AI: ‘During the time of Jesus, the concept of "Scripture" was broader and less fixed than what later became the Jewish or Christian biblical canon. Various texts were considered sacred by different Jewish groups, and Jesus likely recognized some of these as authoritative even though they were not included in the eventual biblical canon.
One example is the Book of Enoch, which was widely read and respected, particularly among the Essenes and other Jewish sects. Jesus’ references to the "Son of Man" and his descriptions of divine judgment bear a strong resemblance to themes in Enochic literature. Similarly, the Book of Jubilees, which was popular among the Dead Sea Scrolls community, expanded upon Genesis and Exodus, emphasizing themes of divine law and angelic mediation. Given its influence in Jewish thought at the time, Jesus may have been familiar with its teachings.
The Wisdom of Solomon and Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) were also highly regarded in Jewish communities, particularly among Hellenistic Jews. These texts emphasized wisdom, righteousness, and divine justice—key themes in Jesus’ own teachings. The Psalms of Solomon, though not included in the final Jewish or Christian canon, reflect a messianic expectation that aligns with some of Jesus’ own statements about the coming kingdom of God.
Another text that may have shaped Jesus' understanding of Scripture is 4 Ezra (2 Esdras), which deals with eschatology, divine justice, and the suffering of the righteous. Although written closer to the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, its themes were already present in Jewish apocalyptic thought, and Jesus’ teachings on the end times resonate with similar ideas.
Jesus, like many Jews of his time, likely engaged with a broader range of sacred writings than those later defined as canonical. His teachings reflect a deep familiarity with both the Hebrew Scriptures and other influential Jewish texts circulating in the first century, suggesting a more fluid understanding of sacred writings than what later traditions solidified.’
