Israel the word of Torah, to which it became obedient, Israel became deathless once more as it resumed the “image and likeness of God” given it at creation. James Ackerman, the chief proponent of this argument, suggested that the Johannine Prologue bears striking resemblances to the “Sinai myth,” indicating how Wisdom once dwelt on earth with humankind (Ps. 82:6), thus making them immortal; but because Wisdom was rejected and returned to heaven, sinful mortals now die (Ps 82:7).16 As regards these