Apocrypha, Genre, and Historicity

Abstract Whereas the Apocrypha have often been defined by genre and sub-genres in relation to the canonical books, a connection between genre and historical settings is difficult to establish. In terms of historical context, the Apocrypha clearly belong to and originate from the Greco-Roman period of early Judaism, but within that timeframe they can almost be said to belong to different Judaisms than to one worldview or community. Which section of an Apocryphal book refers to which specific historical setting within that historical framework often depends on the form-, redaction-, and tradition-historical method applied. The historical setting of the text is often different from that which it portrays and is rather the life setting of the author. Examining various approaches to and trends within the study of Apocalypticism and genre can shed light on approaches to genre in the Apocrypha.