The Myth of Rebellious Angels: Studies in Second Temple Judaism and New Testament Texts

by Loren T. Stuckenbruck

Overview

The mythical story of fallen angels preserved in 1 Enoch and related literature was profoundly influential during the Second Temple period. In this volume renowned scholar Loren Stuckenbruck explores aspects of that influence and demonstrates how the myth was reused and adapted to address new religious and cultural contexts.

Stuckenbruck considers a variety of themes, including demonology, giants, exorcism, petitionary prayer, the birth and activity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the conversion of Gentiles, "apocalyptic" and the understanding of time, and more. He also offers a theological framework for the myth of fallen angels through which to reconsider several New Testament texts—the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John, Acts, Paul's letters, and the book of Revelation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802873156
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	02/17/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	447
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Loren T. Stuckenbruck is professor of New Testament and Second Temple Judaism at the University of Munich. His previous books include 1 Enoch 91–108 and The Fall of the Angels.

Table of Contents

Preface xii

Acknowledgments xvi

Abbreviation List xviii

1 Origins of Evil in Jewish Apocalyptic Tradition: The Interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4 in the Second and Third Centuries B. C. E. 1

Introduction 1

A Interpretive Possibilities in the Biblical Tradition 3

B The Euhemeristic Citations Preserved through Alexander Polyhistor 7

C The Early Enoch Tradition 12

C.1 Book of Watchers (1 Enoch 3-36) 12

C.2 Book of Giants 17

C.3 Animal Apocalypse (1 Enoch 85-90) 21

C.4 Apocalypse of Weeks (1 Enoch 93:1-10 + 91:11-17) 23

D The Book of Jubilees 24

D.1 The Location of the Angels' Transgression 26

D.2 The Purpose of the Flood 27

D.3 The Residual Effect of Past Punishment of Evil 29

D.4 The Disobedient Angels' Teachings 31

Conclusion 33

2 Giant Mythology and Demonology: From the Ancient Near East to the Dead Sea Scrolls 36

A Introduction 36

B Profiles of Individual Giants 41

B.1 An Uncertain Name 41

B.2 Ahiram 41

B.3 Mahaway 41

B.4 'Ohyah and Hahyah 43

B.5 Hobabis/š 44

B.6 Gilgames/š 49

C General Profile of the Giants from the Early Enochic Traditions 55

D Conclusion 57

3 The Lamech Narrative in the Genesis Apocryphon (1QapGen) and 1 Enoch 106-107: A Tradition-Historical Study of Two Ancient Accounts about Noah's Birth 58

A Introduction 58

B 1Q19 and 1Q19bis, 4Q534-536, and Genesis Apocryphon vi 1-5 59

B.1 1Q19 and 1Q19bis 59

B.2 4Q534-536 61

B.3 Genesis Apocryphon vi 1-5 62

C Genesis Apocryphon (1Q20 ii-v 27) and Birth of Noah: An Overview and Comparison 63

C.1 Lamech's Initial Reaction to His Child 64

C.2 Marital Altercation 65

C.3 Lamech's Wife's Name 65

C.4 The Description of Lamech's Child 65

C.5 Designations for the Suspected Progenitor of Noah 66

C.6 Lamech's Consultation with Methuselah 69

C.7 Methuselah's Journey and Report to Enoch 70

C.8 Enoch's Explanation to Methuselah 73

C.9 The Conclusion: Methuselah Brings Enoch's Message back to Lamech 74

D Conclusion 75

4 Demonic Beings and the Dead Sea Scrolls 78

A Introduction 78

B Demonic Origins in the Enochic Tradition and Its Early Influence 80

C "Demons", "Spirits" and "Angels" in the Dead Sea Scrolls 85

C.1 "Demon" (sed) 85

C.2 "Spirit" (ruah) 87

C.3 "Angel" (mal'ak) 90

D Chief Demonic Beings 92

D.1 Melki-reša 92

D.2 "The Angel of Darkness" (&cgpE;&cgpP;&cgpH;&cgpA; &cgpE;&cgpI;&cgpN;&cgpS;) 93

D.3 "Satan" (&cgpK;&cgpV;&cgpX;) 94

D.4 and D.5 "Mastema" and "Belial" 95

D.4 Mastema 96

D.5 Belial 98

E Conclusion 100

5 Early Enochic and Daniel Traditions in the Dead Sea Scrolls 103

A Introduction 103

B The Pseudo-Danielic Fragments (4Q243-245) 106

B.1 4QPseudo-Daniel^a-b (4Q243-244) 106

B.2 4QPseudo-Daniel^c (4Q245) 110

C The Book of Giants 112

C.1 4QBook of Grants^b (4Q530 2 ii + 6-12(?) lines 15b-20) 112

D Conclusion 118

6 The Book of Tobit and the Problem of "Magic" 120

1 Early Jewish Traditions Opposed to the Use of Medicines 121

2 The Legitimation of Medicine in Second Temple Judaism 123

3 The Medico-Magical Cures in the Book of Tobit 124

Conclusions 129

7 To What Extent Did Philo's Treatment of Enoch and the Giants Presuppose Knowledge of Enochic and Other Sources Preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls? 131

8 Conflicting Stories: The Spirit Origin of Jesus' Birth 142

Introduction: Posing the Question 142

Jesus' Conception: pre-Gospel Tradition 147

The Holy Spirit and Jesus' Birth 150

Conclusion 159

9 The Human Being and Demonic Invasion: Therapeutic Models in Ancient Jewish and Christian Texts 161

Introduction 161

Coming to Terms with Jesus' Exorcisms: Contemporary Interpretation 164

Jesus' Ministry against the Demonic: An Overview 168

God, Demons and Humans in the Jesus Tradition 171

The Demonic in Apocalyptic Perspective 179

Jewish Apocalyptic Perspective and the Gospel Traditions: What this Means for Understanding Mental Illness 182

Conclusion 185

10 The Need for Protection from the Evil One and John's Gospel 187

A Introduction: Language for "Evil" in the Fourth Gospel 187

B The Problem: The Need for Protection from "the Evil One" 189

C The Ruler of this World in the Fourth Gospel 192

D The Prayer of Jesus in John Chapter 17 and Its Petitionary Character 194

E The Gospel of John in Context: Protection from Demonic Power in an Age of Evil in Second Temple Jewish Tradition 197

E.1 Serekh ha-Yahad 198

E.2 Serekh ha-Milhamah 199

E.3 Songs of the Maskil 199

E.4 Prayer of Deliverance (11Q5 col. xix) 200

E.5 Aramaic Levi Document 203

E.6 Jubilees 10:3-6 206

E.7 Jubilees 12:19-20 208

F From Jewish Tradition to Jesus' Petitions in John 17: Conclusion 211

G Post-scrip turn 213

11 The "Cleansing" of the Gentiles: Background for the Rationale behind the Apostles' Decree 216

The Question 216

The Nations in the Hebrew Bible 219

1 Enoch 10:20-22: the Worship of God by All Humanity 221

The Enochic Tradition and Acts 228

The Treatise on the Two Spirits (1QS iii 13 - iv 26) 230

Conclusion 239

12 Posturing "Apocalyptic" in Pauline Theology: How Much Contrast to Jewish Tradition? 240

1 Introduction 240

2 The "Two Ages" of Jewish Tradition and Pauline Scholarship 243

2.A Ernst Käsemann 245

2.B Johann Christiaan Beker 246

2.C J. Louis Martyn 247

2.D James D. G. Dunn 248

3 Models of Eschatology in Second Temple "Apocalyptic" Thought 250

4 Conclusion 255

13 Why Should Women Cover Their Heads Because of the Angels? (1 Corinthians 11:10) 257

A Introduction 257

B Problem Areas for Interpretation 258

B.1 Inconsistency 258

B.2 Incomplete Knowledge about the Corinthian Situation 259

B.3 Background in Contemporary Social Customs 260

B.4 Problematic Terms 262

C Summary and the Nature of Gender Equality in Paul 265

D Paul's Arguments for Head "Covering" 267

E Why, then, "on account of the angels"? 269

Conclusion 279

14 The Apocalypse of John, 1 Enoch, and the Question of Influence (with Mark D. Mathews) 281

A Introduction 281

B Comparison and Analysis 284

C Conclusions 321

Cumulative Bibliography 327

Index of Passages 359

Index of Modern Authors 403

Index of Subjects 410

Editorial Reviews

Matthew Goff
— Florida State University
"Each new publication by Loren Stuckenbruck is a boon to the field. The essays in this volume are no exception. They expertly guide the reader through a number of difficult and important issues and texts. Reading through these essays will be of great benefit, whether one is a beginning student or an advanced scholar."

John J. Collins
— Yale Divinity School
"More than any other contemporary scholar, Loren Stuckenbruck combines expertise in Second Temple Judaism and in the New Testament. This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the Jewish context in which Christianity emerged."

Judith H. Newman
— University of Toronto
"Stuckenbruck's deep scholarly knowledge and insight into the Enochic texts is unrivaled. This brilliant collection of essays displays his immense erudition and ability to provide nuanced textual interpretation. While focused in particular on the theme of the fallen angels, these essays serve as exemplary models for how to interrelate early Jewish works to the New Testament texts more broadly."

Matthias Henze
— Rice University
"Stuckenbruck has the rare gift of making cutting-edge scholarship and innovative research accessible to readers through his elegant writing. He is careful in his investigations and innovative in his theses. This volume is a must-read."

Kelley Coblentz Bautch
— St. Edward's University
"This comprehensive study of malevolent forces and extraordinary beings in Second Temple literature and New Testament texts makes clear the continuity between early Judaism and nascent Christianity. The reader is treated to detailed examination of both well-known and less familiar traditions by one of the foremost experts of this literature."

Review of Biblical Literature
"As one would expect from Stuckenbruck, the studies in this volume are carefully considered, thoroughly researched, and salutary for comprehending early Jewish and Christian literature."

Journal of Jewish Studies
"For a number of years, Loren Stuckenbruck has been at the forefront of all that is good about the study of Judaism in antiquity. This has not simply been due to his brilliance-although that has been repeatedly demonstrated-but is also due in no small part to the humility with which he treats both the primary sources and his fellow scholars, the sensitivity with which he approaches often difficult topics . . . and the respect and grace he displays to a variety of religious traditions. These qualities are clearly and amply demonstrated throughout this volume."

From the Publisher