The Book of Baruch is a collection of four distinct, short discourses, attributed to Baruch, the secretary of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32.12; 36.4). These discourses, written at various times, probably in Hebrew originally, were later put together into a single document.
The letter of Jeremiah appears as a separate book in some ancient Bible manuscripts in Greek and other languages. It also appears as an attachment to The Book of Baruch in other manuscripts. In the Latin Vulgate (the sequence reflected here) it has been treated as the sixth chapter of Baruch, even though its content is very different from that of Baruch.
The letter of Jeremiah has the form of a letter which claims to be written by Jeremiah. It is addressed to the citizens of Jerusalem who are about to be taken into exile in Babylonia where they will see the worship of many gods. Its content is aimed to alert them to the dangers and hopelessness of idol worship.
Outline of Contents
- Historical introduction 1.1–14
- A prayer of confession and deliverance 1.15–3.8
- In praise of wisdom 3.9–4.4
- Comfort and help for Jerusalem 4.5–5.9
- The letter of Jeremiah 6.1–73
