| Popis: |
This thesis looks at the political, economic, cultural, social and religious aspects of life in Judea in the century prior to the Maccabean Crisis to show how far they may have contributed to the Crisis. The events leading to the crisis are then delineated and an attempt is made to clarify the reasons for the prohibition of religion. Daniel and the texts of the Apocrypha and Paeudspigrapha which stem from the Maccabean Crisis (including some texts which are not commonly held to date from that time or to refer to it) are studied and linked together according to the stance they take on politics and theodicy. That the question of God's Justice was a problem at this time can be seen from the number of works which consider it. The answers given are related to the political stance of the author/authors. Maccabees and Judith are Nationalistic in outlook, wanting no foreign overlord and they both assert that in a time of trouble God will eventually help his people and act through a chosen human being. Daniel 1-6, I Eadree and II Maccabees are not concerned with who rules the country as long as there is freedom of worship. They are all interested in divine justice for the individual and the assertion of life after death for those martyred for their faith appears in II Maccabees. The Apocalyptiste - Daniel 7-12 and Enoch SS-90 - see the present historical era as coming to an and and a now one being inaugurated by God. Then those who have been faithful and obedient will be resurrected, but those who have not will be punished eternally. III and IV Maccabees are included in this thesis because they adopt elements of the Meccabean Crisis to direct their readers to a better understanding of the secular government and of their own religion. |
