Canon Status
Not canonical in any Christian tradition, though some Syriac liturgical manuscripts preserve it. Jewish: not canonical. Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox: classified among the Pseudepigrapha.
Date & Provenance
Written in the late 1st or early 2nd century CE. Original language probably Hebrew or Aramaic; translated into Greek and then Syriac.
Language & Manuscripts
Full text survives only in Syriac (Codex Ambrosianus, 6th–7th c.). Arabic manuscript of the whole text discovered in 1974. Greek fragments from Oxyrhynchus. Letter of Baruch (chs. 78–87) attested in 36 Syriac manuscripts.
Why It Matters for Study
Post-70 CE Judaism: a window into Jewish theological responses to the Temple's destruction. Theodicy: addresses suffering and divine justice. Messianism: develops expectations of the Messiah and resurrection.
" For the righteous, the time will come when they will be made to shine, and the wicked will be consumed." — 2 Baruch 51:3
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- 2 Baruch — Early Jewish Writings Full translation and scholarly resources.
- 2 Baruch — Wikipedia Background and scholarly discussion.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Charlesworth, J. H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 1. Doubleday, 1983.
Klijn, A. F. J. "2 (Syriac Apocalypse of) Baruch." In OTP 1:615–652.
Bogaert, P.-M. L'Apocalypse Syriaque de Baruch. Sources Chrétiennes, 1969.