Power and Place: Temple and Identity in the Book of Revelation

388 Pages·2001·11.05 MB·English

by  Gregory Stevenson

Gregory Stevenson
Power and Place
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
und die Kunde der älteren Kirche
In Verbindung mit
James D. G. Dunn · Richard B. Hays
Hermann Lichtenberger
herausgegeben von
Michael Wolter
Band 107
W
DE
G_
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
2001
Gregory Stevenson
Power and Place
Temple and Identity in the Book of Revelation
w
DE
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
2001
© Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines of the ANSI
to ensure permanence and durability.
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme
Stevenson, Gregory:
Power and place : temple and identity in the Book of Revelation /
Gregory Stevenson. - Berlin ; New York : de Gruyter, 2001
(Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
und die Kunde der älteren Kirche ; Bd. 107)
Zugl.: Diss., 1999
ISBN 3-11-017008-6
© Copyright 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, 10785 Berlin.
All rights reserved, including those of translation into foreign languages. No part of this book
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permis-
sion in writing from the publisher.
Printed in Germany
Cover design: Christopher Schneider, Berlin
Printing and Binding: Hubert & Co., Göttingen
To James, Beverly, and Sally Stevenson
Without their support this book could never have been written.

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Luke Timothy Johnson whose encouragement and
insight have been invaluable to me from the inception of this project. I thank
Carl Holladay, Carol Newsom, and Walter Wilson for their support and
helpful suggestions. Also deserving of my gratitude for their comments
offered at various stages of this project are David Aune, Adela Yarbro
Collins, Vernon Robbins, Eric Varner, and Bonna Wescoat. Special gratitude
goes to Richard Oster, both for his helpful feedback on certain portions of the
book and for stoking the fires of my interest in archaeology and in the book
of Revelation. Although not responsible for any flaws in this work, their
input has made it a much better book than it otherwise would have been.
Finally, I would like to thank James Walters, whose excellence in the
classroom inspired me to begin walking down the path I am on today.

Contents
Abbreviations xiii
1. Revelation and the Temple: Introduction 1
1.1 The Problem of the Temple in Revelation 2
1.2 The Language of Apocalyptic 6
(a) Image and Symbol 6
(b) The Genre of Apocalyptic 10
(c) The Function of Apocalyptic Rhetoric 12
(d) Temple as Social Symbol 16
1.3 The Temple and the Interpretation of Revelation 19
(a) Material Culture and the Biblical Text 19
(b) Cultural Perspective of Revelation 24
(c) Interpretations of the Temple Language in Revelation.. 28
1.4 Method and Plan 32
2. Significance of Temples in Greek and Roman Culture.. 37
2.1 Introduction 37
2.2 Temple as Embodiment of Divine Presence 42
(a) Power and Presence 42
(b) Cult Statues and Thrones 44
(c) Purity and Access 48
(d) Epiphanies 52
2.3 Temple as Unifying Force 55
(a) Temple and Religion 55
(b) Temple and Society 68
χ Contents
(c) Temple and Economic Stability 72
(d) Temple and Civic/Political Life 75
2.4 Temples, Civic Pride and Identity 86
(a) Badge of Identity and Source of Pride 86
(b) The City as Protector of Temple and Cult 91
(c) Competition and Civic Pride 94
(d) Conceptualization and Symbolization of Identity 96
2.5 Temple as Place of Protection and Justice 99
(a) Deity as Protector of City and Temple 99
(b) Victory and Authority 102
(c) Asylum and Supplication 103
2.6 Summary and Conclusion 113
3. Significance of the Temple in Jewish Life and Thought 115
3.1 Introduction 115
3.2 The Temple in Jewish Tradition and History: An Overview 116
3.3 Temple and the Divine Presence 121
(a) The Presence of God 121
(b) Covenant and Election 128
(c) Holiness and Purity 131
3.4 Temple as Unifying Force 135
(a) Temple and Religion 136
(b) Temple and Socio-Cultural Environment 143
(c) Temple and Economic Stability 147
(d) Temple and National/Political Life 151
(e) Temple and Cosmology 154
3.5 Temple as Place of Power 157
(a) Protection, Mercy, Wrath 157
(b) The Jews and Temple Asylum 161
(c) Kingship and Justice 164
(d) Victory 166