Revelation

This book is a socio-rhetorical commentary on Revelation, with a suggested reading list and entire NRSV translation.

Ben Witherington, III (Author)

9780521806091, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 September 2003

326 pages, 1 b/w illus.
23.9 x 15.3 x 2.5 cm, 0.58 kg

'This is a solid commentary. … It introduces the reader to recent mainstream, sound research on Revelation, it fruitfully engages in debate with questionable literalist readings, it opens the eyes for Revelation as a book of the first century, it applies responsible hermeneutical strategies and, finally, it also assists readers who are interested in more contemporary application of its materials.' Neotestamentica

This book was the first of its kind: a socio-rhetorical commentary on the Book of Revelation. Without sacrificing scholarly perspective or academic rigor, it is written to be accessible for a wide audience - including pastors, scholars, teachers, seminarians, and interested lay people. A 'Suggested Reading List' - a feature of all volumes in the New Cambridge Bible Commentary - will serve as point of entry for the new student of Revelation and as a helpful annotated bibliography for all readers. Frequent 'Closer-Look' sections examine key elements of the Roman-Greco world that bear on the text's meaning while 'Bridging the Horizons' sub-chapters connect this world with the cultural, political, and religious environments of today. The entire NRSV translation is provided throughout the text. Award-winning author Ben Witherington, III brings a New Testament-scholar's insight and successful clergyman's lucidity to the often opaque passages of the last book of the New Testament.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Authorship, date and audience of the apocalypse
2. The resources, rhetoric and restructuring of Revelation
3. Revelation in its social setting in West Asia Minor
4. The christology of Revelation
5. The genre of Revelation
6. A brief tour of the Book of Revelation
Part II. Suggested Reading on Revelation: 1. The genre of Revelation
2. Commentaries
3. Rhetorical studies
4. Sociological and anthropological approaches
5. Classical and archaeological resources
6. History of interpretation
7. Theology
8. Important monographs
9. Articles of interest
Part III. Commentary: 1. Rev. 1.1–3: Visionary material: handle carefully
2. Rev. 1.4–1.20: The Heavenly Son of Man
3. Rev. 2–3: postcards from the edge
4. Rev. 4–5: the throne room vision
5. Rev. 6.1–8.5: The Seven Seals
6. Rev. 8.5–11: The Seven Trumpets
7. Rev. 12: The woman and the dragon
8. Rev. 13.1–14.5: 666 and his spokesman
9. Rev. 14.6–14.20: Three angelic messengers
10. Rev. 15.1–16.21: The seven eschatological plagues
11. Rev. 17.1–19.10: Babylon the Harlot
12. Rev. 19.11–21.8: The rider on the white horse, redemptive-judgment and the messianic millennium
13. Rev. 21.9–22.5: The tour of the New Jerusalem
14. Rev. 22.6–22.21: The epilogue
Part IV. Appendix: A Millennial Problem
Index.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]