Legalism and apocalypticism in early Judaism

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Early Judaism, between approximately 200 BCE and70 CE, had developed two significant strains of beliefwhich affected the religious and social conduct of thevarious sections of the population: legalism andapocalypticism. They had evolved over a long historicalperiod, influenced by political developments and socialinsecurity within Palestine, and by the destabilizingeffects of Hellenization on the traditional values ofJudaism. The literature of the period indicates separategroups within the diversified culture of Judaism, in whichallegiance was to either Temple-based adherence to the Lawor to the dissident apocalyptic tradition, with differenteschatological expectations.In contrast, the Qumranic, socially-integrated,sectarians combined within their thought-processes andpraxis both an extremely strict legalism and alsosignificant elements of apocalyptic belief. They wereable to accommodate both aspects because of a realizedeschatology which considered the group to be the solechosen remnant of Israel, already in the company of theholy angels and predestined for salvation.Within the greater Jewish milieu, legalism andapocalypticism were oppositional forces : within Qumranthey were complementary. Rigid legalism, to maintainritual purity, would hasten the imminent eschaton, withapocalyptic annihilation of evil by God and his angels.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University