Summarized

The lecture "Lost Testaments of the Patriarchs" discusses several ancient texts not included in the biblical canon, often referred to as "lost books." These texts, while not part of the official canon for various Jewish and Christian traditions, were sometimes popular in antiquity. The speaker highlights that many of these texts were not truly "lost" but simply excluded from the canon, though some were genuinely rediscovered, like certain Dead Sea Scrolls.

The core of the lecture revolves around the "testament" genre, where biblical figures, often on their deathbeds, deliver final words, blessings, and prophecies. The inspiration for this genre is drawn from stories in Genesis, particularly Jacob's blessing of his sons.

Key testaments discussed include:

• Testament of the 12 Patriarchs: This text, likely written by a Hellenized Jew in the 2nd century BCE, features the sons of Israel exploring different vices and virtues. For instance, Reuben's testament warns against lust, drawing on his biblical sin, while Simeon's speaks against envy, and Dan's against anger and lying. The text also includes apocalyptic predictions, similar to those found in the Book of Daniel, and early Christian interpolations.
• Testament of Job: Dated between the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE, this Greek text reworks the biblical Job story. Instead of Satan testing Job, Job's suffering is attributed to his destruction of a pagan temple, angering Satan. The text also introduces the concept of Job's daughters receiving magical cords that allow them to engage in ecstatic speech, potentially an early description of glossolalia or speaking in tongues.
• Testament of the Three Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob): Originally the Testament of Abraham, with later additions for Isaac and Jacob, this text is unique as it's canonical in the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) tradition. It deviates from the typical deathbed scene, instead humorously depicting Abraham's reluctance to die and his negotiations with Archangel Michael and Death himself.
• Testament of Moses: This text, surviving in a single Latin manuscript, is a genuine "lost testament" that was rediscovered. Written in the 1st century CE, it portrays Moses predicting future Jewish history, including the Babylonian captivity, the Hellenistic kings, the Hasmoneans, and Herod the Great, leading up to an apocalyptic restoration.
• Testament of Adam: Composed in Syriac, with Jewish origins and later Christian additions, this text begins with a division of day and night into prayer periods. A significant Christian interpolation includes a detailed prophecy from Adam about Jesus's life and miracles. The text also features an extensive angelology, categorizing different orders of angels and their roles.
• Testament of Solomon: Likely written between the 1st and 4th centuries CE, this Greek text associates Solomon with magic and control over demons. It describes how Solomon uses a magic ring given by Archangel Michael to capture and interrogate demons, learning their weaknesses and forcing them to help build the temple. This text is seen as an early influence on later medieval mystical and magical traditions involving Solomon and genies.

The speaker concludes by noting the eclectic nature of the "testament" genre, which encompasses moralizing lessons, apocalyptic prophecies, and even demonology and magic. He also touches upon audience questions regarding early church fathers' views on scripture, the quoting of apocryphal works in the New Testament, and interpretations of the problem of evil.