Over a century ago, Louis Ginzberg noted a shared theological concept between Second Baruch and rabbinic literature describing a treasury of souls that must be depleted prior to the coming of messiah, a discourse that exists significantly in Fourth Ezra, as well (see, e.g., bYev 63b; 2Bar 23:1-7; 4Ez 4:34-43). This paper explores and expands on that common soul-related theology, considering other related conceptions from “apocalyptic” Jewish writings that appear in rabbinic literature, including a concept of God delineating all future souls at the time of creation. Moreover, it traces the deployment and expansion of the teaching around future souls within rabbinic literature, comparing it to parallel conceptions in earlier apocalyptic and contemporaneous Christian literature (e.g., Eunomius of Cyzicus, Clementine literature).
