Expectations of the End in Early Syriac Christianity

Expectations of the End in Early Syriac ChristianityHugoye: Journal of Syriac StudiesSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference PortalThe National Endowment for the HumanitiesThe International Balzan Prize FoundationDavid A. Michelsoncbsc_adminRecord added to Zotero bycbsc_adminSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference Portalhttp://syriaca.org/cbss/XYXXHVNV/tei

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CREATED: This bibl record was autogenerated from a Zotero record.UtePossekelExpectations of the End in Early Syriac Christianityhttp://syriaca.org/cbss/XYXXHVNVhttps://www.zotero.org/groups/a_comprehensive_bibliography_on_syriac_studies/items/XYXXHVNVhttps://www.zotero.org/groups/4861694/items/XYXXHVNVHugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies11:1200863-94Apocalyptic imagery was widespread in the Greek and Latin patristic literature but occurs relatively seldom in the early Syriac sources. This paper surveys the eschatologies of Bardaisan, the Odes of Solomon, and the Acts of Thomas and suggests specific theological, sociological, and historical reasons why apocalyptic motifs were not employed on a large scale. Bardaisan’s opposition to Marcion would have made him reluctant to draw on any type of dualistic imagery, and his social setting at the center, not at the margins of his community was not one that typically gave rise to apocalyptic discourse. The Odes’ joyful praise of salvation experienced already now leaves no room for looming disasters or cosmic battles. Only the Acts of Thomas contain one element found in apocalyptic literature: a tour of hell, which in the Acts serves a parenetic function. This paper also suggests that the scarcity of apocalyptic motifs in early Syriac Christianity can to some extent be attributed to the location of these Christians at the frontier. Possekel, Ute. “Expectations of the End in Early Syriac Christianity.” Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 11:1 (2008): 63–94. Ute Possekel, Expectations of the End in Early Syriac Christianity, Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 11:1 (2008): 63–94.Acts of ThomasBardesanI-III CEII CEIII CENT apocryphaOdes of Solomonapocalypticismeschatology