The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Non-Christian Influences on Christian Interpretation

Chapter 8 introduced the Jewish apocalyptic writings of the pre-Christian period in the first Christian century, that is, preceding the New Testament writing. Then, to avoid breaking the narrative of the interpretations of prophecy in the early church, several examples of Jewish apocalyptic writings have been held for this chapter. Here they will be considered in connection with the influence of Jewish apocalyptic writings on Christian thought, particularly on the extreme and at times absurd ideas held by some, a procedure which will help to explain why the church, about this time, began to frown on chiliasm. PFF1 283.1