Freethought & Rationalism Archive

JoyJuice · 10-13-2004, 03:42 AM

Could anyone recommend a book that unpacks The book of Revelations from a scholarly POV?

Everything I ran into on the net is from the Christian spiritual intepretation and I tell you, any Christian who says that God is not author of confusion I'll point to the myraid of disconnected interpretations of this one book of the Bible. It's mind boggling.

thx

Chili · 10-13-2004, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkech

Could anyone recommend a book that unpacks The book of Revelations from a scholarly POV?

thx

If the book of Revelation is futuristic you must look for a historian who can explain it as if it is an event of the past.

CX · 10-13-2004, 08:06 AM

Start with section 9.9 "Basic Theological Ideas" on p. 534 of Udo Schnelle's intro (listed in the recommended reading). It pretty well outlines the modern scholarly consensus on the Apocalypse. In a nutshell it is widely accepted by modern scholars that the Apocalypse should be read against the backdrop of the final years of the reign of Domitian. It is not a prophecy of distant future events, but a revelation of what is shortly to come to pass (and to a certain extent already has come to pass) in the life of the churchs to which the letters are directed. It is intended to strengthen the resolve of the faithful at the time of its writing in the face of persecution and internal church struggles over the accomodation of Hellenistic-Roman culture.

Wily Coyote · 10-13-2004, 09:39 AM

Asimov's Guide to the Bible is a good place to start for a general outline. It gives a basic introduction to some of the themes and puts them into historical context.

The Anchor Bible is more comprehensive and detailed.

Chili · 10-13-2004, 07:27 PM

But there is no history in the Revelation except in the mind of the beholder of the event and those who share the event. This is much like the "born again" concept that was futuristic to Nicodemus and still is futuristic to those who have not experienced this event.

Toto · 10-13-2004, 07:59 PM

The Apocalypse of John (Revelation) may help you out with book recommendations.

10-13-2004, 03:42 AM	#1
JoyJuice Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Beautiful Downtown Tacoma Posts: 370	Book of Revelation suggestion? Could anyone recommend a book that unpacks The book of Revelations from a scholarly POV? Everything I ran into on the net is from the Christian spiritual intepretation and I tell you, any Christian who says that God is not author of confusion I'll point to the myraid of disconnected interpretations of this one book of the Bible. It's mind boggling. thx

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10-13-2004, 08:06 AM	#3
CX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Portlandish Posts: 2,829	Start with section 9.9 "Basic Theological Ideas" on p. 534 of Udo Schnelle's intro (listed in the recommended reading). It pretty well outlines the modern scholarly consensus on the Apocalypse. In a nutshell it is widely accepted by modern scholars that the Apocalypse should be read against the backdrop of the final years of the reign of Domitian. It is not a prophecy of distant future events, but a revelation of what is shortly to come to pass (and to a certain extent already has come to pass) in the life of the churchs to which the letters are directed. It is intended to strengthen the resolve of the faithful at the time of its writing in the face of persecution and internal church struggles over the accomodation of Hellenistic-Roman culture.

10-13-2004, 09:39 AM	#4
Wily Coyote Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Broomfield, CO Posts: 21	Asimov's Guide to the Bible is a good place to start for a general outline. It gives a basic introduction to some of the themes and puts them into historical context. The Anchor Bible is more comprehensive and detailed.

10-13-2004, 07:27 PM	#5
Chili Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alberta Posts: 11,885	But there is no history in the Revelation except in the mind of the beholder of the event and those who share the event. This is much like the "born again" concept that was futuristic to Nicodemus and still is futuristic to those who have not experienced this event.

10-13-2004, 07:59 PM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The Apocalypse of John (Revelation) may help you out with book recommendations.

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