4QInstruction and the Synoptic Gospels: 4Q418 69 ii 7 in Light of Matt 12:41-42 (par. Luke 11:31-32)

What is it about?

The paper analyses several interpretations of 4Q418 69 ii 7 “and all who exist forever, the seekers of truth will rouse themselves for your judgment” sparked a controversy among the scholars. While some assume that כול נהיה עולם דורשי אמת is a reference to angelic beings (e.g., Strugnell and Harrington, Collins, Goff), others have claimed that the phrase יעורו למשפטכ̊[ם should be taken as a reference to the resurrection from the dead (cf. Elgvin, Puech). Whereas the expression “the seekers of truth” seems to be a unique example of such an epithet applied to the angels, it is not evident that 4QInstruction in this passage demonstrates a developed idea of bodily resurrection. The present paper will bring into discussion Mt 12:41–42 (par.) which on the one hand expresses the idea of the possibility of the deceased human beings to perform judgment, and on the other hand, does not presuppose the resurrection of those figures. With the help of this text (and other parallels, such as 1 Enoch 22:5–7; Testament of Abraham 13; cf. Mt 23:34–36[par.]) the present study will provide evidence for the fact that 4QInstruction contains an early example of the emergence of a belief that the deceased righteous would actively participate in the eschatological judgment, the idea subsequently adopted by the New Testament writers.

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