The emergence of apocalyptic theology within Judaism occurred after the return from Babylonian exile. One religion present in Babylon after the Persian conquest was Zoroastrianism, and scholarship seems reasonably certain (Shaked1984) that cosmic dualism entered Jewish theology via Zoroastrian influence.
Collins identifies a parallel within the oldest part of the Avesta (Zoroastrian scripture) where two Spirits of good and evil govern humanity:
“In the beginning those two Spirits who are the well-endowed twins were known as the one good and the other evil, in thought, word, and deed. Between them the wise chose rightly, not so the fools.” (Yasna 30, cited in Collins1998:154)
Collins explains that the Spirits of good and evil were associated with light and darkness from a primitive time. He demonstrates this by identifying a citation in the work of Theopompus (who was writing around 300BC) as reported by Plutarch. (ibid) This theology is paralleled prominently in the Community Rule (a Dead Sea Scroll), which claims those:
“who practice righteousness are under the domination of the Prince of Lights, and walk in ways of light; whereas all who practice perversity are under the domination of the Angel of Darkness” (1QS3:20)
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