Vision of Ezra facts for kids
The Vision of Ezra is an old, special book. It's not part of the main Bible. People believe a wise man named Ezra wrote it. He was a scribe, which means he copied important texts.
The copies we have today are in Latin. They were written around the 11th century. But experts think the first version was in Ancient Greek. This text, like another one called the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra, shows it was written by Christians.
Contents
What is the Vision of Ezra?
The Vision of Ezra is a type of book called an apocryphal text. This means it's a religious writing that is not included in the official collection of books in the Bible. These texts often tell stories or share teachings that were popular in ancient times.
Who Was Ezra the Scribe?
Ezra was a very important person in ancient history. He was a priest and a scribe. A scribe was someone who could read and write very well. They often copied important documents, like religious texts. Ezra helped teach people about their religious laws. He lived a long, long time ago.
Why is it Called a "Vision"?
Many ancient religious texts describe visions. A vision is like a special dream or a message from God. In these visions, people might see future events or learn important truths. The Vision of Ezra likely describes what Ezra saw or learned in such a vision.
How Old is the Vision of Ezra?
The oldest copies of the Vision of Ezra we have are from the 11th century. That's over 900 years ago! These copies are written in Latin. However, experts believe the original story was written much earlier. They think it was first written in Ancient Greek. This would have been even before the 11th century.
What Language Was the Original?
Even though our oldest copies are in Latin, researchers think the first version was in Ancient Greek. Many important religious texts from that time were written in Greek. This suggests the story was popular in Greek-speaking areas first.
What is the Main Idea of the Text?
The Vision of Ezra is a Christian text. This means it shares ideas and beliefs important to Christianity. It is similar to another book called the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra. Both texts explore themes that were important to early Christians. These themes often include ideas about the end of the world or what happens after death.