2 Baruch facts for kids

2 Baruch is an old religious text. It was written a very long time ago. People think it was written between the years 70 CE and 135 CE. CE stands for "Common Era," which is how we count years today.

This book is named after a person called Baruch ben Neriah. He was a helper of the prophet Jeremiah in the Bible. However, most people don't think Baruch himself wrote this book.

The book is also known by other names. These include the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch and the Letter of Baruch to the Nine and a Half Tribes. It has 87 different parts or sections.

What is 2 Baruch About?

This ancient text talks a lot about what might happen in the future. It discusses the end of the world and the coming of a new, better time. It also talks about why bad things happen to good people.

The book was likely written after a very sad event. This was the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE. The Temple was a very important holy building for the Jewish people. Its destruction was a huge loss. The book tries to make sense of this event. It offers hope for the future.

Who Reads 2 Baruch?

You might find 2 Baruch in some old collections of religious books. It is sometimes included in editions of the Old Testament or the Peshitta. The Peshitta is a very old version of the Bible used by some Christian groups.

However, most Jews and Christians today do not see 2 Baruch as official scripture. This means they don't consider it part of their main holy books. But the Syrian Orthodox Church does include it in their Bible.

Why is it Important?

Even if it's not widely considered scripture, 2 Baruch is still important. It helps us understand what people were thinking long ago. It shows how they dealt with difficult times. It also gives us clues about their beliefs in the future.

It's a valuable text for historians and scholars. They study it to learn about ancient Jewish and Christian ideas.