Corpus-Paul

[Ronald Troxel <rltroxel AT facstaff.wisc.edu>]

Jim Hester wrote:

>Liz Fried quoted a definition of apocalypse (Collins, Apocalyptic
>Imagination, p. 4) which Collins takes from Semeia 14.  It is important to
>note that Collins emends the definition (p. 31) by adding, "intended for a
>group in crisis with the purpose of exhortation and/or consolation by means
>of divine authority."

This, however, is not Collins' emendation, but that of David Hellholm.  In
fact, Collins rejects this as "too suggestive of the conventicle theory of
apocalypticism" (the next paragraph).  Indeed, Collins sees "crisis" as too
narrow a description of the impetus for apocalypses, preferring to speak of
"some underlying problem" that is addressed (p. 32).

Thus, when Jim West writes:

>The end comes and the kingdom is restored to its former glory
>when the oppressors are done away with.  If this is not the goal of
>apocalyptic literature what is?

I would answer that apocalyptic aimed at providing perspective for people
awash in a world where they felt dwarfed and overwhelmed.  Whether that
threat was tangible (as in Dan 7-12 and Revelation) or psychological (as,
for example, in Enoch's cosmic tour in the Book of Watchers), the aim was
to provide readers with the reassurance that life makes sense and that
their faith tradition holds the key to gaining their bearings.

"Apocalyptic" as a label for literature written to people in crisis seems
to me a misnomer.  The issue here, once again, is really eschatology,
within which the removal of impediments to the ideal age is the prelude to
the introduction of that age.

Ron Troxel


Ronald L. Troxel, Ph.D.
Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies
1340 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706