Of view on literary unity -- The overall meaning -- The overall meaning in previous scholarship -- Gunkel -- Brandenburger and Harnisch -- Structural aspects of development in version 1-3 -- "The way of the most high" and Ezra's development -- Our approach -- Our analysis of the significance of the framework -- Development inherent in formal structures -- Structural indications of pivotal positions of vision 4 -- Structural elements of the dream visions -- Structural indications in vision 7 -- Conclusions from structure -- Ezra -- Ezra and the angel: Brandenburger and Harnisch -- What happened to Ezra? -- Ezra's conversion -- The odyssey of Ezra's soul -- Ezra and revelation -- Accounting for vision 7 -- Ezra as prophet and "the end of the times"--"The end of the times" and esoteric revelations -- Vision 7 and revealed knowledge -- Vision 7 as revelation of exoteric knowledge -- The central theme of 4 Ezra -- The "message" of the book -- pt.5. 4 Ezra in Jewish literature -- An apocalypse -- The figure of Ezra -- 4 Ezra and known Jewish groups or sects.