iaoel encourages Abraham to ‘go boldly, be very joyful and rejoice’ for God has prepared an honour for him (10.14). Abraham is tasked with carrying out the sacrifice that God has commanded (10.15). ..."
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