Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (2 volumes) (Charlesworth): New Translations from Authoritative Texts with Introductions and Critical Notes by an International Team of Scholars /

The writers of the Bible depended on other sources for much of their work. Some of these sources may be lost forever, but many have recently come to light. Known as the pseudepigrapha, they are made available here in two volumes.

Volume 1 covers Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments, and Volume 2 includes expansions of the “Old Testament” and legends, wisdom and philosophical literature, prayers, psalms and odes, and fragments of lost Judeo-Hellenistic works.

These new translations present important documents, many for the first time in English, for all those “People of the Book” to study, contemplate, and understand.

Western culture has been shaped largely by the Bible. In attempting to understand the Scriptures, scholars of the last three hundred years have intensively studied both these sacred texts and other related ancient writings. A cursory examination reveals that their authors depended on other sources, some of which are lost and some of which have recently come to light. Part of these extant sources are the pseudepigrapha. Though the meaning of the word can be disputed by scholars, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha is a collection of those writings which are, for the most part, Jewish or Christian and are often attributed to ideal figures in Israel’s past.

Together, both volumes of The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha present literature that shows the ongoing development of Judaism and the roots from which the Christian religion took its beliefs. Using the very latest techniques in biblical scholarship, this international team of recognized scholars has put together a monumental work that will enhance the study of Western religious heritage for years to come.

James H. Charlesworth is George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, and a world-renowned translator, particularly of pseudepigraphical material.

Accordance presents the complete contents of this work in nine modules. The main text covers both volumes, and leaves out only alternative versions of a few texts derived from additional sources. These alternative versions are available in parallel text modules. Each text is accompanied by a Notes module which includes all the introductory material and extensive annotations to the text, and another module with cross-references.