The books of 1 and 2 Esdras – What are they?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

First and 2 Esdras are extra-biblical writings connected to Ezra that provide historical, cultural, and visionary material but are not part of the biblical canon. First Esdras largely revises the canonical book of Ezra, adding material about King Josiah’s reforms (2 Kings 22–23), the temple’s destruction (2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 52), and the Jewish return under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1–8; Haggai 1:1–15; Zechariah 4)., though it contains historical inaccuracies such as the misordering of Persian kings. Second Esdras, likely written in the late first or early second century AD, presents apocalyptic visions, including controversial claims that Ezra dictated additional “books” beyond the Old Testament, which Scripture does not support (Deuteronomy 29:29). These works reflect the social and religious turmoil of their times, especially around the destruction of Jerusalem and persecution under Emperor Domitian. While they offer valuable historical and cultural insights, neither 1 nor 2 Esdras holds authority in the biblical canon, and their teachings must be distinguished from Scripture.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Certain errors have been noted in the text of 1 and 2 Esdras. For example, 1 Esdras lists King Artaxerxes as ruling prior to Cyrus, which is historically inaccurate. However, in many ways, 1 Esdras functions as a revision of the biblical Ezra (Ezra 1–10) with four chapters of additional material. This added content includes King Josiah’s reforms (2 Kings 22–23), a history of the temple’s destruction (2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 52), and the Jewish return under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1–8; Haggai 1:1–15; Zechariah 4).
• It is suggested that 2 Esdras is the work of multiple authors and was written perhaps as late as the second century AD. Second Esdras includes the Jewish apocalypse of Ezra as well as seven visions regarding his concerns about the Jewish people. In his first vision while still living in Babylon, an angel named Uriel (not mentioned in the Old or New Testaments) arrives to answer Ezra's questions.
• One concerning passage mentioned in 2 Esdras notes that God appeared to Ezra in a bush and commanded him to restore the Law. The passage says that Ezra calls five scribes and begins to dictate the Law. It claims that in forty days, Ezra dictated ninety-four books, which were the Jewish Old Testament and seventy other works. Some suggest these seventy works are a reference to the Septuagint, though this is uncertain. The text states, "Make public the twenty-four books that you wrote first, and let the worthy and the unworthy read them; but keep the seventy that were written last, in order to give them to the wise among your people" (2 Esdras 14:45–46). The Bible does not teach this, and there is no scriptural basis for Ezra receiving or dictating additional books beyond the canonical Law, Prophets, and Writings. The passage emphasizes secrecy and selective access to these “extra” books, contrasting sharply with the Bible’s teaching that God’s Word is to be made known to all people (Deuteronomy 29:29).
• Some confusion also often arises regarding the numbering and order of these works. At one time the biblical book of Ezra was known as 1 Esdras, and the biblical book of Nehemiah was known as 2 Esdras. The 1 and 2 Esdras written about in this article were known as 3 and 4 Esdras.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for checking the Scriptures to verify what Paul had told them. Believers today must do the same. Careful examination of 1 and 2 Esdras by textual critics reveals some flaws that show these books do not fall within the canon of inspired Scripture.
• As Paul exhorted Timothy, believers are to correctly handle God’s word, which includes being sure that what we accept as God’s word is part of the inspired canon.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

First and Second Esdras are not in the biblical canon. First Esdras is found in the collection of writings known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical Books. Second Esdras is a pseudepigraphal apocalyptic work. First and Second Esdras are associated with Ezra, author of the Old Testament book Ezra, the high priest of Israel at the return of the Jews to Jerusalem under Cyrus at the end of the Old Testament period.

Much regarding the origin of the Esdras texts is uncertain. The original language may have been Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew. The date of writing is unknown, with some estimates as late as the first century AD for 1 Esdras and the second century AD for 2 Esdras.

While both 1 and 2 Esdras include interesting historical and cultural material important for learning, they do not rank among the books of the Old and New Testaments.

UNDERSTAND

• First and 2 Esdras are extra-biblical writings linked to Ezra.
• The two apocryphal books contain additions and claims not supported by Scripture.
• Neither 1 nor 2 Esdras is part of the biblical canon, though they offer historical and religious insights.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that 1 and 2 Esdras are not part of the biblical canon influence the way you approach those texts?
• How do the historical and cultural details in 1 and 2 Esdras help or confuse your understanding of God’s Word?
• How can you discern between valuable historical insight and teachings that conflict with Scripture in your personal study?

ENGAGE

• How do the visionary and apocalyptic elements in 2 Esdras reflect the social and religious struggles of its time?
• Why might the authors of 1 and 2 Esdras have included material not found in the canonical books of Ezra and Nehemiah?
• How can our understanding of canonical Scripture help us evaluate the claims and teachings found in extra-biblical writings like 1 and 2 Esdras?