The Book of Revelation: Apocalypse and Empire

280 Pages·1997·17.97 MB·English

by  Leonard L. Thompson

The Book of Revelation
This page intentionally left blank
The Book of Revelation
Apocalypse and Empire
LEONARD L. THOMPSON
New York Oxford
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Oxford University Press
Oxford New York
Athens Auckland Bangkok Bogota Bombay
Buenos Aires Calcutta Cape Town Dar es Salaam
Delhi Florence Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi
Kuala Lumpur Madras Madrid Melbourne
Mexico City Nairobi Paris Singapore
Taipei Tokyo Toronto
and associated companies in
Berlin Ibadan
Copyright © 1990 by Leonard L. Thompson
First published in 1990 by Oxford University Press, Inc.,
198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
First issued as an Oxford University Press paperback, 1997
Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Thompson, Leonard L., 1934-
The book of Revelation : Apocalypse and empire /
Leonard L. Thompson.
p. cm. Bibliography: p. Includes index.
ISBN 0-19-505551-9
ISBN 0-19-511580-5 (pbk.)
1. Bible. N.T. Revelation—Criticism, interpretation, etc.
2. Bible. N.T. Revelation—Language, style. I. Title.
BS2825.2.T46 1990
228'.06—dc20 89-3405 CIP
579864
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
To My Mentors
Robert M. Grant and E. Graham Waring
in their retirement
"For they too are honorable men"
This page intentionally left blank
Preface
Throughout the following chapters there are references to many books, inscrip-
tions, and papyri from the early Christian and classical world of the first centuries
of the Common Era (CE). They are listed on pages 211-212. Translations of the
Greek New Testament usually follow the Revised Standard Version, though I some-
times use my own translation.
There are four parts to the book. I provide an orientation in the Introduc-
tion and part 1. Some of the rather complex ideas at the end of chapter 2 are
discussed again in chapter 11. Parts 2 and 3 could be read in reverse order, but I
recommend following numerical order. The similarities between the arrangement of
this book (four parts and twelve chapters) and the number symbolism of the Book
of Revelation are purely coincidental.
In the best of circumstances writing involves stretches of isolation punc-
tuated by fruitful conversation with various groups of colleagues. Helpful conver-
sation occurred in the seminar on early Christian apocalypticism of the Society of
Biblical Literature and the New Testament seminar of the Upper Midwest Region of
the same organization. I express special gratitude to David Aune, William
Beardslee, Adela Yarbro Collins, Howard Kee, and Carolyn Osiek. My colleagues
at Lawrence University listened patiently to some of these ideas in their roughest
form. Robert M. Grant and John J. Collins made observations regarding some of
the chapters when they were in not-so-rough a form. I approach the text differently
from those two scholars, but their writings provide the foundation. Diane Jeske,
my undergraduate assistant, read the text and corrected it in many ways. In the final
stages of the manuscript, the comments of Bob Grant, M. L. Ray, and Cynthia
Read helped me revise and improve several chapters. Lastly, Michael Lane read the
manuscript with great care and helped clarify both language in the manuscript and
references to other works.
Stretches of isolation were made possible by a year-long fellowship from the
National Endowment for the Humanities and a Summer Research Fellowship from
viii Preface
the same endowment. In that connection I note Edwin Good's unflagging support
with appreciation. I am grateful for those fellowships which provided an inclusio
around the research —a most appropriate form for the Book of Revelation. Along
the way, research grants from Lawrence University provided opportunities for visits
to major research libraries.
Apple ton, Wisconsin L. L. T.
March 1989
Contents
Chronology, xi
Introduction, 1
Part I Orientation
1 Historical Setting and Genre, 11
2 The Social Setting of Apocalypses, 25
Part II The Script: Wholeness and the Language
of the Book of Revelation
3 The Linguistic Unity of Revelation, 37
4 Unity through the Language of Worship, 53
5 The Seer's Vision of an Unbroken World, 74
Part III The Stage: Roman Society and the Province
of Asia
6 Domitian's Reign: History and Rhetoric, 95
7 Christians in the Province of Asia, 116
8 Jews in the Province of Asia, 133
9 Urban Life in the Province of Asia, 146
Part IV The Play: The Apocalypse and the Empire
10 The Book of Revelation in Asian Society, 171
11 The Social Location of the Book of Revelation, 186