The eclipse of Daniel's narrative: The limits of historical knowledge in the theological reading of Daniel

Briggs, Richard S.

Abstract

This article uses Hans Frei's famous image of the ‘eclipse’ of biblical narrative to explore the link between situating the book of Daniel historically and grasping its theological point(s). The critical/conservative stand-off over the book of Daniel is rehearsed by way of key agenda-setting Victorian voices, and it is then argued that Frei's perspective allows the reader to move on from assessing descriptive accuracy towards focusing on ascriptive purpose(s). Various examples of how such an ascriptive approach might clarify Daniel are considered, including specific attention to the complexities of Daniel 11’s problematic relationship to what did and did not happen to Antiochus Epiphanes.

Citation

Briggs, R. S. (2017). The eclipse of Daniel's narrative: The limits of historical knowledge in the theological reading of Daniel. Scottish Journal of Theology, 70(03), 264-277. https://doi.org/10.1017/s003693061700028x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 3, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 8, 2017
• Publication Date: Aug 8, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 13, 2017
• Journal: Scottish Journal of Theology
• Print ISSN: 0036-9306
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-3065
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 03
• Pages: 264-277
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/s003693061700028x
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1342642