Two "Mothers" in 5 Ezra 2:1-32
The early Christian apocryphon 5 Ezra (2 Esdras) 2:1-32 describes two distinct but unidentified "mothers." The first (2:1-7) is desolate, forlorn, and consigned to "destruction"; the second (2:15-32) is encouraged, glorified, and triumphant.It is generally recognized that the fi...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
[2019]
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| In: |
Vigiliae Christianae
Year: 2019, Volume: 73, Issue: 4, Pages: 440-462 |
| IxTheo Classification: | KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity NBN Ecclesiology |
| Further subjects: | B
Cyprian
B Tertullian B 5 Ezra B Lactantius B Zeno of Verona |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | The early Christian apocryphon 5 Ezra (2 Esdras) 2:1-32 describes two distinct but unidentified "mothers." The first (2:1-7) is desolate, forlorn, and consigned to "destruction"; the second (2:15-32) is encouraged, glorified, and triumphant.It is generally recognized that the first "mother" represents the city of Jerusalem, "Mother Jerusalem." The identity of and literary/thematic inspiration(s) behind the second "mother," however, are uncertain.The main thesis of this paper is that the "mother" in 2:15-32 represents the Christian church, "Mother Church." The primary evidence for this identification is the remarkable thematic and verbal parallels between 5 Ezra's descriptions of the "mother" and the characterizations of "Mother Church" in the writings of Cyprian.Furthermore, the writings of Zeno of Verona and Lactantius contain lists of Christian ecclesiastical "works of mercy" that are close to 5 Ezra 2:20-22.Our findings suggest that 5 Ezra is a post-250 Latin composition of North African origin. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0720 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Vigiliae Christianae
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700720-12341415 |