The Sibyl and the Apocalypses: Generic Relationships in Hellenistic Judaism and Early Christianity

Abstract

The Sibylline Oracles constitute a distinct genre of literature in Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity. The Sibyl's revelations are not presented as accounts of visions or of otherworldly journeys, but take the form of oracular speech. In this respect, they might be classified as prophecy rather than as apocalyptic. Despite their common features, the Sibylline Oracles were not modeled on the apocalypses. It is significant that the Oracles were written in Greek, while the apocalypses were in Hebrew or Aramaic. The authors of the Oracles were familiar with a wide range of Hellenistic sources, including Hesiod, political theories about the succession of kingdoms and with the biblical tradition. We should not underestimate the creativity of either the apocalyptic or the Sibylline writers. To be sure, they cobbled together their compositions from all sorts of traditions, but their works had their own distinctive character, and were not simply reproductions of sources. Keywords:Apocalypses; biblical; Christianity; Greek; Hebrew; Hellenistic Judaism; prophecy; Sibylline Oracles