Being Caught up to Heaven: Ode of Solomon 36
I am doing some late-night reading of the Odes of Solomon, and I was struck by Ode 36: I rested on the Spirit of the Lord, and she raised me up to heaven; And caused me to stand on my feet in the Lord's high place, before his perfection and his glory, where I continued praising by the composition of his odes. (The Spirit) brought me forth before the Lord's face, and because I was the Son of Man, I was named the Light, the Son of God; Because I was most praised among the praised; and the greatest among the great ones. For according to the greatness of the Most High, so she made me; and according to his newness he renewed me. And he anointed me with his perfection; and I became one of those who are near him. And my mouth was opened like a cloud of dew, and my heart gushed forth a gusher of righteousness. And my approach was in peace, and I was established in the spirit of providence. Hallelujah. (Trans. Charlesworth in Charlesworth, OTP 2) Although this is Charlesworth's tran...