Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

1,329 texts · Page 87 of 148

The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha: ancient Jewish texts composed during the Second Temple period that, while not included in the canonical Hebrew Bible, preserve invaluable traditions about angels, the afterlife, and the end of days.

Septuagint in Battle

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:1

And it all starts with a letter. I'm talking about the Letter of Aristeas. It's not actually part of the Bible itself, but it's a fascinating ancient text that claims to tell us ho...

Bond of the Soul and Letter

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:3

The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text attributed to a courtier in the service of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (that's Ptolemy the Second, Philadelphus – quite a name. ) suggests that’...

TorahSoulWisdom

Judea in Battle

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:5

I want to tell you a story, a personal one, about a mission I undertook. It all started with a plea. I saw an opportunity to speak to the king, to advocate for the Jewish captives....

JosephTorahSoulHoly Land

Beginning of Wisdom and Philocrates

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:7

It begins with a letter. Not just any letter, but the Letter of Aristeas. Now, the actual author of this letter is debated by scholars. But for now, let's just call him Aristeas. H...

JosephWisdomEgypt

Greek and Hebrew of Demetrius

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:9

The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text, gets right to that point. It tells us that the joy of learning, the pursuit of wisdom, it's just… different. More profound than any fleetin...

Greek and Hebrew of Ptolemy

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:11

And it all begins with a king and a library. Our tale comes from the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating document that purports to be a firsthand account of the translation. Whether ...

Andreas and Joseph

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:12

Our journey begins with a letter—the Letter of Aristeas—a fascinating, and some would say embellished, account of just how this monumental translation project unfolded. Imagine Egy...

JosephHoly LandExileEgypt

Psammetichus and the Dreamer

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:14

It’s a question that weaves through history, a tapestry of voluntary migration, military service, and, unfortunately, enslavement. One fascinating, though potentially embellished, ...

JosephEgypt

Voice of Torah

Apocrypha Letter of Aristeas 1:16

We're diving into the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text that offers a glimpse into the world of Hellenistic Judaism. Imagine you're an advisor to a powerful king, and you're t...

TorahPrayerEgypt