The book of Daniel is very interesting in regards to its Old Testament counterparts.\u00a0 The Hebrew version was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and is placed among the writings.\u00a0 The Greek version has stories that are not included in the Hebrew version.\u00a0 Bel and the dragon, and the prayer of Susanna are examples of these.\u00a0 The Greek version has Daniel listed as one of the Major Prophets.\u00a0 It is also ground breaking in that it is the first Apocalyptic work in sacred scripture.\u00a0 In Daniel we have Messianic prophecy, and the beginnings of eschatology.<\/p>\n
Eschatology literally means doctrine of last things.\u00a0 After the exile the people of Israel shifted their thinking to things of the future instead of the past.\u00a0 It is also important to note that although the exile was over the Davidic kingdom had not been reestablished, and in a way the people were still in exile.\u00a0 In due time YHWH will restore everything to himself and YHWH will reign over everything.\u00a0 In a way Israel was anxious for this to happen.\u00a0 They knew the only way they could have any kind of peace was if YHWH was reigning over all.<\/p>\n
The focus on the future is the beginning of Apocolypticism, and will eventually fully develop to it.\u00a0 This literary form focuses on the \u201cend time, which is expressed in mythical and symbolic language and revealed by a heavenly being (Study Notes).\u201d\u00a0 It also included the judgment of nations and of the dead.\u00a0 Collins states \u201cthe judgment of individual dead is the motif that distinguishes the expectations of apocalypses from biblical prophecy (Collins, 564).\u201d<\/p>\n
The book of Daniel is a very important book in sacred scripture and to the development of Christianity.\u00a0 It is here that we have the first clear teaching on the resurrection of the dead, that angels are messengers of God, and it introduces the messianic ideal for Israel\u2019s hope of salvation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Collins, John J. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The book of Daniel is very interesting in regards to its Old Testament counterparts.\u00a0 The Hebrew version was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and is placed among the writings.\u00a0 The Greek version has stories that are not included in the Hebrew version.\u00a0 Bel and the dragon, and the prayer of Susanna are examples of these.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4296,"featured_media":2426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1717,1720,1723],"class_list":["post-2812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-daniel","tag-eschatology","tag-last-things"],"yoast_head":"\n