Chapter 6 The Tree of Life in Ancient Apocalypse
In: The Tree of LifeSearch for other papers by Beth M. Stovell in
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Abstract
While scholars have explored the symbol of the tree of life in limited ways in the Hebrew Bible and in the New Testament, such exploration of the symbol of the tree of life in ancient apocalypse is even more scant. Yet the tree of life plays an important role in several ancient apocalypses. This chapter will explore the use of tree of life symbolism in 4 Ezra 2:12, 8:52 (2 Esdras 2:12, 8:52); the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra 2.11–14, 5.21; the Apocalypse of Sedrach 4.4, and the Apocalypse of Elijah 5.6. Using conceptual metaphor theories developed by Giles Fauconnier and Mark Turner, this chapter will demonstrate how the tree of life functions alongside other metaphors and symbols in these texts including birthing/mothering, creational/paradisal, and agricultural metaphors. By mapping the relationship of these metaphors and symbols, this chapter will examine the impact of these metaphorical connections to understanding the role the tree of life plays in these writings and within ancient apocalypse more broadly.