The Testament of Abraham

The Testament of Abraham is a great read, however written most likely by at least three different unknown persons; due to the fact that chapters tend to repeat the story over two to three times, however each chapter version seems to of have been written from a different point of view, one chapter reads as a narrative, another in second and third person view as if the onlooker. It is generally believed that this is most likely a Jewish composition from the early first century, although the actual date and original language are debatable and unprovable. Probably composed in the 1st or 2nd century AD, it is defiantly of Jewish origin and is usually considered to be part of the apocalyptic literature. E. P. Sanders writes: "The Testament of Abraham is a Jewish work, probably of Egyptian origin, which is generally dated to the latter part of the first century AD. The Testament of Abraham is generally considered a pseudepigraphic text of the Old Testament. It is regarded as scripture by Beta Israel Ethiopian Jews and the Mormon Church, but not by any other Jewish or Christian groups. It is often treated as one of a trio of very similar works, the other two of which are the Testament of Isaac and Testament of Jacob, though there is no reason to assume that they were originally a single work. All three works are based on the Blessing of Jacob, found in the Bible, in their style. The Greek Text was first edited, with an English translation and introduction, by M. R. James in 1892. The Greek text was also early edited by Vassiliev in 1893 and retranslated again in 2014, by Pastor Michael Gore. In the first nine chapters the archangel Michael vainly seeks to obtain the soul of Abraham, who refuses to die. A deal is arranged by which Abraham agrees to come with Michael if he can first see the created world, a wish that is granted and described in an apocalyptic section that covers chapters 10-14. Upon returning home Abraham refuses to die, but is eventually tricked by the angel of Death.