The purpose of this article is to study the relationship between wisdom literature and apocalyptic literature which are important areas in the recent Old Testament studies. What is the function of wisdom tradition in the formation of the apocalyptic l...
The purpose of this article is to study the relationship between wisdom literature and apocalyptic literature which are important areas in the recent Old Testament studies. What is the function of wisdom tradition in the formation of the apocalyptic literature? What are the common things or the different things between these two literatures? What are the wisdom elements in the apocalyptic literature? Examining scholars` opinions of them, this investigation attempts to present a proper answer about these questions. This study critically examines the scholarly argument that the origin of the apocalyptic literature would be related to the wisdom tradition, including those of G. von Rad, H. P. Mu‥ller, J. C. VanderKam, and J. Z. Smith Through this discussion, it presents the followings: First, apocalypticism is not a child of wisdom tradition or prophetic literature, but a new genre which consists of diverse literary and religious elements in the Ancient Near East as well as in the Old Testament. Second, the study of the relationship between the apocalypticism and the prophetic literature overestimates the eschatology in the apocalyptic literature. However, the study of the relationship between wisdom and apocalypticism makes us seriously consider the universal and meditative elements in the apocalyptic literature. Third, wisdom in the apocalyptic literature is not the proverbii wisdom, but the mantic wisdom, which is related to the interpretation of dreams and omens in Mesopotamian divination. Fourth, the characteristics of the apocalyptic literature should not only be understool through the Book of Daniel, but also through the intertestamental literature as well as the wisdom literature of the Ancient Near East. Fifth, wisdom elements in the apocalyptic literature include determinism, trust of the universal order, some literary elements such as languages, themes and styles. Especially concepts of wisdom, sage, the righteous, fear of God, and theodicy in the wisdom tradition are employed in the apocalyptic literature. This study shows that the close relationship between wisdom literature and apocalypticism should not be overlooked. Wisdom tradition should be seriously considered for understanding the apocalyptic literature.