Ruhan

I recall a liberal theologian saying a few years ago that the Book of Revelation was formed very similarly to a Greek theatrical play. In addition, the book of Revelation was written to potray the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Has anybody else come across similar viewpoints or arguments?

judge

This idea is usually associated with an eschatological view called Preterism

drewjmore

The play idea is new to me, FWthat'sW. The ELCA (lutherans) Augsburg press published a bible study guide series that explicitly stated that the images used in "John of Patmos' " Revelation are a mixture of the eruption of Vesuvius, the rule of one of the near-contemporary Romans, and Hebrew scripture. It's out of print, but I've got a 'leader' manual.

motorhead

I've never heard of this but it's possible. Did the theologian provide any examples, if you recall? It's my understanding that Revelations is primarily a Jewish apocalyptic work. I think the argument that Revelation was written prior to 70 CE is held by a minority of Bible scholars. I think the majority opinion is it was written around 90 to 100 CE.

Toto

I have heard speculation that the gospels are in the form of Greco-Roman theater, but I have not heard that about Revelation (the Apocalypse of John). Greco-Roman theater did not have the special effects that Revelation would require.

CJD

Though hardly "liberal" (in the evangelical Christian sense of the word) these folks argue that that the genre of Revelation is to be classically understood. "The literary pattern of a trajectory leading from darkness to light, from a damsel's despair to a hero's victory celebrated at last by a royal wedding procession (komos), is comedy" [a la Aristotle].

Best,

CJD