NTS 438: The Book of Revelation Advance Assignment Instructor: Rev. Dr. Israel Kamudzandu Semester: Summer 2015 Required Texts 1. W. J. Harrington, Revelation (Sacra Pagina; Collegeville: Liturgical, 1993). 2. Michael J. Gorman, Elements of Biblical Exegesis, Revised and Expanded Edition: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009. Recommended Text: 1. Tokunboh Adeyemo, ed., Africa Bible Commentary: A One Volume Commentary written by 70 African Scholars (Nairobi, Kenya: WordAlive Publishers, 2006). 2. Daniel Patte, ed., Global Bible Commentary (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2004) Assignments: There are two advance assignments for this summer course: 1 st assignment is due on May 21 st, 2015 Posted on Moodle by 1:00PM and the second assignment is due on June 20 th posted on Moodle by 1:00PM. Choose a passage from Chapters 1-5 in the Book of Revelation and following the instructions below have an exegetical notebook and write a brief exegetical paper of 6-8 pages on what you discern to be the central theological and spiritual meaning of the pericope. I expect you to follow the format you learned in HBS 301 and NTS 301. Consult the guidelines for writing exegetical papers that were distributed in NTS 301 or posted on Moodle or in your Syllabus. An excellent paper will have a clearly stated thesis statement that will be supported and developed through a coherent discussion of the historical context, the literary context, and the structure of the passage, as well as through a verse-by-verse thick description of the text. An excellent paper will exemplify good style, organization, grammar and spelling. It will also show a considerable evidence of engagement with other significant interpreters of the passage. I have attached a list of resources that you can work with. You are strongly exhorted to consult with me about your exegetical work while you are in the process of writing the paper. I will happily give you feedback on thesis statement. The paper could be on one of the following topics or a theme of your choice, related to Revelation 1-5: The Christology (teaching about Christ) of Revelation 1-5; The Ecclesiology(teaching about the Church) of Revelation 1-5; 1
The Ethics of Revelation 2-3; The function of the Visions in Revelation 1-5. Both your exegetical theological notebook and paper must be posted on Moodle on the due date of May 21 st, 2015, by 1:00PM. In the use of resources, please be careful to acknowledge sources of ideas and quotations. See the section in student Handbook on Integrity of Work. This is an important matter for your consideration. Use a style guide such as: Taurabian, K. L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertation. (4 th /5 th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1973/1986). Guidelines for Your Exegetical/Theological Notebook You are to print a version of the text of Revelation to mark up. The translation should be the NRSV, RSV, NAB, NJB, NIV, or TNIV. Format the text with 1.5 or double spacing and 3-inch left and right margins. I would suggest putting the pages in a ½-inch binder. Your task is to begin work on the text before reading commentaries, looking for and noting such things as structure, key words and images, intertextuality (echoes of Scripture, other writings, or other parts of Revelation), significant theological claims, other translations options, problems, questions, brief reflections, etc. Then, after working with the text yourself, read the assigned secondary literature, making any additional notes you care to make. (See sample below.) This exegetical-theological work will become the basis of your textual analysis and crafting a thesis statement. When we meet in summer, exegetical notebooks will also be an important feature of our engagement with the entire book of Revelation. 2
1. 3
2. SECOND ASSIGNMENT (Due on June 20 th, 2015): Write a 2-4 page Outline of the Entire book of Revelation, chapters 1-22, and write a one page summary of what you discern to be the theological interpretation of this book for 21 st century Christian Church. A Brief Bibliography on the Apocalypse (for use with your advance Asignments and the entire summer course). Aune, David. Revelation. 3 vols. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco, TX: Word. A monumental historical commentary by one of the leading authorities on Revelation. Bauckham, Richard. The Climax of Prophecy: Studies on the Book of Revelation. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1993. Technical studies on the theology, etc.. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1993. A very insightful overview; a standard reference. Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999. Commentary focusing on OT background. Boring, M. Eugene. Revelation. Interpretation. Westminster/John Knox, 1989. A sensitive theological reading of the apocalypse. Boxall, Ian. The Revelation of Saint John. Black s New Testament Commentary. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2006. A relatively succinct yet thorough and helpful commentary. Caird, G. B. A Commentary on the Revelation of St John the Divine. Black s New Testament Commentary. London: A. & C. Black, 1984 (orig.1966). Attention to theology, poetry, and history. Clouse, Robert G., Robert N. Hosack, and Richard V. Pierard. The New Millennium Guide: A Once and Future Guide. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. A helpful, illustrated survey of millennial movements and personalities. 4
Fiorenza, Elisabeth Schüssler. Revelation: Vision of a Just World. Proclamation Commentaries. Augsburg Fortress, 1991. A literary and political reading of the book of Revelation as resistance literature. González, Catherine Gunsalus and Justo L. González. Revelation. Westminster Bible Companion. Westminster/John Knox, 1997. An historical and theological reading of the text by two Latino/Latina theologians. Harrington, Wilfrid J. Revelation. Sacra Pagina. Liturgical, 1993. An excellent historical, literary, and theological reading by a Roman Catholic scholar. Howard-Brook, Wes and Anthony Gwyther. Unveiling Empire: Reading Revelation Then and Now. Orbis, 1999. A political-theological reading of the apocalypse grounded in the historical-critical method. Koester, Craig R. Revelation and the End of All Things. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. A general commentary by the scholar working on the new Anchor Bible commentary; good for congregational/parish studies. Kovacs, Judith and Christopher Rowland. Revelation: The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ. Blackwell s NT Commentaries. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2004. A non-traditional commentary that focuses on the history of interpretation, reception, and effects. Lindsey, Hal. There s a New World Coming. Harvest House, 1984 (orig. 1973). A popular commentary from the predictive school of interpretation by the author of The Late Great Planet Earth. Mangina, Joseph L. Revelation. Brazos Theological Commentary. Brazos, 2009. A rich commentary by a theologian. McGinn, Bernard. Antichrist: Two Thousand Years of the Human Fascination with Evil. HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. A history of the interpretation of the incarnation of evil in the West. 5
Murphy, Frederick J. Fallen Is Babylon: The Revelation to John. Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1998. Historical emphasis. Richard, Pablo. Apocalypse: A People s Commentary on the Book of Revelation. Orbis, 1995. A commentary from the political/liberationist perspective. Peterson, Eugene. Reversed Thunder. HarperCollins, 1988. A poetic/spiritual interpretation of the book of Revelation. Reddish, Mitchell. Revelation. Macon, GA: Smith & Helwys, 2001. An excellent commentary, with art and other graphics, that pays attention to the history of interpretation and the contemporary message. Rowland, Christopher. The Book of Revelation in The New Interpreter s Bible vol. 12. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998. Literary/pastoral/theological approach, with beautiful illustrations from Blake. Thompson, Leonard L. The Book of Revelation: Apocalypse and Empire. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. Argues that situation for the book is not conflict but complacency. Wainwright, Arthur. Mysterious Apocalypse. Abingdon, 1993. A helpful history of the interpretation of the Book of Revelation in the West. Wall, Robert W. Revelation. New International Biblical Commentary. Hendrickson, 1991. A very helpful commentary with attention to the history of interpretation. Yarbro Collins, Adela. Crisis and Catharsis: The Power of the Apocalypse. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1984. Argues that Revelation awakens its audience to crisis and gives them means of catharsis to deal with it. 6
7
8