The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Revelation

by Craig Koester (Editor)

Overview

The Book of Revelation holds a special fascination for both scholars and the general public. The book has generated widely differing interpretations, yet Revelation has surprisingly not been the focus of many single-volume reference works. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Revelation fills a need in the study of this controversial book. Thirty essays by leading scholars from around the world orient readers to the major currents in the study of Revelation. Divided into five sections-Literary Features, Social Setting, Theology and Ethics, History of Reception and Influence, and Currents in Interpretation-the essays identify the major lines of interpretation that have shaped discussion of these topics, and then work through the aspects of those topics that are most significant and hold greatest promise for future research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190655433
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/23/2020
Series:	Oxford Handbooks
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	552
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 2.00(d)

About the Author

Craig R. Koester is Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota and a research associate at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. His primary research areas are the Gospel of John, Book of Revelation, and Epistle to the Hebrews. He is author of Revelation in the Anchor Yale Bible commentary series (2014), Revelation and the End of All Things (2018), and Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meaning, Mystery, Community (2003).

Table of Contents

Preface
Contributors
Abbreviations

1. Introduction to Revelation's Social Setting, Theological Perspective, and Literary Design
Craig R. Koester

I. Literary Features of the Book of Revelation

2. The Genre of the Book of Revelation
Mitchell G. Reddish

3. Narrative Features of the Book of Revelation
James L. Resseguie

4. Imagery in the Book of Revelation
Konrad Huber

5. Rhetorical Features of the Book of Revelation
David A. deSilva

6. The Use of the Old Testament in the Book of Revelation
Steve Moyise

7. Revelation's Use of the Greek Language
David Mathewson

8. The Hymns in the Book of Revelation
Justin P. Jeffcoat Schedtler

II. Social Setting

9. Christianity and Roman Rule in First-Century Asia Minor
Warren Carter

10. Relationships among Jesus Followers and Jewish Communities in First-Century Asia Minor
Mikael Tellbe

11. Greco-Roman Religions and the Context of Revelation
Richard Ascough

12. John's Apocalypse in Relation to Johannine, Pauline, and Other Forms of Christianity in Asia Minor
Paul Trebilco

III. Theology and Ethics

13. God in the Book of Revelation
Martin Karrer

14. Jesus in the Book of Revelation
Loren L. Johns

15. The Spirit in the Book of Revelation
John Christopher Thomas

16. Creation and New Creation in the Book of Revelation
Mark B. Stephens

17. Perspectives on Evil in the Book of Revelation
Gregory Stevenson

18. Violence in the Book of Revelation
David L. Barr

19. The City-Women Babylon and New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation
Lynn Huber

20. The People of God in the Book of Revelation
Peter S. Perry

IV. History of Reception and Influence

21. The Greek Text of Revelation
Juan Hernández

22. The Book of Revelation in the New Testament Canon
Tobias Nicklas

23. Reception History and the Interpretation of Revelation
Ian Boxall

24. The Interpretation of the Book of Revelation in Early Christianity
Charles Hill

25. The Interpretation of John's Apocalypse in the Medieval Period
Julia Eve Wannenmacher

26. Revelation in Music and Liturgy
Paul Westermeyer

27. Forms of Futuristic Interpretation of Revelation in the Modern Period
Joshua T. Searle with Kenneth Newport

V. Currents in Interpretation

28. Feminist Interpretation of the Book of Revelation
Susan Hylen

29. Interpreting Revelation through African American Cultural Studies
Thomas B. Slater

30. Post-colonial Interpretation of the Book of Revelation
Harry O. Maier

Editorial Reviews

"This volume is a standout in the "companion/handbook" genre. The effort and expertise of the editor are everywhere apparent, from the selection and organization of the topics, to the choice of contributors. He probably also is responsible for the consistently focused discussions, which are always interesting and never veer off topic (unlike so many other works in this genre). This is essential reading for all NT scholars." — Scott D. Mackie, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly

"While there are several edited books on Revelation, none is quite like this one. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Revelation stands out as a very diverse blend across several perspectives. It offers a wide range of views and robust bibliography on a variety of interpretative issues." — Flavio Prestes III, Berrien Springs, Michigan , Andrews University Seminary Studies

"an excellent handbook which summarises comprehensively the current approaches and debates and provides many fresh insights and avenues for further research" — C. Stenschke, Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses

"All in all, the handbook provides a profitable overview of the essential issues" — Margarette Strauss, Theologische Revue

"There are several positive features provided in this handbook ... this volume should be welcomed to the academic discussion." — Taman Turbinton, Journal of the Oxford Graduate Theological Society

From the Publisher