Origin of Evil Spirits: The Reception of Genesis 6:1-4 in Early Jewish Literature (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neun Testament) (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neun Testament)

How do we account for the explosion of demonic activity in the New Testament? Archie Wright's work traces the development of the concept of evil spirits from the Hebrew Bible through post biblical Jewish literature. The author is concerned with the reception history of Genesis 6:1-4 in early Enochic and Philonic Judaism during the Second Temple Period. He suggests that the non-specificity inherent in the biblical text of Genesis 6:1-4 opened the basis for the later emergence of an aetiology of evil spirits as Jewish authors engaged with the text. As a result, Genesis 6 1:1-4 played an important part in the development of demonology in Second Temple Period Judaism. The author has lectured on Ancient History & Modern Hebrew at Oral Roberts University and taught Biblical languages & New Testament at the University of Durham, UK. Partial Contents: 1 Enoch 1-36--The Book of Watchers: Structure. Date, Place, Authorship. Source-Critical Approach. Strategies for Interpreting Genesis 6.1-4. Reception of the "Sons of God" in the Book of Watchers. Rebellion Motif in the Book of Watchers. Reception of the Watcher Tradition in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Philo of Alexandria: Interpreting Genesis 6.1-4. Conclusions. Bibliography. References. Modern Authors. Index of Subjects.