The Book of Revelation can be read in various ways. Where interpretation opts not to venture beyond Revelation or approach the book as a forecast of end-time events, it typically favours either going behind the text, in search­­­ of a socio-historical context of origin to which it might refer, or else standing in front of the text and investigating the book's reception history, or its present relevance and impact. Comparatively little interpretative work has been undertaken inside the text, exploring the mechanics of how Revelation 'works', still less how its complex parts might fit together into a meaningful whole. Gordon Campbell considers Revelation to be a coherent narrative composition that draws its hearer or reader into its text-world. In Reading Revelation: A Thematic Approach, Campbell gives an innovative account of Revelation's sophisticated thematic content. Mindful of Revelation's narrative verve, or its architecture en mouvement (as Jacques Ellul once put it), Campbell plots a series of thematic trajectories through the book. On this reading, parody and parallelism fundamentally shape the whole narrative. As a first-ever integrated account of Revelation's macro-themes, Reading Revelation makes an important contribution to Revelation scholarship. In its light, the book may justifiably be seen as the 'crowning achievement' of the Scriptures.
Les mer
A biblical-theological appreciation of Revelation's story using the tools of narrative criticism, showing how the complex themes of the text fit together into a meaningful whole.
Foreword to the English edition Preface to the English edition Foreword to the French edition Preface to the French edition Methodological introduction Part One: God reveals himself Introduction to Part One 1. Divinity and pseudo-divinity 2. True sovereignty and usurped claims Historical detour 1: Is daily life in Asia's cities accessible? Historical detour 2: Is the sea monster decipherable? Historical detour 3: Is christological parody decodable? 3. Legitimate adoration and bogus worship Historical detour 4: Is political parody detectable? Historical detour 5: Is the bogus worship identifiable? Conclusion to Part One Part Two: Humanity finds itself Introduction to Part Two 4. Genuine testimony and counter-proclamation 5. Faithful belonging and counter-allegiance 6. Bride-city and whore-city Historical detour 6: Is 'Babylon' translatable by Rome? Historical detour 7: Is the woman of Revelation 12 identifiable? Conclusion to Part Two Part Three: When God and Humanity meet Introduction to Part Three 7. Broken covenant and new covenant Historical detour 8: Is an economic critique of Rome plausible? Conclusion to Part Three Epilogue Bibliography Index of passages in Revelation Index of other Biblical references Index of references to ancient literature Thematic Index Author Index
Les mer
'...[Reading Revelation] provides many fresh insights. What Campbell has offered, is a complete and coherent biblical theology of Revelation, undoubtedly fruitful to use for theological students, teachers and researchers, so that contemporary readers become competent readers...' Rob Van Houwelingen, European Journal of Theology, April 2013. 'Gordon Campbell's impressive study... is a masterful interpretation, detailed and rigorous.' Ian Boxall, The Expository Times, Volume 125, No.2, November 2013 'Campbell's approach is to seek an understanding of Revelation from within the text itself, rooted as it is in both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. [...] He discerns a number of themes running through Revelation which bind the book into a coherent literary work rather than a collection of disparate elements or detailed prophecy of the future.' David McKay, Reformed Theological Journal, 2013 Issue [Reading Revelation] offers fresh understandings of Revelation. Its copious endnotes, rich bibliography, indexes of Revelation passages, other biblical references, ancient Greco-Roman literature, and themes enable the reader to cross-check the meanings of a specific text or a vision or an event. Readers will find this carefully researched work enlightening and rewarding." Daniel Jeyaraj, Liverpool Hope University, in Theological Book Review (tbr), Vol. 25, No.1, 2013 "Gordon Campbell has written a comprehensive and useful analysis of John's Apocalypse [...] Campbell's reading of Revelation is intrusive at many points and will prove useful to students of the Apocalypse who have long pined for a fresh perspective on this perplexing book." Andrew R. Guffey, Modern Believing vol 56, issue 1, January 2015
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780227173831
Publisert
1900
Utgiver
Vendor
James Clarke & Co Ltd
Vekt
646 gr
Høyde
234 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Aldersnivå
UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
452

Forfatter

Biographical note

Gordon Campbell is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and principal of Union Theological College, Belfast, where he is also Head of Biblical Studies. The Book of Revelation has been the focus of much of his research and remains his special interest.