The Elijah Forerunner Concept as an Authentic Jewish Expectation

Although many past scholars affirmed that the idea of Elijah as the forerunner of the messiah is an authentic Jewish expectation, recent scholars have questioned this notion. Morris M. Faierstein, in particular, evaluates the primary evidence and concludes that there is little support for this asser...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Biblical literature 2018-03, Vol.137 (1), p.127-145
Main Author: Ferguson, Anthony
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allusion
Ambiguity
Analysis
Apocrypha
Authenticity
Christianity
Christians
Clergy
Elijah
Eschatology
Exegesis & hermeneutics
Fate
Jewish literature
Jewish people
Judaic studies
Justin (Justin Martyr) (100?-165?)
Literary canon
Literary devices
Literary translation
Messiah
Messianism
Narrative techniques
New Testament
Old Testament
Portrayals
Prophets
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Summary:Although many past scholars affirmed that the idea of Elijah as the forerunner of the messiah is an authentic Jewish expectation, recent scholars have questioned this notion. Morris M. Faierstein, in particular, evaluates the primary evidence and concludes that there is little support for this assertion. Moreover, he suggests that Christians may have originated this concept. In this article, I reevaluate the relevant evidence and point out methodological errors committed by those on both sides of the issue. I conclude that, although no direct preChristian textual evidence exists, there is abundant circumstantial evidence that indicates that the concept originated among Jews.
ISSN:0021-9231
1934-3876
DOI:10.15699/jbl.1371.2018.204404