The Odes of Solomon as Apocalyptic Literature
In: Vigiliae ChristianaeSearch for other papers by Michael Anthony Novak in
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Abstract
The Odes of Solomon is generally categorized as early Jewish-Christian apocrypha, particularly as a lyrics-book of early Christian worship songs. They give us a glimpse into earliest Christian worship and Christian understandings of the recent advent of the Messiah. As a matter of genre, they are easily discussed as liturgical texts, poetry, or musical lyrics. This examination reveals that the Odes are filled with themes of apocalyptic literature, far beyond the extent hitherto recognized. These apocalyptic themes situate the Odes in earliest Christian literature, revealing ties to the Johannine corpus, particularly to the Revelation, to “Two Ways” catechetical literature, and to merkabah mysticism. In the Odes, there is revealed a need for a wider understanding of apocalyptic literature. Such recognition of other expressions of an apocalyptic worldview, transcending the boundaries of the formal genre of the apocalypse, would illumine relations among a variety of early Christian texts.
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Collins, The Apocalyptic Imagination, 7. I added the categories of “otherworldly journey” and “otherworldly guide” to this list of features. It is not that Collins was unaware of these aspects of apocalyptic literature, of course, but rather that he had incorporated them in different fashion.
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The Odes of Solomon as Apocalyptic Literature
In: Vigiliae ChristianaeSearch for other papers by Michael Anthony Novak in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The Odes of Solomon is generally categorized as early Jewish-Christian apocrypha, particularly as a lyrics-book of early Christian worship songs. They give us a glimpse into earliest Christian worship and Christian understandings of the recent advent of the Messiah. As a matter of genre, they are easily discussed as liturgical texts, poetry, or musical lyrics. This examination reveals that the Odes are filled with themes of apocalyptic literature, far beyond the extent hitherto recognized. These apocalyptic themes situate the Odes in earliest Christian literature, revealing ties to the Johannine corpus, particularly to the Revelation, to “Two Ways” catechetical literature, and to merkabah mysticism. In the Odes, there is revealed a need for a wider understanding of apocalyptic literature. Such recognition of other expressions of an apocalyptic worldview, transcending the boundaries of the formal genre of the apocalypse, would illumine relations among a variety of early Christian texts.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 240 | 57 | 2 |
| Full Text Views | 88 | 2 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 58 | 7 | 0 |
