[malakhi]

Perhaps the reason the canon was never opened again after the days of Ezra was for the very reason that intertestimental writings ascribe diety to the messiah. Just a thought.

I really have to read the works in question before I can comment intelligently (or otherwise ;o). I've heard of extra-canonical writings that speculate about the preexistence of the messiah. Is this the sort of thing you are talking about? Or is it more specific?

[Invincibly Ignorant]

I've heard of extra-canonical writings that speculate about the preexistence of the messiah. Is this the sort of thing you are talking about?

Yes, specifically Enoch. Jesus' half brother Jude quoted in the New Testament a prophecy by Enoch from the intertestemental writing of Enoch. Apparently some jews in the first century thought that book was scripture.