Baruch

Unless otherwise noted, all citations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

This book is a collection of OT texts. It is “dependent on Old Testament texts in nearly every verse.”

Manuscripts

We contain this book in the Septuagint. No ancient Hebrew manuscripts exist for this book, but deSilva contends that scholars believe at least 1:1-3:8 were originally composed in Hebrew.

Authorship

The book claims to be written by Baruch—the friend and secretary of Jeremiah (Jer. 32:12; 36:4; 51:59). But deSilva calls this a “literary fiction.” Metzger writes, “Actually it appears to be a composite work of uneven quality written by two or more authors.”

Date

The date of the book is a mystery. Portions of the book (3:36-4:1) are quite similar to Sirach 24:8, 23. This suggests a date later than 180 BC—though it could be as late as 120 BC. The rest of the book could date anywhere from “the fourth through the second centuries B.C.E.” Metzger states that the book could date as late as the first century AD.

Church Father citations

Athenagoras cites Baruch 3:35 (Legatio pro Christianis, 9).

Irenaeus quotes Baruch 4:36-5:9 (Against Heresies, 5.35).

Clement of Alexandria cites Baruch 3:9-4:5 (Paedagogus, 1.10.91-92).

Origen, Tertullian, Cyprian, and Lactantius all cited Baruch 3:36-37 to refer to the incarnation (Origen, Commentarii in evangelium Joannis; Cyprian, Ad Quirinium testimonia adversus Judaeos, 2.6; Tertullian, Adversus Praxean, 16; Lactantius, Divinarum institutionum libri, V11 4.38).

Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus place Baruch between Jeremiah and Lamentations. Though Metzger writes, “Jerome stated that the Hebrews neither read nor even possess this book.” These early church fathers quoted it because they probably thought it was under the prophet Jeremiah’s authority.