The aim of this study is to trace the evolution of creation theology through a selection of Hellenistic Jewish apocryphal texts, offering a comparative analysis of how early Jewish traditions expanded upon the biblical account of the world’s origins. While the Hebrew Bible provides the foundational imagery, the literature of the Second Temple period demonstrates a dynamic reinterpretation of these motifs.
The paper is structured in three main parts. First, it briefly establishes the diverse biblical context, moving from poetic wonder to the Priestly order. Second, it examines the Deuterocanonical corpus, focusing on how creation motifs are integrated into prayers (Tobit, Judith, 2 Maccabees) and wisdom literature (Ben Sira, Wisdom of Solomon) as a basis for divine sovereignty and the hope for immortality. Finally, the study provides a systematic comparison of three major Pseudepigrapha: the Book of Jubilees, 4 Ezra, and 2 Enoch. By analyzing their retelling of the six days of creation, this study highlights how each text infuses the Hexameron with its own distinct ideological agenda – ranging from the establishment of a sacred solar calendar to the exploration of the human microcosm. Through this trajectory, we observe
that creation was not merely a past event for these authors, but a vital framework for understanding contemporary identity and divine justice.