Revelation: Contextual Decisions. Contextual Decisions. Historical Setting. Literary Setting. Contextual Decisions. Contextual Decisions

Transcription

1 Revelation: Historical Setting Literary Setting I. Historical Setting: Date A. Internal Evidence Literary elements Babylon for Rome = post AD 70 mortal wound healed = Nero redivivus? numbered king sequence of ch. 17 Historical conditions Smyrna and Thyatira post AD 70? allusions to Domitianic conditions? Jerusalem, temple still standing? (11:1 2) I. Historical Setting: Date A. Internal Evidence Literary elements Babylon for Rome = post AD 70 mortal wound healed = Nero redivivus? Polycarp, Phil. 11; numbered king sequence Epiphanius of ch. Heresies Historical conditions Smyrna and Thyatira post AD 70? allusions to Domitianic conditions? Jerusalem, temple still standing? (11:1 2)

2 I. Historical Setting: Date A. Internal Evidence Literary elements Babylon for Rome = post AD 70 mortal wound healed = Nero redivivus? 1. vine edict of 93? (6:6) numbered king sequence of ch emperor worship 3. persecution Historical conditions Smyrna and Thyatira post AD 70? allusions to Domitianic conditions? Jerusalem, temple still standing? (11:1 2) I. Historical Setting: Date B. External Evidence Pliny s letter to Trajan (112) Irenaeus (180) Revelation as seen toward end of Domitian established the Western tradition C. Conclusion Large majority: Domitian, AD 95 Minority opinions Nero (65) Vespasian (79 80) I. Historical Setting: Date Bithynia B. External Evidence Pliny s letter to Trajan (112) Irenaeus (180) Pliny s LetterRevelation to Trajan, as A.D. 112 (20 yearsend afterofdomitian): seen toward Domitian Others who were named by the the informer that they were established Westernsaid tradition Christians and then denied it, explaining that they had been, but C. Conclusion had ceased to be such, some three years ago, some a good many Large majority: AD = 92, Domitian] years, and a few even twenty. Domitian, [20 years ago: Minority opinions Nero (65) Vespasian (79 80) Historical Setting: Authorship A. Internal Evidence John, servant, brother self-indentification apostle (1:1, 9) apostles classified as past founder figures (18:20; 21:14) likely a Palestinian Jew extensive OT knowledge geographic domain of Jewish apocalypses familiarity with temple/cult, pre-ad 70 places semitizing Greek implies Aramaic tongue

3 Historical Setting: Authorship B. External Evidence John the Apostle first reference: Justin Martyr (155, Dial. 81.4) widely held in west: Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alex., Hippolytus, Eusebius John the Elder, not the apostle Papias (120, acc. to Eusebius) text, however, is ambiguous Historical Setting: Authorship B. External Evidence (continued) John the Unknown Dionysius of Alexandria (d. 265) arguments based on grammar, style C. Abiding Issues apostleship (external versus internal evidence) language (contrasts with Gospel of John) worldview (clearly apocalyptic) canonical process (rejected in area of origin) I Historical Setting: Patmos A. John and Patmos voluntary or involuntary? exiled or refugee? company (Prochorus) or alone? composition or experience? B. Rome and Patmos penal colony? quarrying center?

4 A. Asia Minor Context Seven Churches (Asia Minor locations) Christianity well-established Journeys of Paul Other New Testament literature (1 2 Timothy, 1 2 Peter, Gospel of John, 1 3 John) B. Question of Persecution Degrees of accommodation, assimilation Suspicion, disdain: sporadic, isolated incidents A. Asia Minor Context Seven Churches (Asia Minor locations) Christianity well-established Journeys of Paul Other New Testament literature (1 2 Timothy, 1 2 Peter, Gospel of John, 1 3 John) B. Question of Persecution cf. Pliny s comments Degrees of accommodation, assimilation Suspicion, disdain: sporadic, isolated incidents A. Asia Minor Context Seven Churches (Asia Minor locations) Christianity well-established Journeys of Paul Other New Testament literature (1 2 Timothy, 1 2 Peter, Gospel of John, 1 3 John) B. Question of Persecution Degrees of accommodation, assimilation Suspicion, disdain: sporadic, isolated incidents C. Contrasting Christian Approaches Paul: receptive, permeable boundaries conversion of Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:12) statements (1 Cor. 8; Phil. 4:8; Rom. 13:1 7) Peter: receptive, permeable boundaries accepting authority (1 Pet. 2:13 17) household codes (1 Pet. 2:18 3:7) John: rigid, non-permeable boundaries polemic language antithetical oppositions

5 D. Emperor Worship: Development absorbing eastern traditions: divine kingship evolving Roman traditions early emperors allowed, did not encourage exceptions: Caligula, Nero Rome, fire (64): first persection, but local Domitian may represent a change Assessing Domitian s reign problem: bias of Roman historian Suetonius problem: uncritical Christian tradition D. Emperor Worship: Development absorbing eastern traditions: divine kingship evolving Roman traditions early emperors allowed, did not encourage exceptions: Caligula, Nero Trajan sbut local Rome, fire (64): first persection, court historian; later, Cassius Dio Domitian may represent a change Assessing Domitian s reign problem: bias of Roman historian Suetonius problem: uncritical Christian tradition Nero, Fire of Rome, AD 64 D. Emperor Worship: Development absorbing eastern traditions: divine kingship evolving Roman traditions early emperors allowed, did not encourage exceptions: Caligula, Nero Historical Significance: Rome, fire (64): first persection, but local first timedomitian in history followers may representofa Jesus changeare distinguished from synagogue Assessing Domitian s reign Jews problem: biasof of the Roman historian Suetonius the probable cause death of Peter and problem: uncriticalthat Christian tradition Paul in the persecution followed Nero, Fire of Rome, AD 64 Tacitus 15.44: D. Annals Emperor Worship: Development Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures absorbing eastern traditions: divine kingship on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace... evolving. CoveredRoman with the traditions skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, were nailedallowed, to crosses, ornot wereencourage doomed to earlyoremperors did the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly Nero illumination when exceptions: Caligula, daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, Historical Significance: Rome, (64): first.persection, but local and was exhibiting a showfire in the circus,.. first timedomitian in history followers may representofa Jesus changeare distinguished from synagogue Assessing Domitian s reign Jews problem: bias of Roman historian Suetonius the probable cause of the death of Peter and problem: uncritical Christian tradition Paul in the persecution that followed

6 E. Imperial Ideology Aphrodisias Roman legend: Aeneas and Aphrodite Roman patronage: cities and their benefactors Roman conquest: civilization and protection Roman empire: divine authorization universal savior day and night, land and sea peace and prosperity Historical Setting Literary Setting A. Use of Rhetoric subversive to imperial propaganda rejecting themes of sovereignty, power, divine rule, conquest, peace, wealth, empire benefits promoting alternate images kingdom of priests God the Almighty Apollyon Seven hills of Rome B. Use of Old Testament allusive, innovative inaugurated eschatology distant future as present reality strictly Israel as global reality christological framing divine warrior, Isa. 63:1 6 incarnated Word, Rev. 19:13

7 C. Use of Drama images more for visceral response recapturing the original, emotional impact character of Antichrist 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7 summary: realized eschatology, exclusively Johannine, multiple in number, heresy teaching: present situation with multiple individuals teaching christological heresy D. Structure major movement: vision to judgment vision: theological foundation for judgment judgment: based on previous vision major areas: church, world, heaven D. Structure major movement: vision to judgment vision: theological foundation for judgment judgment: based on previous vision major areas: church, world, heaven A. Western Church Justin Martyr (c. 150) first reference to the book gives authorship to Apostle John Epistle: Churches at Vienna and Lyons (c. 177) first reference as Scripture according to Eusebius Others: Mileto of Sardis (c. 175), Theophilus of Antioch (c. 180), Clement of Alexandria (c. 200), Muratorian Canon (c. 200)

8 A. Western Church (continued) Conclusion: by AD 200 in the West, wide ciruculation, already part of provisional canon, assumed by the Apostle John Exception: Dionysius of Alexandria (264) studied actual Greek text noted rough grammar, odd syntax entirely different from Gospel, Epistles concluded author of Gospel Apocalypse maintained inspiration, authority of book B. Eastern Church Eusebius (d. 340) double-listed both accepted, rejected lists noted problems of heretical use Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386) excluded as not canonical forbade public or private use Amphilochius of Iconium (d. 394) said Revelation rejected by most authorities clear indication of continuing problems B. Eastern Church (continued) Peshitta Version (411) Syriac translation by Rabulla of Edessa excluded Revelation from translation Council of Constantinople (692) finally acknowledged part of Eastern canon still received with great suspicion and doubt Conclusion Nestorian churches completely reject today Eastern Orthodox refuses for liturgy, doctrine C. The Reformation Erasmus (d. 1536) no respect for the book whatsoever excluded from his NT paraphrase Zwingli (d. 1531) regarded Revelation to be unbiblical lacked the stamp of John s heart and mind Luther (d. 1546) relegated to appendix in German translation later editions: included for papal polemics

9 C. The Reformation Erasmus (d. 1536) Wainwright (p. no 109): respect for the book whatsoever Perhaps the harshest excluded critic from was his Martin NT Luther paraphrase who said the Holy Spirit had nothing to do with it, that it was neither apostolic nor prophetic, and Zwingli that Christ (d. 1531) was neither sought nor known in it. regarded Revelation to be unbiblical lacked the stamp of John s heart and mind Luther (d. 1546) relegated to appendix in German translation later editions: included for papal polemics C. The Reformation (continued) Calvin (d. 1564) retained Augustinian amillennialism biblical commentaries: all except Revelation D. Perennial Issues Strong authorship arguments of Dionysius Persistent gross abuses of interpretation Apparent failure of fulfillment Language obscurity, ambiguity Liturgical difficulties