4 Esdras -books, for example reverse interlinear

4 Esdras was used in the early Church so I'm hoping this wonderful book would be revived, it's not like other Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal books, and it has been quoted in several books of the NT. I have commentaries to Jn, Ro, Jas, 1 Clem, and I was able to immediately see from the indexes of these commentaries that each one of them refer to 4 Esdras.

I would really prefer electronic searchable resources such as for Logos on this. That's why I haven't went to printed matter, I've only bought the item by Hephaestus books, a print-on-demand-book, called (long title):
Jewish Eschatology, including: resurrection, resurrection of the dead, jewish messianism, gog and magog, 2 esdras, armilus, 2 baruch, 3 baruch, war of ezekiel 38-39, fate of the unlearned, the secrets of rabbi simon ben yohai, gathering of israel

Within a year from now I can use Biblical Greek properly. I don't know any Latin or any language related to Latin so it would have been hard and less useful for me to learn Latin.

The best Bible version of 4 Esdras is the 1989 Revised English Bible. There is a thread about the REB: http://community.logos.com/forums/t/45624.aspx

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Comments

Rosie Perera

My understanding is that 4 Esdras (in the Vulgate) is part of 2 Esdras (in English translations), a book included in the Apocrypha. So any Bible with reverse interlinear that includes the Apocrypha has it. That would include NRSV, for example:

There are two commentaries available in Logos that cover 4 Esdras:

2 Esdras by Bruce Longenecker (Sheffield Guides to Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha)

Fourth Ezra by Michael E. Stone (Hermeneia; only available as part of the whole set)

DMB

NRSV? I'm not 'correcting' ... just expressing frustration as Juho.

Unix

I meant books ON 4 Esdras, such as commentaries. Besides, I doubt the NRSV reverse interlinear Apocrypha has 4 Esdras.

And yes, I'm not please with NRSV, it's too mainstream and hard to read.

Ken McGuire

My understanding is that 4 Esdras (in the Vulgate) is part of 2 Esdras (in English translations), a book included in the Apocrypha. So any Bible with reverse interlinear that includes the Apocrypha has it. That would include NRSV, for example:

Oh where is MJ when you need her! She know more than I do on comparative Canons. But since I will insert what I know anyway. The names of the books is not exactly consistent between all the editions, which can make this all a bit confusing. The name "Esdras" is a variant of "Ezra". In many old versions they are numbered 1 Ezra (our book of Ezra), 2 Ezra (our book of Nehemiah) and then multiple other "Ezra"'s. Some of these books are an appendix in the Latin Vulgate, but are not considered to be canonical by Rome. In addition, there are many other books attributed to Ezra. The thing is that the barrier to what is in the Apocrypha is a bit fluid, and different translations include more or fewer books. I have no idea what books would be included in any RI Logos produced... "2 Esdras", while quite historically significant the development of Jewish Apocalyptic, is stretching the barriers more than a bit. The NRSV does have a quite generous collection. To my knowledge, the only book viewed as canonical by ANYONE that is not included would be Jubilees.

SDG

Ken McGuire

Dan Francis

Here are all the translation of 4 Ezra i have (4 ezra being the bulk of 2 Esdras), comparing how they are translated the opening words of the book. Note I did not include RSV since it appeared to be the identical translation in the Hermeneia commentary.

3:1 In the thirtieth year after the destruction of our city, b I, Salathiel, who am also called Ezra, was in Babylon. I was troubled as I lay on my bed, and d my thoughts welled up in my heart, 2/ because I saw the desolation of Zion and the wealth of those who lived in Babylon. 3/ My spirit was greatly agitated, and I began to speak anxious words to the Most High, and said, --Stone, M. E., & Cross, F. M. (1990). Fourth Ezra : A commentary on the book of Fourth Ezra. Hermeneia--a critical and historical commentary on the Bible (52–53). Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

3 In the thirtieth year after the destruction of the city, I was in Babylon—I, Salathiel, who am also called Ezra. I was troubled as I lay on my bed, and my thoughts welled up in my heart, ²because I saw the desolation of Zion and the wealth of those who lived in Babylon. ³My spirit was greatly agitated, and I began to speak anxious words to the Most High, and said, -NRSV

¹In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart: ²For I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon. ³And my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High, and said, --KJV

“In the thirtieth year after the fall of Jerusalem, I, Salathiel (who am also Ezra), was in Babylon. Lying on my bed I was troubled and my mind filled with perplexityas I reflected on the desolation of Zion and the prosperity of those who lived in Babylon. I was deeply disturbed in spirit, and full of fear I addressed the Most High.” --(2 Esdras 3:1–3 REBA)

3 1 In the thirtieth year after the overthrow of the citya, I was in Babylon—I, Salathiel, who am also Ezra. Now I was perturbed as I reclined upon my bed so that my thoughts swarmed around in my mind, 2 because I visualized the ruin of Zion [on the one hand] and the affluence of those who lived in Babylon [on the other]. 3 Hence I was so profoundly disquieted that I began to address the Most High in terms reflecting [my] apprehension. --Myers, J. M. (2008). I and II Esdras: Introduction, translation and commentary (159). New Haven; London: Yale University Press.

I meant books ON 4 Esdras, such as commentaries. Besides, I doubt the NRSV reverse interlinear Apocrypha has 4 Esdras.

And yes, I'm not please with NRSV, it's too mainstream and hard to read.

Rosie Perera

NRSV? I'm not 'correcting' ... just expressing frustration as Juho.

I was only pointing that out since it is the only Bible Logos produces that does include Apocrypha. Aside from that you're out of luck, I was not intending to object to anyone asking here for new resources.

Ken McGuire

NRSV? I'm not 'correcting' ... just expressing frustration as Juho.

I was only pointing that out since it is the only Bible Logos produces that does include Apocrypha. Aside from that you're out of luck, I was not intending to object to anyone asking here for new resources.

Actually, no. RSV and Cambridge Paragraph KJV (and I think one other KJV - 1900 maybe?) have a quite extensive Apocrypha section in the Bible. Also the Roman Catholic translations include the Deuterocannonical books. And the Vulgate and LXX have the expanded cannon as well, but admittedly, from context it is obvious you are talking about English Bibles.

The NRSV book list is the extent of the Bible type for Logos, if I recall correctly, because it has such an extensive collection of books. In addition it is a generally solid translation (and yes, I am aware of and even agree with a few criticisms of it)

MJ. Smith

The names of the books is not exactly consistent between all the editions, which can make this all a bit confusing.

From Logos 3 where I was allowed to make my own time lines:

To my knowledge, the only book viewed as canonical by ANYONE that is not included would be Jubilees.

from the same source:

But, of course there is no reason to make timelines in L4 'cause Logos knows best.[:#]

DMB

Thank you very much MJ ... great work. I moved into my image library.