Please add a library type of Parabiblical

MJ. Smith

There are three major subcategories in ancient texts: (1) Near eastern texts and latin/Greek classics (2) Jewish and early church fathers Judeo-Christian texts and (3) parabiblical texts, a term I first ran into at https://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/courses/735/Parabiblical/labels.htm a few years ago. It includes apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, rewritten texts etc. and is frequently referenced in Bible commentaries. They are also frequently canon-candidates or recent rejectees which makes them essential for canonical studies. They are often covered in extensions to Bible commentary series (e.g. Hermeneia) and play roles in history of preaching, Bible interpretation, worship … It would be helpful to have these "controversial text" in their own type as they often are the natural limits for searches and balancing of one's library.

From Perplexity for those unfamiliar with the term:

Parabiblical literature refers to texts that are closely related to or expand upon the content of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, but are not included in the canonical scriptures. These works can be defined by several key characteristics:

Relationship to Biblical Texts

Parabiblical texts:

Are closely related to biblical texts or themes[1][2]

Elaborate on or expand characters, events, or narratives from the biblical storyworld[5]

"Move in the orbit" of the Bible without being part of the canonical collection[5]

Purpose and Content

These texts typically:

Employ exegetical techniques to address contemporary questions using biblical material[1]

Retell, paraphrase, or rewrite biblical narratives[4]

Provide additional details or fill gaps in biblical stories[6]

Develop independent compositions around biblical characters[4]

Forms and Genres

Parabiblical literature can take various forms, including:

Rewritten Bible texts (e.g. Jubilees, Genesis Apocryphon)[4]

Expansions of biblical narratives

Texts focused on biblical figures (e.g. Enochic literature, Testaments of the Patriarchs)[1][4]

Biblical paraphrases and commentaries

Historical Context

Many parabiblical texts:

Originated in the Second Temple period[9]

May predate or be contemporaneous with some canonical biblical texts[9]

Were often preserved through non-Jewish transmission (e.g. Christian sources) or archaeological discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls[1]

It's important to note that the term "parabiblical" is used by scholars as a neutral alternative to potentially problematic terms like "apocrypha" or "pseudepigrapha"[5]. The boundaries of what constitutes parabiblical literature can be fluid, and the term's precise definition and scope may vary among researchers.

Citations:
[1] https://brill.com/previewpdf/display/book/edcoll/9789004276215/B9789004276215-s020.xml
[2] https://journals.openedition.org/ashp/1567
[3] http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/courses/735/Parabiblical/intro.htm
[4] http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/courses/735/Parabiblical/labels.htm
[5] https://www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2024/9/3/review-panel-parabiblica-coptica
[6] https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/parabiblical-texts-9781841272429/
[7] https://riviste.unimi.it/interfaces/article/download/7692/8993/28312
[8] https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/7318/6019
[9] https://www.academia.edu/35052900/The_Parabiblical_Texts_From_Biblical_Texts_to_Pesharim
[10] https://www.jstor.org/stable/24663170
[11] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387705297_THe_Parabiblical_TexTs_From_Biblical_Texts_to_Pesharim
[12] https://parabible.github.io/about/