Definition

Adjective: - Subsequent to biblical times: Referring to events, writings, figures, or periods that occurred or were produced after the time described in the Bible.

Usage

The word "postbiblical" is used as an adjective to describe something that belongs to the era following the close of the biblical canon or the historical periods recorded in the Bible. It is primarily an academic or scholarly term used in fields like theology, religious studies, and history.

Examples

• The development of rabbinic Judaism is a key feature of the postbiblical period.
• Scholars study postbiblical literature, such as the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha.
• Many traditions and interpretations have their origins in postbiblical times.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used to delineate historical and theological studies, separating canonical biblical material from later developments.
  • The course focuses on postbiblical Jewish history, from the Second Temple period to the early Middle Ages.

Variants and Related Words

• Post-biblical: A hyphenated variant with the same meaning.
• Postbiblical Judaism: A common compound term referring to Jewish traditions and writings developed after the biblical era.
• Postbiblical literature: A compound term for writings composed after the biblical period.

Synonyms

• Post-canonical: Following the establishment of the biblical canon.
• Extra-biblical: Originating outside the Bible; this can overlap but sometimes refers to contemporaneous but non-canonical sources, not strictly subsequent ones.

Notes on Meaning

• The term strictly refers to chronology (time after the Bible) and not to value judgments. It does not inherently mean "less important" or "non-religious."
• It is distinct from "non-biblical," which simply means not found in the Bible, regardless of time period.

Adjective

1. subsequent to biblical times