This book is one of the first modern collections of studies on important
aspects of the Ascension of Isaiah, which occupies a special
place among the early Christian writings, due to its complicated origin
and its relevance in regards of the early Christian self-understanding
in respect of the Jews.
The volume starts with an analysis of the
place of the Ascension in the development of early Christian
prophecy and continues with several chapters that discuss the problems
of the date, provenance, genre and interpretation of the
Ascension as well as its potential relationship to Marcion. The
following chapters focus on various aspects of the Ascension,
such as its mystical character, oracular nature, self-designation,
Johannist constellation, religious experience, cosmology, the descent of
Christ, eschatology and the Virgin birth. A final chapter looks at P.
Amh. I 1, the Greek witness to the Ascension of Isaiah. The
volume concludes, as has become customary, with a bibliography and index.