The Influence of Iranian Teachings on Judaism through Apocalypticism

Subject Areas : Christianity

ابوالقاسم پیاده کوهسار ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2010-06-11 Accepted : 2010-08-16 Published : 2010-03-21

Keywords: apocalypse, Judaism, Iranian religions, messianism, apocalyptic&#x0D, &#x0D, literature, Eschatology,

Abstract :

The study of the influence of religions on each other has been alwaysan interesting subject among scholars. In this context, some scholarsand historians have seen Iranian teachings as the source of manyreligious doctrines. According to a well-known theory, Zoroastrianismis the most influential religion in the history of the East and itsinfluence on Judaism and through it, on Christianity and Islam is easilytraceable. Though this theory is strongly supported by many scholars,there are others who are not convinced with such a theory and try tofind other sources for Jewish and Christian doctrines.Apocalyptic literature is an important religious genre which appearedin Jewish literature after the Second Temple period. It includes manyinteresting and new teachings, a number of which could be consideredas the continuation of the Old Testament and Jewish-Christiantraditions. There are also some new concepts and even transformedversions of the old concepts in these works. For example periodizationof history, messianism, eschatology, the final triumph of the Goodupon the Evil, the Judgment and resurrection, angelology, the vision ofGod and dualism are some of these new teachings. Since this variety ofconcepts appeared in Jewish literature just after the close contact ofJewish nation with Iranian culture, their origin could be traced back tothe similar notions in Mazdaism and other Iranian religions. This articletries to deal with this theory through analyzing apocalyptic literature.