The Testament of Abraham is an ancient text that dates to around the 1st or 2nd century AD. It is considered one of the pseudepigraphal writings, meaning it was written under a pseudonym or false name claiming to be from a biblical character. In this case, the Testament of Abraham claims to be written by the patriarch Abraham towards the end of his life.
The text is apocalyptic in nature, featuring Abraham having visions and divine encounters. It provides an expansion on Abraham’s life not found in the biblical account, likely meant to inspire faith and reveal hidden knowledge. The main narrative focuses on Abraham being visited by the archangel Michael, who informs him that he will soon die. Abraham resists this fate, leading to a series of dialogues and visionary tours of heaven and hell meant to convince Abraham to accept his mortality.
Some of the notable contents of the Testament of Abraham include:
- Abraham bargaining with God to try to avoid death.
- Descriptions of the process of judgement and ascension of souls after death.
- A tour of the heavenly Jerusalem.
- A vision of paradise and hell.
- Encounters with fallen angels imprisoned until judgement.
- Insight into Abraham’s family life and relationship with his son Isaac.
There are a few key themes that emerge in this extra-biblical text about the life of Abraham:
- Facing Death: A major focus is Abraham grappling with the reality of his impending death, resisting and bargaining before ultimately submitting to God’s will.
- Judgement: The text elaborates on how judgement works after death, with angels playing a key role in evaluating souls.
- Afterlife: Abraham receives visions of the realities of paradise and eternal punishment in the afterlife.
- Angelology: Angelic beings feature prominently, especially the archangels Michael and Gabriel serving as guides.
- Apocalyptic: The imaginative and symbolic visions reflect Jewish apocalyptic literature and interests of the era.
While not regarded as Scripture by Jews and most Christians, the Testament of Abraham still provides interesting insight into how Abraham was viewed in antiquity. The text expresses common Jewish beliefs about judgement, the afterlife, and spiritual beings. Abraham is depicted as a model of faith and righteousness. Overall, it offers a window into how extra-biblical tradition and speculation expanded on biblical stories during the Second Temple period.
The Testament of Abraham survives today in a number of manuscripts, with textual variations between them. The two most significant forms are a shorter Greek recension and a longer Coptic version. There are also fragments in multiple other ancient languages, including Syriac, Arabic, Slavonic and Armenian. This attests to how widely the text circulated in the early centuries of the church.
While unknown today by many biblical scholars and average Christians, the Testament of Abraham had significant influence in the early church. In the 3rd and 4th centuries it was widely quoted by figures such as Cyprian, Methodius, and Macarius. Some of the church fathers considered it canonical scripture. After this period the text decreased in popularity and was excluded from canons of inspired writings.
In modern times, the Testament of Abraham continues to be studied by academics for insight into ancient Jewish and Christian beliefs. However, most biblical scholars today view it as a pseudepigraphal work useful for historical understanding but not rising to the level of inspired scripture. It provides a fascinating example of how biblical stories were elaborated on in antiquity.
Some of the notable passages and content from the Testament of Abraham include:
Abraham’s Resistance to Death
When the archangel Michael is first sent to announce Abraham’s coming death, Abraham does not passively accept this news but rather negotiates for more time (TS Abraham 4:2-6):
“The Lord God sent Michael the archangel and he said to Abraham: ‘Hail, honored and worthy Abraham!’ Abraham said to Michael: ‘Hail, Man of God, great archangel of the Lord God!’ And Abraham said to Michael: ‘Why have you come to me today?’ Michael said to Abraham: ‘I have been sent from before God, the Creator of the ages, to say to you: ‘Depart from your body.'” Abraham said to Michael: ‘I will not depart from my body until I have seen the gloires that you have shown me and until after Isaac my beloved son is born.'”
This initiates a period of extended dialogue as Abraham tries to bargain with God to put off his death and continue living. This highlights Abraham’s very human reluctance to face mortality.
Touring Heavenly Jerusalem
As part of Abraham’s heavenly visions, he is given a tour of the heavenly Jerusalem by the archangel Michael (TS Abraham 13-16):
“Michael stretched out his staff over Abraham’s head and Abraham’s eyes were opened, and he saw chariots with wheels of fire and every man riding on a chariot of fire… And Abraham said to Michael, ‘Man of God, who are these?’ And Michael said, ‘These are the ones who are going around the world for vengeance on the mockers… behold now in front is Jerusalem.’ … And Michael the archangel brought Abraham into the first heaven, and showed him a man having a multitude of faces… And Michael said to Abraham, ‘This is the day of judgement, and this is the hour of judgement of the just and the impious.'”
This tour emphasizes how believers will participate in God’s judgement and highlights symbolic visions of the realities of the world to come.
Abraham’s Vision of Paradise
As part of his otherworldly visions, Abraham is also shown a preview of paradise or heaven (TS Abraham 21):
“And while Abraham was still speaking, behold, a flaming chariot with fiery wheels approached and in it was seated a man in shining clothes, glittering exceedingly… And Abraham asked the glorious one, ‘Who are you?’ The glorious one answered, ‘I am the living water of the God Most High, the Father of the ages to come… Come with me and I will show you the paradise of the Lord God.'”
This episode provides an imaginative glimpse into the blessed afterlife awaiting the righteous, meant to inspire hope.
Abraham’s Vision of Hell
In addition to paradise, Abraham receives a disturbing vision of the reality of hell that awaits the wicked (TS Abraham 15):
And Michael stretched out his hand over the sea and lifted Abraham up over the sea and bathed him in the sea up to his ankles. And Abraham saw two gates, the one small and the other large, wide and spacious, and there came forth from the small gate people in sorrow and mourning, weeping and lamenting… And Abraham asked Michael, ‘Who are these?’ Michael said to Abraham, ‘These who are coming out of the small gate are those who unjustly laid hold of their brothers’ goods.'”
This passage underscores divine justice and punishment of sin, meant to provoke repentance in readers.
Abraham Meets Death Personified
As Abraham finally accepts the inevitability of his death, the text personifies death coming to claim Abraham at God’s command (TS Abraham 20):
“And as Abraham lay upon his bed… he saw Death coming toward him in great glory, and around him there was a multitude of angels, with thrones of fire and chariots of fire. And thus Death spoke to Abraham: ‘Go forth, Abraham, from your body, for behold, the Lord God has sent me to you so that I might take your soul from you.'”
This moment highlights the drama of Abraham’s final surrender to mortality, earning divine approval.
Abraham’s Parting Instructions
Before his actual death, Abraham gathers his household to give them final words of wisdom (TS Abraham 28):
“And Abraham said to Isaac, ‘…Perform the will of Him who made you… For I know that the end is coming upon me. Do not resist against Him who made you… Perform His will, walk in righteousness, and do not reckon yourself among sinners.'”
This allows the text to present Abraham as an ideal sage and prophet, sharing ethical instruction.
These selected excerpts provide examples of some of the notable content and themes that appear in the Testament of Abraham. They showcase the imaginative expansions on Abraham’s life and death meant to inspire readers in their own faith and righteousness.
While not part of the biblical canon, the Testament of Abraham offers fascinating insight into how Abraham’s life and legacy were built upon in post-biblical Jewish and Christian tradition. Modern readers can appreciate it for what it reveals about early interpretation and legendary embellishment of sacred stories.
The Testament of Abraham remains an influential and revealing piece of extra-biblical literature from the Second Temple period and early church. It preserves early Jewish perspectives on matters like death, judgement, and the afterlife. For those seeking deeper understanding of how biblical figures were viewed in antiquity, the Testament provides a vivid case study in elaborating beyond the canonical texts.