Posted: March 18th, 2022

Donovan Religion 410 New Testament of Abraham

Text Analysis Paper, due Friday, Novemberges
You will be assigned to read and analyze a work of apocalyptic literature that did not make it into the Bible and which we will not be analyzing in class. Use the same criteria to analyze this book that we used to analyze Daniel, The Book of Dreams, and the Animal Apocalypse:
o In what historical context was this book written?
o Does the author create or reflect on specific visual images? (CONTINUED —->)
o What passages or themes from the Hebrew scriptures influence the authors work? What prophecies does the author expect to be fulfilled?
o What type of resistance is being advocated? Why?
o What is the basic theological argument of the book?
This paper requires you to do research. You must provide evidence that you have consulted at least three scholarly sources, in addition to the text you are analyzing. You must include footnotes and bibliography using the Chicago Manual of Style. A successful paper will include your own analysis of the material and will indicate familiarity with the material we have covered in class to date. The text analysis paper will make up 25% of your grade.
You must choose a work of apocalyptic literature from this list:
The Testament of Abraham (available on eReserve)
The Ascension of Isaiah (available on eReserve)
The Apocalypse of Paul (available on eReserve)
First drafts are due in-class on Monday, October 27.
I will NOT accept papers handed in via e-mail. You must submit your paper both in paper copy and on turnitin.com, which is accessed via eCampu
Donovan
Religion 410
New Testament of Abraham

Abraham is said to be a man who lived and enjoyed his life as well as being a righteous man. His story is the first of the three biblical patriarchs. It is well recorded in the book of Genesis, chapters 11 through 25, where he played an important role in the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is mentioned in all 3 religions. For example, when the Muslims pray 5 times a day, they mention a connection with Abraham. People of Jewish faith look back in the Torah, specifically to the covenant they made with God that was established through the work of Abraham.
Abraham lived 995 years which is impossible in our day today. We can say that this man was a man of people who did not know the meaning of choosing since he accepted everyone. He accepted the poor and the rich, kings and rulers, neighbors as well as travelers. He was a man who was ready to sacrifice for people. There came a time “when he felt that his life was being tempted by God”1. This was the time when Abraham’s life was coming to an end. God sent his Arch Angel and told him to go down and talk to Abraham about his death so that he may put his affairs in an orderly manner since God has blessed him with the heavenly stars, having long life, as well as being rich.
God also blessed Abraham with righteousness and all goodness. Then the Angel of God started his journey as per the instruction given by God, and then went to Abraham where he found him in the oak of Mamre in the field resting behind yolk of oxen with the sons of other servants.

1 Mills, Watson E., Richard Francis Wilson, and Roger Aubrey Bullard. 2003. Mercer commentary on the New Testament. Macon, Ga: Mercer University Press.
As the custom of Abraham, when he saw the chief captain he as usual entertained him from far and the response of the chief was that he saluted Abraham in respectful way and by calling him the most honored, the chosen soul and also true son of God.
In response to this, Abraham as well saluted the chief captain by calling him the most honored warrior who shines full like sun and as well the most beautiful warrior among all the son of men. Abraham told his servants to go and slaughter a horse so that he may eat with his visitor while talking. Then the chief captained refused by saying that he abstain from eating any four footed beast since he has power over men as well as all kinds of cattle. They then departed to the house. As they were going over the field towards the house of Abraham, there stood a cypress tree and the tree wept out having the voice of human being. The tree was saying “Holy, Holy is the God Himself who calls those that are in love with Him (Lord)”2.
After this Abraham hid the mystery knowing that the chief captain had not heard this voice which was produced by the tree. The two then came near the house of Abraham and sat down. Isaac the son of Abraham saw Michael and told his mother Sarah that the man sitting with his father is not a son of all those that dwell on the earth. Then Isaac ran fast and saluted Michael hence falling at the feet and blessed him. Abraham said to his son Isaac to go to the well and take water from there and put it in a vessel so that they may wash the feet’s of the strangers (Michael) since Abraham had knowledge that his visitor was so tired. This shows how hospitable Abraham was.

2Sailhamer, John. The Pentateuch as narrative: a biblical-theological commentary. Zondervan Publishing Company, 1992.

After this Abraham wept over his stranger and as a result of him crying his son as well cried for their strangers. Abraham told his son Isaac to go to the inner chamber and prepare it for them to rest with his visitor. He told him to assemble every good thing for them. To burn precious as well as excellent incense and come up with sweet smell from the plant so that he may fill the house with it. Then Isaac did as per the instruction given by his father. Abraham and his guest sat and enjoyed everything and after some time the Arch Angel Michael went out and disappeared within no time and went back to heaven. The Arch Angel Michael was so welcomed by Abraham and this is the reason that made him to forget to remind Abraham of his death. He therefore asked Lord to forgive him for that. Then the Lord told his Angel Michael to go down to Abraham and do exactly what He will say to him. The Angel Michael was told to eat what Abraham was eating hence the Lord will send the Holy Spirit to the heart of his son Isaac and give him the remembrance of his father so that when in the dream he may be able to notice the death of his father.
The Angel of the Lord rejected by saying that Abraham is a man of the people because he prepared food for him and sat in the same table. He asked the Lord what he shall do since the spirit of the Lord does not eat nor sit in the table. The Lord said to His Angel Michael that he will be with him even when sitting with Abraham in the table. “He will be receiving what Abraham will be providing and this will be made easier by sending devouring spirit which will take everything that will be given to him by Abraham”3.

3Delaney, Carol. Abraham on trial: The social legacy of biblical myth. Princeton University Press, 2000.
The Lord told His Angel to rejoice together with Abraham so that Abraham may be able to know the sickle of his death as well as the uncertain end of his life since the Lord has blessed him as the stars of the heaven as well as the sand of the sea. Then the chief captain did as per the instruction of the Lord and went down to Abraham and sat near him in the same table. Isaac the son of Abraham as usual served them. After some time they prayed and lay down to sleep. Isaac said to his father that he “wanted to sleep in the same house with him so that he may be able to hear his discourse” 4.
Abraham rejected by telling his son to lay alone so that he may not disturb the Angel of the Lord. Isaac went to sleep and in his sleep the Lord himself did as he promised. He put the ideas of Abraham’s death to the heart of Isaac in his dream. Then Isaac woke up and went to the chamber of his father crying. He told his father to open for him since he wanted to hug him before Abraham was taken away from him. Abraham opened and Isaac hugged him and they both cried. Sarah the mother of Isaac also heard the cry of the two and she came out of her chamber. She thought that all this was caused by the funny way she reacted to their guest Michael. Michael defended himself by saying that it is the dream from Isaac that says that. “Then after this, she definitely knew that it is the Angel of the Lord who was speaking”5. Sarah remembered the entire incidence which occurred from the time their guest visited them and she proved to herself that all this was Godly doing and concluded by saying Glory be to God for showing them marvelous things.

4Malherbe, Abraham J. The Cynic epistles: a study edition. Vol. 12. Society of Biblical Literature, 1977.
5Malamat, Abraham. “Doctrines of Causality in Hittite and Biblical Historiography: A Parallel.” Vetus Testamentum 5, no. 1 (1955): 1-12.
Then Abraham left his wife and went back to his chamber. He called his son Isaac and told him to tell the truth. Isaac responded by saying that he saw his Lord who came to him and surrounded him, gave him rays as well as light. Isaac said that he saw heaven opening and a man who was bearing light came from it shining more than seven stars. This man then took out the sun which was from Isaac’s head and returned back to the heaven where he came from.
As he was still wondering what had happened, this man came back to him from heaven and at this time he took away the moon which was in Isaac’s head. This was all words from Isaac to his father then after chief captain heard this he said that the sun which was taken away from Isaacs head simplifies his father Abraham while the moon which was taken from the head of Isaac was a symbol of his mother Sarah. As usual the man who was doing all this from Isaac was the one who was sent from heaven. The chief captain said that he was sent by Lord to come and remind Abraham about his death. He said that he was told by the Lord as soon as he accomplish his mission he has to go back to heaven so he needs to do according to the will of God. After this “the chief captain vanished”6. He told the mighty Lord all what happened when he was in the house of Abraham and the Lord sent him again back to Abraham. God told the chief captain to tell Abraham to ask all the blessings. “Ask what you want from me since am your Lord, I have blessed you with sea and above the stars of heaven.”
The Lord as well cautioned Abraham about not believing the Angel of the Lord who was sent to him.

6Bloch, Abraham P. The Biblical and historical background of Jewish customs and ceremonies. KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1980.
He told Abraham to have knowledge of all who had come from Adam and Eve are all dead and no prophets has escaped earth since the Lord himself sent plague of sickness among them. The Lord told Abraham that he did not send plague to him and also he never wished any evil upon Abraham. Then the Lord told Abraham that this was the third time he was sending His Angel to him (Abraham) so let him come without rejecting like the second time. The Angel of the Lord went back again and at this time Abraham was so sorry since he knew that he was rejecting what was from God. Abraham was full of tears as he saw the Angel of Lord. Abraham told the Angel of the Lord to carry his word to the most high and tell him that what Abraham was always asking from God, he was getting without rejection so he was not going to resists again to his call but he will just accept. Abraham wanted only one favor from Lord which was to see all the inhabited earth as well as all creation which the Lord established with a single word. Then Abraham assured that when he will see all this then he will be able to depart from the earth. This was the “word from the mouth of Abraham to his God”7.
The Angel of the Lord took the report back to his God. The Lord told the Angel to take the cloud of power and went down again to take Abraham into the chariot then place him into the air for him to observe the earth. Then Abraham saw the world as it was that time. He saw all good things which were done on the earth as well as the bad. Abraham saw some thieves who were planning to commit murder; he asked the chief who they were. He answered and said that they were planning to steal. Abraham saw a wild beast and he prayed to the Lord to remove them from there and the Lord heard their prayer.

7Albright, William Foxwell. The biblical period from Abraham to Ezra. Vol. 120. Harper & Row, 1963.

He also saw some women committing fornication and he asked his Lord to open earth and swallow them and exactly this was done. Then there came a voice from heaven to the chief captain where he was told to command the chariot to stop and as well turn Abraham away so that he may not see the earth since he will destroy all creation for being in wicked. He was told to “take Abraham to the gate of the heaven so that he may see the judgment of the land as well as repent for the sinner’s sou”8.
The Angel of the Lord did as per instruction. Abraham saw the narrow gate which is the way to life. He saw wide gate which is a way to bitterness. After he saw all this he casted back to the ground and said that all sinners must be saved. Abraham went back to his house and death followed him everywhere he went. He told death to leave him “since he wanted to rest in his couch”9. He told death that he will beseech it. They prayed for those who were taken by death before their time and God heard their prayer then he sent a spirit of life and those who were dead were made alive again. Then Abraham gave glory to Lord. Abraham said to the death if there was unexpected death and the answer from death was that there were seventy two deaths. Abraham insisted to the death to leave him since he wanted to rest.
Isaac son of Abraham came weeping as well as his wife Sarah and they surrounded the couch of Abraham. Then Abraham came into indifference death. Death told Abraham to come and take his right hand and straightway the soul of Abraham which adhered to the hand of death.

8Cassuto, Umberto. A Commentary on the Book of Genesis: From Noah to Abraham. With an appendix: A fragment of part 3. Vol. 2. Magnes Press, Hebrew University, 1964.
9Allison, Dale C. Testament of Abraham. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.2003
Then the Angel of the Lord came and took the precious soul of Abraham as well as divining woven lined cloth whereby he tended the body of him with divine ointment up to the third day of his death whereby they buried him in the Promised Land. The Angel of the Lord went back to heaven. The Lord said that his friend Abraham to be taken to the paradise and this is where the tabernacle of the one who are righteousness like Isaac as well as Jacob with no trouble nor moaning but has presence of peace as well as life which does not end are. So the Lord said that “his brethren should copy the way of Abraham since after this they will have eternal life by magnifying the father as well as the son to whom the power as well as glory eternally”10.
1. In what historical context was this book written?
It reminds us how Abraham was given priority over the earth, his history and also how he was called by God. This one is a symbol of how things are happening nowadays since the first and the second time Abraham doubted the call of God then the third time accepted. This book tells us how Abraham was given big position of the three major world faiths which are Christianity, Judaism and also Islamic.
2. Does the author create or reflect on specific visual images
Yes, the author in this book comes up with some certain images which are seen even in our life today. Like for instance the narrative of opera whereby the title reflects the cave of the patriarchs and this narrative of opera is based on Abraham’s story since it is varies in most religion text.

10Fretheim, Terence E. Abraham: trials of family and faith. Columbia, S.C.: Hendel, University of South Carolina Press.2003

3. What passages or themes from the Hebrew Scriptures influence the authors work? What prophecies does the author expect to be fulfilled?
Like for instance, “Religion in monarchic Judah centered on ceremony sacrifice which was done in the Temple”11. There was adoration in the offer of priests known as Zadokites so this one was so dissimilar to the case Hebrew and there influencing the work of the author. The author expects the religions to be the same so as to fulfill the will of God.
4. What type of resistance is being advocated? Why?
The type of resistance which was being advocated is massive and the reason being that the land of Abraham cannot survive half slave from other nation and half free due to the favor of God through Abraham since he made him the father of nation.
5. What is the basic theological argument of the book?
The basic theological argument of the book is covenant theology since it all uses theological concept of the covenant of God as well as Abraham. It is an overall flow of the theology of the Christian religion.

11Mills, Watson E., Richard Francis Wilson, and Roger Aubrey Bullard. Mercer commentary on the New Testament. Macon, Ga: Mercer University Press. 2006

Bibliography
Albright, William Foxwell. The biblical period from Abraham to Ezra. Vol. 120. Harper & Row, 1963.
Allison, Dale C. Testament of Abraham. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.2003Bl
Bloch, Abraham P. The Biblical and historical background of Jewish customs and ceremonies. KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1980.
Cassuto, Umberto. A Commentary on the Book of Genesis: From Noah to Abraham. With an appendix: A fragment of part 3. Vol. 2. Magnes Press, Hebrew University, 1964.
Delaney, Carol. Abraham on trial: The social legacy of biblical myth. Princeton University Press, 2000.
Fretheim, Terence E. Abraham: trials of family and faith. Columbia, S.C.: Hendel, University of South Carolina Press.2003
Malherbe, Abraham J. The Cynic epistles: a study edition. Vol. 12. Society of Biblical Literature, 1977.
Malamat, Abraham. “Doctrines of Causality in Hittite and Biblical Historiography: A Parallel.” Vetus Testamentum 5, no. 1 (1955): 1-12.
Malamat, Abraham. “Tribal societies: Biblical genealogies and African lineage systems.” European Journal of Sociology 14, no. 01 (1973): 126-136.
Mills, Watson E., Richard Francis Wilson, and Roger Aubrey Bullard. Mercer commentary on the New Testament. Macon, Ga: Mercer University Press. 2006
Sailhamer, John. The Pentateuch as narrative: a biblical-theological commentary. Zondervan Publishing Company, 1992.

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