The Temple in Time and Eternity
The Temple in Time and Eternity, edited by Donald W. Parry and Stephen D. Ricks, is the second volume in the series Temples Through The Ages. The importance of the temple to a religious community of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean world can scarcely be exaggerated. The eleven articles in this volume are divided topically into three sections: “Temple in Ritual,” “Temples in the Israelite Tradition,” and “Temples in the Non-Israelite Tradition.”
The “Temple in Ritual” section features Hugh Nibley’s discussion on “Abraham’s Temple Drama,” which identifies elements of the creation drama that appear in the book of Abraham and elsewhere in the ancient world. An article by Ricks discusses oaths and oath taking in the Old Testament. John A. Tvedtnes shows that baptizing for the dead was known in various parts of the Mediterranean world and in Egypt. In a second article, Tvedtnes enlightens our understanding of the form and purposes of the temple prayer in ancient times.
Richard R. Cowan, in the section “Temples in the Israelite Tradition,” traces the development of temples to modern times. Richard D. Draper and Parry make intriguing comparisons of temple symbolism between Genesis 2–3 and Revelation 2–3, focusing particularly on promises and blessings. Alan K. Parrish shares with us insights into modern temple worship throughout the eyes of John A. Widtsoe, and Thomas R. Valletta examines priesthood and temple issues by contrasting “the holy order of the Son of God and its spurious counterpart, the order of Nehor.”
The concluding chapters of the book, grouped into the section “Temples in the Non-Israelite Tradition,” include John Gee’s discussion of getting past the gatekeeper (gleaned from various Egyptian literary corpuses), a fascinating study by Gaye Strathearn and Brian M. Hauglid of the Great Mosque and its Ka’ba in light of John Lundquist’s typology of ancient Near Eastern temples, and E. Jan Wilson’s enlightening treatment of the features of a Sumerian temple.
About the Editor
Stephen D. Ricks
Stephen D. Ricks (Ph.D. in Near Eastern Religions, University of California, Berkeley, and Graduate Theological Union) is Professor of Hebrew and Cognate Learning in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University. He served as president of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies and as chairman of the board, as the founding editor of the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, and as Associate Dean of General Education and Honors at Brigham Young University.
About the Author
Donald W. Parry
Donald W. Parry (Ph.D., University of Utah) is Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brigham Young University. As a member of the international team of translators of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he is assigned to translate the books of Samuel. He is a member of several professional societies, including the Princeton Dead Sea Scrolls Society, the Society for Biblical Literature, the International organization for the Study of the Old Testament, and the national association for Professors of Hebrew.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Abraham's Temple Drama
Oaths and Oath Taking in the Old Testament
Baptism for the Dead in Early Christianity
Temple Prayer in Ancient Times
Sacred Temples Ancient and Modern
Seven Promises to Those Who Overcome: Aspects of Genesis 2–3 in the Seven Letters
Modern Temple Worship through the Eyes of John A. Widtsoe, a Twentieth-Century Apostle
Conflicting Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah
The Keeper of the Gate
The Great Mosque and Its Ka'ba as an Islamic Temple Complex in Light of Lundquist's Typology of Ancient Near Eastern Temples
Inside a Sumerian Temple: The Ekishnugal at Ur
Publication Information
Subject: Temples
Publication Year: 1999
Language: English
ISBN 13: 978-0934893466
Page Count: 384
Price: $ 24.95
Imprint: FARMS