2 Esdras 7:116-126

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Bible
Intertestamental

2 Esdras, though included in the Septuagint and attributed traditionally to Ezra, is thought to have been written after the fall of Jerusalem in AD70 — see e.g. here.

The Fall, immortal soul, Paradise and punishment after death in 4 Ezra (2 Esdras)

KJV II Esdras 7:46-56

46 I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him, to have restrained him from sinning. 47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment? 48 O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee. 49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death? 50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain? . . . 53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it? 54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.) . . . 56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.


NRSV

116 I answered and said, “This is my first and last comment: it would have been better if the earth had not produced Adam, or else, when it had produced him, had restrained him from sinning. 117 For what good is it to all that they live in sorrow now and expect punishment after death?

118O Adam, what have you done? For though it was you who sinned, the fall was not yours alone, but ours also who are your descendants. 119 For what good is it to us, if an immortal time has been promised to us, but we have done deeds that bring death? 120 And what good is it that an everlasting hope has been promised to us, but we have miserably failed? . . . 123 Or that a paradise shall be revealed, whose fruit remains unspoiled and in which are abundance and healing, but we shall not enter it 124 because we have lived in perverse ways? . . . 126 For while we lived and committed iniquity we did not consider what we should suffer after death.”


This is the first known use of the term "The Fall" in Biblical or extra-Biblical literature.