An apocalypse for the church and for the world : the narrative function of universal language in the book of Revelation / Ronald Herms.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Herms, Ronald.

Series:

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche ; Beiheft 143.

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche, 0171-6441 ; Bd. 143

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Revelation--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Revelation--Language, style.

Bible. Revelation.

Physical Description:

xv, 299 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : W. de Gruyter, [2006]

Contents:

Abbreviations (Publication and Standard) xiii

1.1 Description of the Problem 1

1.2 Identifying the Issues 2

1.3 Purpose of the Present Study 3

1.4 History of Interpretation 5

1.4.1 Source Criticism 5

1.4.1.1 Wilhem Bousset 6

1.4.1.2 R.H. Charles 9

1.4.1.3 Josephine Massyngberde-Ford 10

1.4.1.4 Ulrich B. Muller 12

1.4.1.5 David Aune 14

1.4.2 Mainstream Commentaries on Revelation 19

1.4.2.1 Martin Kiddle 19

1.4.2.2 Robert Mounce 22

1.4.2.3 G.B. Caird 24

1.4.2.4 John Sweet 26

1.4.3 Literary-Narrative Approaches to Revelation 28

1.4.3.1 David L. Barr 29

1.4.3.2 Eugene Boring 31

1.4.3.3 Leonard Thompson 34

1.4.4 Richard Bauckham and the 'Conversion of the Nations' 37

1.5 Method and Assumptions 44

Chapter 2 Early Jewish Literature 50

Excursus 1 Qumran - Eschatological Dualism and the Fate of the Nations 52

2.2 Tobit 61

2.2.2 Textual Unity and the Authenticity of Tobit 13.1-14.15 62

2.2.3 Literary Context and Narrative Development: An Intentional Boundary Shift? 67

2.2.4 Development of Biblical Traditions in Tobit 74

2.3 Similitudes of Enoch (1 Enoch 37-71) 78

2.3.2 Literary Structure 80

2.3.3 Group Identification and the Use of Epithets 82

2.3.3.1 'The Watchers' 83

2.3.3.2 'Those who dwell on earth' 84

2.3.3.3 'Sinners' 84

2.3.3.4 'The Kings and Powerful of the Earth' 84

2.3.3.5 'Others' 85

2.3.4 Universal Traditions in the Similitudes 86

2.3.4.1 1 Enoch 48.4-5 87

2.3.4.2 1 Enoch 50.1-5 90

2.3.4.3 Scenes of Universal Worship 95

2.4 4 Ezra 98

2.4.2 Literary Structure and Narrative Development 100

2.4.3 Theories Related to Theological Tension in 4 Ezra 104

2.4.4 Transformation as the Interpretive Key to 4 Ezra 106

2.4.5 Universal Traditions in 4 Ezra 108

2.4.5.1 4 Ezra 6.25-28 108

2.4.5.2 4 Ezra 11.38-12.34 111

2.4.5.3 4 Ezra 13 114

2.5 Animal Apocalypse (1 Enoch 85-90) 120

2.5.2 Narrative Development in the Animal Apocalypse 122

2.5.3 The Role of the Gentile Nations in 1 Enoch 90.16-38 130

2.6 Synthesis 136

Chapter 3 Preliminary Matters in the Book of Revelation 138

3.2 Critique of Bauckham's Thesis 139

3.3 The Question of Genre 145

3.4 Structural Analysis of Revelation 147

3.5 Narrative Development in Revelation 154

3.5.1 The First Series of Visions (1.9-3.22) 155

3.5.2 The Second Series of Visions (4.1-16.21) 158

3.5.3 The Third Series of Visions (17.1-21.8) 161

3.5.4 The Fourth Series of Visions (21.9-22.5) 166

Chapter 4 Universal Traditions in the Book of Revelation 169

4.1.1 The Contextual Matrix for the Present Study 169

4.1.2 Organization and Interpretive Aims 170

4.2 The Nations/Gentiles ([characters not reproducible]) 172

4.2.2 [characters not reproducible] in Biblical Traditions 172

Excursus 2 The Four-fold Formula in Revelation 173

4.2.3 Literary-Narrative Function of [characters not reproducible] in Revelation 174

4.2.3.1 [characters not reproducible] as a Neutrally Collective Term 175

4.2.3.2 [characters not reproducible] and the Faithful Community 176

4.2.3.3 [characters not reproducible] as Humanity set against God 178

Excursus 3 Psalm 2 as an Interpretive Template in Revelation 178

4.2.3.4 [characters not reproducible] in Scenes of Eschatological Vindication 181

4.3 'The Inhabitants of the Earth' 185

4.3.2 'The Inhabitants of the Earth' in Biblical Traditions 186

4.3.3 Literary-Narrative Function of 'the Inhabitants of the Earth' 187

4.4 Related Terms and Group Labels in Revelation 189

4.4.2 [characters not reproducible] 190

4.4.3 [characters not reproducible] 191

4.4.4 [characters not reproducible] 194

4.5 'The Kings of the Earth' 197

4.5.2 'The Kings of the Earth' in Biblical Traditions 200

4.5.3 Apocalyptic Convention and Political Polemic 205

4.5.4 Linguistic Field of Reference 206

4.5.5 Literary-Narrative Function of 'the Kings of the Earth' 207

4.5.5.1 Rev 1.5 208

4.5.5.2 Rev 6.15-17 217

4.5.5.3 Rev 10.11 224

4.5.5.4 Rev 16.14-21 225

4.5.5.5 Rev 17.1-19.21 227

4.5.5.6 Rev 21.24-26 241

Excursus 4 Isaiah 60 in Two Early Jewish Documents 246

Chapter 5 Synthesis and Conclusions 257

5.1 Review of Stated Aims 257

5.2 Observations on Early Jewish Literature 258

5.3 Observations on the Book of Revelation 259

5.4 Outlook and Prospects for Further Research 260.

Notes:

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Durham University.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [262]-272) and indexes.

ISBN:

3110193124

9783110193121

OCLC:

76873988