Evil Within and Without

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Miryam T. Brand examines how Second Temple period texts tackle the theological dilemma of sin and its origins. By analyzing Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, and the works of Philo and Josephus, the study reveals how genre and sectarian identity shape the portrayal of sin, identifying key worldviews from this era. The analysis is divided into two sections: one focusing on texts that view sin as stemming from an innate human inclination, and the other on those that attribute sin to demonic forces. The author shows that the genre or purpose of a text significantly influences its representation of sin, particularly regarding whether it is seen as a product of human choice or predetermined fate. For instance, prayers express a sense of helplessness in the face of God, suggesting that overcoming the desire to sin requires divine aid. Conversely, covenantal texts emphasize human agency and the capacity to resist sinful inclinations. Additionally, sectarian approaches often build on established ideas from nonsectarian literature, incorporating themes like predestination, the categorization of evil, and the division between the righteous and the wicked. Overall, the study highlights the complex interplay of genre, purpose, and sectarian context in shaping the understanding of sin during the Second Temple period.