A. T._, 1900, ii. 411), and Ginzberg (_Jewish
Encyclopaedia_, ii. 555).

_Different Elements in the Book and their Dates_.--As there are undoubtedly
conflicting elements in the book, it is possible to assume either a
diversity of authorship or a diversity of sources. The latter view is
advocated by Ryssel and Ginzberg, the former by Kabisch, de Faye, R. H.
Charles and Beer (Herzog's _Realenc._, art. "_Pseudepigraphen des Alten
Testaments_," p. 250). A short summary may here be given of the grounds on
which the present writer has postulated a diversity of authorship. If the
letter to the tribes in captivity (lxxviii.-lxxxvi.) be disregarded, the
book falls into seven sections separated by fasts, save in one case (after
xxxv.) where the text is probably defective. These sections, which are of
unequal length, are--(1) i.-v. 6; (2) v. 7-viii.; (3) ix.-xii. 4; (4) xii.
5-xx.; (5) xxi.-xxxv.; (6) xxxvi.-xlvi.; (7) xlvii.-lxxvii. These treat of
the Messiah and the Messianic kingdom, the woes of Israel in the past and
the destruction of Jerusalem in the present, as well as of theological
questions relating to original sin, free will, works, the number of the
saved, the nature of the resurrection body, &c. The views expressed on
several of the above subjects are often conflicting. In one class of
passages there is everywhere manifest a vigorous optimism as to Israel's
ultimate well-being on earth, and the blessedness of the chosen people in
the Messianic kingdom is sketched in glowing and sensuous colours (xxix.,
xxxix.-xl., lxiii.-lxxiv.). Over against these passages stand others of a
hopelessly pessimistic character, wherein, alike as to Israel's [v.03
p.0455] present and future destiny on earth, there is written nothing save
"lamentation, and mourning, and woe." The world is a scene of corruption,
its evils are irremediable, its end is nigh, and the advent of the new and
spiritual world at hand. The first to draw attention to the composite
elements in this book was Kabisch (_Jahrbuecher f. protest. Theol._, 1891,
pp. 66-107). This critic regarded xxiv. 3-xxix., xxxvi.-xl. and
liii.-lxxiv. as independent sources written before the fall of Jerusalem,
A.D. 70, and his groundwork, which consists of the rest of his book, with
the exception of a few verses, as composed after that date. All these
elements were put together by a Christian contemporary of Papias. Many of
these conclusions were arrived at independently by a French schol