Sixth Ezra: the text and origin

6 Ezra is a short, oracular writing that is included in the biblical Apocrypha as the final two chapters (chapters 15-16) of 4 Ezra or 2 Esdras. Cast as the words of God mediated through an unnamed prophet, the main part of the work sets forth predictions of impending doom for the world. It is reminiscent of, and stands in the tradition of, Jewish and Christian prophetic writings that enunciate God's woes and threats against a sinful humanity, and envisage imminent destruction on the earth as a result. 6 Ezra is also concerned to exhort a group of God's chosen people to remain faithful and resist sin in order to escape the impending destruction. There has never been a major study of 6 Ezra or even a complete critical edition of the book, and indeed little has been written about it since the nineteenth century. This book is designed to fill that gap, offering a detailed analysis of the text itself, and addressing the question of its social setting, provenance, date, religious affiliation, and recensional situation of the text. It will also serve to make this important text accesible to a wider audience, while laying the foundations for its further study.

1. Introduction and summary of results -- Transmission History -- History of Scholarship -- Goals and Conclusions of the Present Study -- Text and Recensional Relationship -- The Religious Affiliation of the Author -- Date of Composition -- Original Language -- Provenance -- Sitz im Leben -- Eschatology -- 2. Evidence for the text of 6 Ezra -- Primary Evidence: The Manuscripts -- Description of the Significant Manuscripts -- Conclusion to the Discussion of the Manuscripts -- Secondary Evidence: Quotations and an Epitome -- Gildas's "De excidio Britanniae" (ca. 540) -- The Mozarabic Liturgy (Date Uncertain) -- The Roman Liturgy (Date Uncertain) -- The Epitome of 6 Ezra in the León Manuscript (Twelfth Century) -- 3. Reconstructing the two recensions -- The Readings of the Latin Manuscripts -- Sangermanensis (S) -- Ambianensis (A) -- Complutensis 1 (C) -- Mazarinaeus (M) -- Bruxellensis (N) -- Epternacensis (E) -- Abulensis (V) -- Legionensis 2 (L) -- The Lost Exemplar of 15:59 ... 16:31 in Manuscript S -- The Latin Manuscript Groups and Hyparchetypes -- Text r (Common Ancestor of V and L) -- Text q (Common Ancestor of C and r) -- Text p (Common Ancestor of M, N, and E) -- Text t (Co…