The Seven Cities Of The Apocalypse And Greco Asian Culture

The companion to The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Roman Culture, this study explores the social world in which early Christians functioned in Asia, providing a comprehensive picture of life in this eastern province of the Roman Empire and focusing on how the local environment affects the interpretation of the book of Revelation. The history, population, local culture, economies, and cults of each city are examined in detail. Including data from hundreds of sources, this volume should prove useful to students of both the Bible and Roman history, as it bridges the gap between the two specialties and provides many details that enable the reader to imagine what life would really have been like in those ancient cities. As such, this study provides a valuable supplement to the broader question of Rome’s general impact upon the region traced in the Roman Culture volume. Although there are many works on the subject, this is the only place where all the information is pulled together. It is a useful resource for Scripture scholars, nonprofessionals with an interest in Bible study, professors and students of Scripture, and historians specializing in the first century CE.

“To understand the immediate cultural and societal background of the cities to which John wrote in Revelation 1 and 2, we must first understand the broader background of Roman civilization and its impact upon Asian province,” writes Roland H. Worth in the introduction to this fascinating, information-packed work. It is an in-depth study of the history, culture, society, economics, and environment of early Christians living in Roman Asia. Drawing on a multitude of resources from diverse disciplines, Worth surveys Roman life and attitudes in general, and demonstrates how Roman power developed and was exercised in Asia. He describes life in Roman Asia: what it was like to live in that province, how the imperial cult grew and prospered there, as well as the nature of official governmental persecution in the first century. A second book, The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Greco-Asian Culture, will fill in the details of the local background of the Christians for whom the “mini-epistles” in the book of Revelation were written.

"Trafton has produced a clear, understandable, insightful reading of the book of Revelation - not an easy task for a book that has left many readers puzzled and confused. One of the particular strengths of Trafton's commentary is his close attention to the structure of John's work and the internal connections between various passages of the book. Readers will also benefit from Trafton's identification of John's extensive indebtedness to the Hebrew Bible for much of his imagery and ideas." - Mitchell G. Reddish O.L. Walker Professor of Christian Studies and Chair, Department of Religious Studies Stetson University

Table of contents

This book is a fully stocked toolbox for anyone interested in whether we can still trust the New Testament in the twenty-first century.

Pairing depth of scholarship with contemporary application, the authors of From Pentecost to Patmos have produced a unique introductory New Testament textbook. Craig Blomberg and Darlene Seal provide the context and clarity that readers need to better understand Acts through Revelation, showcasing the historical, linguistic, and theological implications found in each book. This second edition includes expanded footnotes and a lengthier, up-to-date introduction to Paul. Newly added review questions, maps, and diagrams enhance the scholarship and make the resource truly user-friendly.

The book of Revelation stands as one of the most challenging and inspiring in the Christian canon. While giving rise to much unhelpful speculation, its core message of the active sovereignty of God in a hostile world has given courage and comfort throughout Christian history. In this volume, Amos Yong analyzes the message of Revelation to its earliest readers and speaks to its ongoing meaning for believers today. The volumes in the Belief series offer a fresh and invigorating approach to all the books of the Bible. Building on a wide range of sources from biblical studies and the Christian tradition, renowned scholars focus less on traditional historical and literary angles in favor of a theologically focused commentary that considers the contemporary relevance of the text. Why then, and why now are overarching questions asked throughout the volumes in the series.

This book argues that the throne motif constitutes the major interpretive key to the complex structure and theology of the book of Revelation. In the first part of the book, Gallusz examines the throne motif in the Old Testament, Jewish literature and Graeco-Roman sources. He moves on to devote significant attention to the throne of God texts of Revelation and particularly to the analysis of the throne-room vision (chs. 4&5), which is foundational for the development of the throne motif. Gallusz reveals how Revelation utilizes the throne motif as the central principle for conveying a theological message, since it appears as the focus of the author from the outset to the climax of the drama. The book concludes with an investigation into the rhetorical impact of the motif and its contribution to the theology of Revelation. Gallusz finally shows that the throne, what it actually represents, is of critical significance both to Revelation's theism and to God's dealing with the problem of evil in the course of human history.