The Literary Function of the Pseudonymous Authorship of the Book of Daniel

Abstract

The Book of Daniel has long been a flashpoint in biblical scholarship due to its pseudepigraphic nature. Modern assumptions that equate legitimate authorship with historical accuracy have frequently cast the text as deceptive, creating significant pastoral and theological difficulties for conservative readers. This thesis argues that the pseudepigraphic “I, Daniel” is not an act of deception, but a deliberate and sophisticated mode of communication. Through the first-person voice, the composer/s construct a unified Danielic discourse in which the character of Daniel, established in the court tales of chapters 1–6, becomes the interpretive lens for the apocalyptic visions of chapters 7–12. Drawing on the work of Hindy Najman, Loren Stuckenbruck, and others, Chapter 1 reframes pseudepigraphy as a legitimate ancient literary strategy for participating in a living tradition. Chapter 2 develops a dynamic understanding of genre through prototype theory and constellations, identifying pseudepigraphy as a central feature of the historical apocalypse tradition. The subsequent exegetical chapters offer a chapter-by-chapter literary reading of the final form of the Masoretic Text. Employing a consistent analytical structure, this study demonstrates how the themes of divine sovereignty, nonviolent endurance, and covenant fidelity are progressively developed in the court tales and then invoked through the first-person voice in the visions. This thesis contends that the pseudepigraphic nature of Daniel is the key to its theological coherence. By reading the visions through the eyes of the exile who navigated the courts of foreign kings with uncompromised faith, the reader is formed into a posture of faithful endurance. The book therefore offers a compelling message for communities facing persecution or cultural pressure: the kingdoms of this world are temporary, the sovereignty of God is absolute, and those who remain faithful will ultimately share in everlasting life.