The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Revelation

Cover
The Oxford Handbook of The Book of Revelation
Copyright
Contents
Preface
List of Contributors
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction to Revelation’s Social Setting, Theological Perspective, and Literary Design
	1. The Writer’s Identity and Social Setting
		The Writer’s Social Setting and Time Frame
	2. Social Patterns and the Readers of Revelation
		Conflict with Those Outside the Community
		Internal Disputes over Accommodation of Greco-Roman Religious Practices
		Wealth and Complacency
	3. Revelation’s Theological Perspectives and Imagery
		God, the Lamb, the Witnesses, and New Jerusalem
		Satan, the Beast, the False Prophet, and Babylon
	4. The Literary Structure and Movement of Revelation
		The First Three Cycles (Rev 1:9–11:18)
		The Last Three Cycles (11:19–22:5)
	5. Conclusion
	Notes
Part I: Literary Features of the book of Revelation
	Chapter 2: The Genre of the Book of Revelation
		Revelation as an Apocalypse
		Revelation as a Letter
		Revelation as a Prophecy
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 3: Narrative Features of the Book of Revelation
		Revelation’s Masterplot
		Characters and Characterization
		Architectural and Topographical Settings
		Numerical Symbolism
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 4: Imagery in the Book of Revelation
		Different Types of Figurative Speech
		From Word Pictures to a Symphony of Images
		The Multifaceted Background of the Images
		Function and Effect of the Imagery
		Impacts on the History of Reception
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 5: Rhetorical Features of the Book of Revelation
		Introduction: Revelation as a “Rhetorical” Text
		John’s Principal Rhetorical Goals
		John’s Construction of Authority (Ethos)
		John’s Appeals to the Emotions (Pathos)
		Appeals to Rational Argument (Logos) in Revelation
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 6: The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation
		The Language of John’s Allusions
		John’s Use of Particular Old Testament Books
			Ezekiel
			Ezekiel’s Throne Vision and Call Narrative
			Lament over Tyre (Ezek 26–27)
			Establishment of the New Jerusalem
		Daniel
			Isaiah
		Selected Passages
			The Inaugural Vision (Rev 1:12–16)
			The Lion and the Lamb (Rev 5:5–6)
			War in Heaven (Rev 12:7–12)
		The Song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev 15:3–5)
		Common Themes
			Worship God Alone
			New Exodus
			God’s Abiding Presence
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 7: Revelation’s Use of the Greek Language
		Introduction
			Revelation’s “Unique” Grammar
			The Relationship of Revelation’s Greek to First-Century Culture
		Revelation’s Grammatical Incongruities and Interpretation of Their Significance
			Overview of Apparent Grammatical Incongruities
			Theories about the Cultural Location of Revelation’s Greek
		The Coherence of Revelation’s Greek
			Developments in Method
			From Grammatical Incongruities to Common Linguistic Forms
		Revelation’s Language as Common First-Century Greek
		References
	Chapter 8: The Hymns in Revelation
		Hymnic Genre
		Connections with Hymnic Forms in Early Judaism/Christianity
		Contents of Hymns
		Functions of Hymns
			Structural Value
			Sovereignty of God
			Vice-Regency of the Lamb
			Anti-imperial Theology and Christology
		Casting the Surrounding Visions into a Theological and/or Christological Context
		Notes
		References
		Further Reading
Part II: Social Setting
	Chapter 9: Revelation and Roman Rule in First-Century Asia Minor
		Approaches Focused on Emperors, Persecution, and Imperial Cult
			Persecution
			Imperial Cult
		Broadening the Focus to More Complex Modes of Interaction: Cultural Accommodation and Socioeconomic Participation
			Gender Presentations: Imitating Rome to Condemn Rome
			Ecological Readings
		References
	Chapter 10: Relationships among Christ-Believers and Jewish Communities in First-Century Asia Minor
		Introduction
		Tensions and Conflicts between Jews and Christ-Believers in First-Century Asia Minor
		Relationships among Jews and Christ-Believers in the Book of Revelation
		Identity Formation in the Book of Revelation: Redefining the People of God
		References
	Chapter 11: Greco-Roman Religions and the Context of the Book of Revelation
		Religio and the Ties That Bind
		Cult, Commerce, and Culture in the Temple
		Imperial Cult
		Feasting, Fornicating, and Fighting
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 12: John’s Apocalypse in Relation to Johannine, Pauline, and Other Forms of Christianity in Asia Minor
		Christianity in Asia Minor
		Revelation and the Seven Congregations
			Differing Viewpoints within the Seven Congregations
			The Nicolaitans
		Pauline and Johannine Christianity
			Pauline Churches in Asia Minor and Revelation
			Johannine Christianity and Revelation
			The Spectrum of Christian Readers Envisioned by Revelation
		Acculturation, Assimilation, Accommodation
			Disputed Questions
			Whether It Was Acceptable to Eat Food Sacrificed to Idols
			Attitudes toward Imperial Rule
		Community Life
			Material Possessions
			Leadership and Authority
		Conclusions
		References
Part III: Theologt and Ethics
	Chapter 13: God in the Book of Revelation
		I. Who Is God? The Variety of Perspectives
		II. The Name of God: Tetragrammaton and Kyrios
		III. Designations of God: He who is, the Creator, Iaō and AŌ, Father, and Pantokratōr
		IV. God in the Narrative: The Enthroned One, Unique Against the Foreign Gods, Saving and Judging
		V. Conclusions
		Note
		References
	Chapter 14: Jesus in the Book of Revelation
		Variety of Descriptors for Jesus
		Anti-imperial Christology in Revelation
		Jesus as Lamb (Arnion)
		The Import of the Lamb’s Execution
		Is the Characterization of Jesus as Lamb Ethical?
		Conclusion
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 15: The Spirit in the Book of Revelation
		“The Seven Spirits” (of God)
			The Seven Spirits as Angelic Beings
			The Seven Spirits as the Singular Spirit of God
		“I Was in the Spirit”
			“In the Spirit” as a Literary/Structural Marker
			“In the Spirit” and John’s Experience of the Spirit
		“In the Spirit” and Writing in the Spirit: Literary Fiction or Expression of the Church’s Spiritual Experience
		The Spirit of Prophecy
			The “Spirit of Prophecy” and the Question of Genre
			“The Witness of Jesus and the Spirit of Prophecy”
			The “Spirit of Prophecy” and the Phenomenon of Prophecy in the Church
			The “Spirit of Prophecy” and Pneumatic Witness
			The “Spirit of Prophecy” and Pneumatic Discernment
		The Spirit and Jesus
		References
	Chapter 16: Creation and New Creation in the Book of Revelation
		New Creation in Jewish Context
			Creation and New Creation in the Hebrew Bible
			Creation and New Creation in Second Temple Apocalyptic Literature
		Creation and New Creation in Rhetorical Context
		Creation and New Creation in the Book of Revelation
			The Language of Creation
			Creation and New Creation in Chapters 1–20
				Creation as a Testimony to the Glory of God
				The Suffering of Creation
				The Transference of Sovereignty over the Earth
				Conclusion
			New Creation in Chapters 21–22
				The Initial Vision of the New Creation: Revelation 21:1–8
				The New Jerusalem and the New Creation: Revelation 21:9–22:5
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 17: Perspectives on Evil in the Book of Revelation
		The War of Good versus Evil in Revelation
		Evil and the Social Context of Revelation
		Clarifying Evil in Revelation
		Blurring Evil in Revelation
		Defeating Evil in Revelation
		Concluding Reflections
		Note
		References
	Chapter 18: Violence in the Apocalypse of John
		The Scope of Violence
		The Kinds of Violence
		The Subjects and Objects of Violence
		The Ethics of Violence
			Coercion
			Immoral Actions
			Sadism
			Procrastination
		The Explanations of Violence
			Real Violence
			Metaphoric Violence
		References
	Chapter 19: The City-Women Babylon and New Jerusalem in Revelation
		Reading Revelation’s City-Women with Scholars
		The Ancient Personification of Cities and Nations as Women
		The City-Women of Revelation
		Babylon, the Great Whore and City
		New Jerusalem, the Wife and Bride
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 20: The People of God in the Book of Revelation
		Audiences
		Assemblies
		Slaves of God
		Saints
		Those Clothed in White
		Witnesses
		Conclusions
		Notes
		References
Part IV: History of Reception and Influence
	Chapter 21: The Greek Text of Revelation
		The Extant Manuscript Tradition
		Mapping the Textual Tradition
			The Textus Receptus: A Late Text of Revelation
			Karl Lachmann: A New Foundation for the Text of Revelation—Codex Alexandrinus
			Constantin von Tischendorf: The Recovery of Key Manuscripts for the Text of Revelation
			Westcott and Hort: The Original Text of Revelation
			Bernhard Weiss: Mapping an Early and Late Textual Tradition for Revelation
			Wilhelm Bousset: The Reconstruction of the Andreas Textual Tradition of Revelation
			Hermann von Soden: A Theory of Three Recensions for the Text of Revelation
			Herman C. Hoskier: Comprehensive Collations, a Polyglot Theory, and New Textual Groupings for Revelation
			Josef Schmid: The Four Major Text Forms of Revelation
		Twenty-First Century Developments
			Text und Textwert: A Re-examination of the Textual Tradition of Revelation
			TuT and Schmid’s Studien: A Comparison of Apples and Oranges?
		Conclusions
		References
		Further Reading
	Chapter 22: Revelation and the New Testament Canon
		Revelation’s Way into the Canon
		Different Paradigms of Understanding and Revelation’s Role within the Canon
		Revelation’s Continuing Significance within the Canon
		References
	Chapter 23: Reception History and the Interpretation of Revelation
		Introduction
		What Is Reception History?
		Scope, Purpose, and Method
		Describing the Big Picture
		Textual Criticism and Materiality as Reception History
		Revelation’s Visual Reception
		Usefulness and Future Prospects
		References
	Chapter 24: The Interpretation of the Book of Revelation in Early Christianity
		Revelation in the West before Tyconius
			Justin
			Irenaeus
			Hippolytus
			Tertullian
			Victorinus
		Revelation in the East
			Clement of Alexandria
			Origen
			Dionysius
		Tyconius
		Concluding Remarks
		Note
		References
		Further Reading
	Chapter 25: The Interpretation of John’s Apocalypse in the Medieval Period
		The Foundations: The First Latin Commentaries on the Apocalypse and Their Reception
		Revelation in the Early Middle Ages: Commentaries from the Edges to the Center of Latin Christianity
		Ancient Tradition, New Methods: From the End of the Tyconian Tradition to the Glossa ordinaria
		The “Historical Turn” of the Twelfth Century and the So-Called German Symbolism
		Joachim of Fiore: The Abbot Who Saw Tomorrow
		The Explosion of Apocalyptic Thought and Commentaries on Revelation in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
		References
	Chapter 26: The Book of Revelation in Music and Liturgy
		The Book of Revelation and Its Soundscape
		Liturgy
		The Lamb of God
		Hymnic Influences
		Oratorios
		Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du Temps
		Implications
		Notes
	Chapter 27: Forms of Futuristic Interpretation of Revelation in the Modern Period
		Introduction: Revelation and the Shaping of the Modern World
		Revelation: A Bittersweet Commentary on the Future
		Hermeneutical Horizons of Futuristic Interpretation
		Premillennial Dispensationalism: Darby, Scofield, and Rapture Fiction
		Futuristic Interpretations and Current Geopolitics: Revelation and Israel
		Conclusion: The Future of Futurism
		Notes
		References
Part V: Currents in Interpretation
	Chapter 28: Feminist Interpretation of Revelation
		Major Passages and Interpretive Issues
		A Central Question: Can Revelation Be Liberating for Women Readers?
		Rhetorical Function of Images in Ancient versus Modern Contexts
		Reimagining the Categories
			Multiple Meanings
			Destabilizing Gender
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 29: Interpreting Revelation through African American Cultural Studies
		Revelation in Congregational Life
		The Influence of Black Liberation Theology
			The Apocalypse and Civil Disobedience
			Revelation as Subversive Literature
			Revelation as Resistance Literature
		The Impact of Womanist Perspectives
			Revelation as Protest Literature
			Postcolonial Hermeneutics and Womanist Critique
			Postcolonial Theory and “Scripturalizing” Revelation
			Responses to Oppression in Revelation and African American Experience
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 30: Post-Colonial Interpretation of the Book of Revelation
		The Book of Revelation and Colonialism
		Revelation’s Colonial Entanglements
		Catachresis, Mimicry, and Hybridity
		Notes
		References
Index