Introduction:
The Second Book of Esdras, also known as 4 Ezra, is an apocalyptic text that is part of the broader collection of Jewish and Christian writings. It is considered canonical in some Christian traditions, such as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is included in the Apocrypha in others, like the Anglican tradition. The book is not part of the Hebrew Bible and is generally not included in the Protestant canon. It is, however, valued for its theological insights and eschatological themes.

Authorship and Date:
The authorship of 2 Esdras is traditionally attributed to Ezra, a scribe and priest, although modern scholarship often dates the text to the late first century AD. The book is believed to have been composed in a Jewish context, possibly in response to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. The text is written in a style that reflects the apocalyptic literature of the time, characterized by visions, angelic mediators, and symbolic imagery.

Structure and Content:
The Second Book of Esdras is divided into three main sections:

1. Chapters 1-2 (5 Ezra): These chapters are often considered a Christian addition to the original Jewish text. They contain messages of judgment and hope, addressing the faithlessness of Israel and the calling of a new people.

2. Chapters 3-14 (4 Ezra): This is the core of the book and is considered the original Jewish apocalyptic text. It consists of seven visions given to Ezra, addressing themes such as the problem of evil, the fate of the righteous and the wicked, and the coming of the Messiah. Key passages include Ezra's dialogues with the angel Uriel, who provides divine insight into the mysteries of God's plan.

3. Chapters 15-16 (6 Ezra): These chapters are also considered later Christian additions. They contain prophecies of woe and destruction, echoing themes found in the Book of Revelation.

Theological Themes:
The Second Book of Esdras explores several significant theological themes:

· Theodicy and Divine Justice: The text grapples with the question of why the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper. Ezra's dialogues with Uriel seek to understand God's justice and the ultimate vindication of the faithful.

· Eschatology: The book provides a vivid portrayal of the end times, including the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the establishment of God's kingdom. It emphasizes the hope of salvation and the restoration of Israel.

· Messianic Expectation: 2 Esdras contains references to a coming Messiah, a figure who will bring about the redemption of God's people and the renewal of creation.

· Human Limitation and Divine Wisdom: The text underscores the limitations of human understanding and the need for divine revelation. Ezra's humility and quest for wisdom serve as a model for believers seeking to comprehend God's purposes.

Influence and Reception:
The Second Book of Esdras has had a significant impact on both Jewish and Christian thought. Its themes of divine justice and eschatological hope resonate with the broader biblical narrative. The book has been cited by early Church Fathers and has influenced Christian eschatology, particularly in its depiction of the end times and the role of the Messiah.

Quotations:
While the Berean Standard Bible does not include the Apocrypha, the themes and messages of 2 Esdras align with canonical scriptures. For example, the book's emphasis on divine justice and the coming kingdom echoes passages such as Revelation 21:4 : "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."

Conclusion:
The Second Book of Esdras remains a valuable text for its exploration of profound theological questions and its contribution to the apocalyptic literature of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Its messages of hope, justice, and divine wisdom continue to inspire and challenge readers seeking to understand the mysteries of God's plan for humanity.the Second Book Of Esdras

This exists in a Latin translation, the Greek being lost. Chapters 3-14 consist of a series of angelic revelations and visions in which Ezra is instructed in some of the great mysteries of the moral world, and assured of the final triumph of the righteous. The date of the book is uncertain. Like the first book, it was probably written in Egypt.

Book 11 Footnotes
... The learned Dr. Lee, in his posthumous Dissertation on the Second Book of Esdras,
p.25, also says, that "the truth of this history is demonstrated by the feast ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 11 footnotes.htm

Articles of Religion.
... of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book
of Chronicles, The First Book of Esdras, The Second Book of Esdras, The Book ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/articles of religion.htm

The Irish Articles of Religion. AD 1615.
... The Fourth Book of Esdras. The Song of the Three Children. ... The Book of Jesus, the
Son of Sarah, called Ecclesiasticus. The Second Book of Maccab??us. ...
/.../the irish articles of religion.htm

Apocryphal Apocalypses.
... doubts whether it be the fourth book of Esdras or not ... A book under this title is
condemned in the decree of ... The author of the Second Latin Form (see p.595, note ...
/.../unknown/apocrypha of the new testament/part iii apocryphal apocalypses.htm

Appendix. The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.
... 6. The second book of Esdras (called also the fourth, when the first is reckoned
as the third) is extant in a Latin, an Arabic, and an Ethiopic version. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/appendix the apocryphal books of.htm

Appendix i. Pseudepigraphic Writings
... a Judaising Christian, about the second half of the second century. ... Among the
Pseudepigraphic Writings we also include the 4th Book of Esdras, which appears ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix i pseudepigraphic writings.htm

Apion Book 1 Footnotes
... against Apion, as is the first part of the second book, but against those ... but still
with this further exception, that the book of apocryphal Esdras be taken ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/apion book 1 footnotes.htm

How the Books were Written.
... The apocryphal First Book of Esdras precedes our Book of Ezra; while our Book of
Ezra is united with Nehemiah, forming the Second Book of Esdras. ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xii how the books.htm

Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
... Jerome first called the second book Nehemiah. Wycliffe called them the first and
second Esdras and later they were called the books of Esdras otherwise the ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xi ezra nehemiah and.htm

The Apocalypse of Baruch.
... the gospel. It is supposed that the book was written before the Second Book
of Esdras (as it is called in our Bibles). That in many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the apocalypse of baruch.htm

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