The divine agent in Intertestamental Judaism : the origins of the concept in the Hebrew tradition and its application in the figures of the the "Son of Man" in the Similitudes of Enoch and the "Logos" in the writings of Philo of Alexandria

Many New Testament scholars have recently come to understand aspects of Christology in terms of the rabbinic legal concept of agency. Whereas Rengstorf attempted to understand apostleship in terms of the rabbinic agency concept (1964, first published 1933), works such as those of Borgen (1983, first published 1968), and Buehner (1977) attempt to explain the Johannine Jesus in such terms, following on Eduard "Zum religionsgeschichtlichen Hintergrund der "Sendungsformel" Gal .4:4f; Roem.8:3f; John 3:16f; I John 4:9", published in the Zeitschrift fuer die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft in 1966. The aim of this dissertation is to locate the roots of the concept of Divine Agency at the heart of the Hebrew tradition, rather than in later rabbinic abstractions, and to examine the development of the tradition from ancient times to the period contemporary with Jesus of Nazareth. Two figures, in works reflecting some of the diversity of Intertestamental Judaism and dating from the first decade of the Christian Church, have been selected for assessment as Divine Agents. These are the "Son of Man" in the Similitudes of Enoch and the "Logos" in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. While the rabbinic and other legal abstractions are not a valid ideal model for understanding Divine Agency, they are nevertheless useful in that they articulate concepts more concisely than is the case elsewhere. A brief treatment of the legal material is therefore included. This is followed by a survey of the development of the Hebrew religious tradition, with particular attention to the concept of the Divine Council assembled round the Throne of God. It is in the context of this tradition that messianic and other ideal figures emerged, and therefore in this context that the origins of the Divine Agency Concept are sought. The Agency idea is found to be well-attested in the Hebrew tradition, particularly during the post-Exilic period.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Religious Studies

Year dc:date.issued

1987

Author dc:creator

• Taylor, Nicholas Hugh

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wanamaker, C A

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16368

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/16368