Product Description

The Book of Revelation is a work of profound theology. But its literary form makes it impenetrable to many modern readers and open to all kinds of misinterpretations. Richard Bauckham explains how the book’s imagery conveyed meaning in its original context and how the book's theology is inseparable from its literary structure and composition. Revelation is seen to offer not an esoteric and encoded forecast of historical events but rather a theocentric vision of the coming of God’s universal kingdom, contextualised in the late first-century world dominated by Roman power and ideology. It calls on Christians to confront the political idolatries of the time and to participate in God’s purpose of gathering all the nations into his kingdom. Once Revelation is properly grounded in its original context it is seen to transcend that context and speak to the contemporary church. This study concludes by highlighting Revelation’s continuing relevance for today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113792 in Books
• Published on: 1993-03-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 185 pages

Review
"A thorough reading--and rereading--of this slim volume suggests that Bauckman's hope that it may contribute to the renewal of the doctrine of God in our time may not be in vain, and that the series to which it belongs may likewise contribute to the renewal of biblical theology." M. Eugene Boring, Journal of Religion

"This volume will take its place alongside the many other outstanding works in this series." Review & Expositor

Customer Reviews

Maddening!
This is one of the most maddening books I've read recently. The author's work cannot be faulted (five stars for the theology); the problem lies with the editing of the book. If it is intended to be used as a textbook rather than read from cover to cover like a novel, it needs a really good index. It doesn't have one. Worse still, in my 2002 printing, there is no biblical index at all. Trying to find out what the author has to say about any particular verse or passage in Revelation is like looking for a righteous man in Babylon, or, anyway, a needle in a.... I'm sure Cambridge University Press could have done better than this, and the author deserves better from them.

Unique theological overview
This is the only book I have ever come across to assess the Apocalypse in terms of its specific contribution as a whole to New Testament theology. i.e. its doctrine of the Trinity, of God, Christology, Pneumatology, salvation, history etc. etc. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone preaching, teaching, or seriously studying the book of Revelation. One doesn't have to agree with every detail to find it insightful, stimulating, and illuminating.