Apocalypticism and Mysticism in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity

Apocalypticism and Mysticism in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity

By Adela Yarbro Collins

Book Description

This scholarly exploration delves into the profound spiritual traditions that shaped both ancient Judaism and early Christianity, revealing how mystical experiences and apocalyptic visions intertwined to form foundational religious thought. John J. Collins examines the rich tapestry of mystical consciousness across different cultural and linguistic traditions, offering readers insight into humanity's earliest recorded encounters with the divine.

The study traces two distinct yet interconnected paths of spiritual understanding. Through Hebrew and Aramaic sources, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Enoch, Collins illuminates a mythical tradition focused on various ways of experiencing God's presence. This Hebrew mystical strand emphasizes direct encounter and proximity to the divine realm. In contrast, the Greek philosophical tradition, exemplified through Philo's writings, presents a different approach that emphasizes unification and participation in divine essence.

The book demonstrates how early Christian writers, particularly Paul and the author of Revelation, transformed Jewish mystical concepts while drawing closer to Greek philosophical frameworks. This transformation would profoundly influence the development of later Christian mystical traditions. Collins provides nuanced analysis that distinguishes between different strands of mystical thought, helping readers understand how these ancient spiritual insights evolved across cultures and centuries.

For those seeking to understand the roots of Western mystical tradition, this work offers valuable perspective on how apocalyptic and mystical consciousness emerged from humanity's deepest spiritual yearnings.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)

📄 Length: 224 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Church history, primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
  • ✓ Explore Judaism
  • ✓ Explore Primitive and early church
  • ✓ Explore Judaism, history, post-exilic period, 586 b.c.-210 a.d.
  • ✓ Explore Post-exilic period (Judaism)
  • ✓ Explore Church history
  • ✓ Explore mystical experiences
  • ✓ Explore History

Topics Covered

Church history, primitive and early church, ca. 30-600 Judaism Primitive and early church Judaism, history, post-exilic period, 586 b.c.-210 a.d. Post-exilic period (Judaism) Church history Mysticism History End of the world

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