Die Welt im Ausnahmezustand (2009 Bachmann), book

Die Welt im Ausnahmezustand. Eine Untersuchung zu Aussagegehalt und Theologie des Wächterbuches (1 Hen 1–36) (2009) is a book by Veronika Bachmann.

Abstract

Bachmann’s study on the Enochic Book of the Watchers (1Enoch 1-36) is a revised version of her dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Zürich (director: Prof. Dr. Thomas Krüger). After an overview over the current debate about the Book of the Watchers, she explains her approach and methodology. Bachmann reads the Book of the Watchers as a literary unity of its own right. She presents its structure and content, discusses the question of genre (her suggestion: a twofold speech of blessing), and analyzes the way how the text presents and tries to solve theological problems. Bachmann focuses closer on the following central topics: God as sovereign of the whole cosmos and as guarantor of the universal order; creation in duty of God; time and history; wisdom; the appellative character of the text; Henoch as intermediary. A synthesis summarizes her main results. The Book of the Watchers appears as a conservative writing and a strong admonition to stay close to tradition. The “milieu” of the authors (the Hellenistic/Ptolemaic culture of the third century B.C.E.) offers many temptations to abandon God and God’s torah, and the connection of deed and consequence is disturbed – the world is in a state of emergency. Nevertheless, the Book of the Watchers presents as consolation that God will once again restore the order of the world – and up to this moment one should live according to God’s will. – The book comes with a bibliography and an index of references.

Editions and translations

Published in Berlin/New York [Germany/USA]: "de Gruyter", 2009 (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 409). ISBN: 978-3-11-022429-0