The Revelation of John, Volume 2: Revised Edition: Chapters 6-22

New Daily Study Bible

by William Barclay, John C. L. Gibson (Editor)

In The Revelation of John, noted Scottish Bible interpreter William Barclay follows the formula of the Daily Study Bible by first giving the text of the day's study in his own translation, followed by two or three pages of commentary.

Genres: Reference, Christian, Religion, New Testament, Biblical Studies, Scripture, Christianity

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

WIlliam Barclay was a Scottish author, radio and television presenter, Church of Scotland minister, and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. He wrote a popular set of Bible commentaries on the New Testament that sold 1.5 million copies.

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a real fan of William Barclay's commentaries on the New Testament books. This look at Revelations is superb because of all the necessary context for this apocalyptic novel. We've lost the understanding of the genre and Barclay puts us on solid ground to get the most out of it.

In general, Barclay is a gold mine of information about the original meaning of Greek and Hebrew words (books use his own translations) and customs. Also, his reflections on everyday life and faith are usually very inspiring and he tells many a story that has one reflecting about one's own life.

However, I have to always include this caveat when mentioning William Barclay ... his theology can be very wonky if you are Catholic. For example, his commentary on the gospels with nativity stories include a number of reasons Jesus' virgin birth didn't necessarily have to be virgin. Sorry. That's really nonnegotiable. He also often includes pointed commentary about why Roman Catholic teachings are wrong. So there's that ...

But if one reads with a knowledgeable eye, Barclay's work is really wonderful.

NOTE: the recently revised versions (1990s and beyond) have been heavily edited to be more politically correct. I'm not sure what that has done to Barclay's original work so I just go with the second revision, done under Barclay's eye. I'm not so thin skinned that I can't stand a little old fashionedness.

[Glenn Hopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this at the same time I read N.T. Wright’s more recent volume on Revelation (as background for a Bible study I attend). The formats are similar (a hunk of verses and then commentary), and though Barclay is sometimes seen as a liberal and Wright often as a conservative, these two writers did not differ on much of anything. Barclay (who gives the book two volumes) often sets forth numerous views of this or that passage before giving his own, a practice Wright mostly shuns. Barclay is much better at giving historical background and better at the devotional applications. To me, Barclay’s tone is more approachable, learned but friendly, though I can see how others would claim that for Wright. I read the so-called “revised edition,” which Barclay himself did in the 1970s and now is hard to find. The subsequent revisions done by the publisher supply the first names for some of his allusions, put in gender-neutral phrasing, and (based on informal comparisons with others who had the newest revision) simplify the vocabulary. Perhaps this is an improvement, but it sort of sounds like what has been done to the Hardy Boys novels over the years.

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 1 was good but not great, and Part 2 has been a bit bland. Through the Bema podcast, I’ve become aware that the book of revelation is a remarkable text, speaking to Greek as well as Jewish cultural ideas in relation to the scourge of Babylon/Rome, which was the speciality of Barclay. Yet he seemed to me to miss out on some of the historical context which is a strength of his in most of his New Testament writing. As I mentioned in the review on part 1, it may be that more recent archaeology has brought to light much more than he had available in the 1960s. I also wonder whether his attempts to keep it simple – the commentaries are not intended for academics – was overly simplistic. None-the-less, I am glad to have worked my way through Revelation with Barclay’s commentary as it provided a steady pacing of the content with a general explanation of the text.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly agreed with him on theology. Great reading for word studies

[Lisa Pence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little difficult to follow but full of historical facts.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barclay's thorough analysis of Revelation takes you to every Hebrew Testament and even apocryphal reference of the book. He includes Babylonian Zodiac references and historical context at such levels of detail that the symbolism becomes much clearer and the image of John of Patmos writing this revelation is clear, as well. Here are two of my favorite exegeses:

"At the same time, this is not the way of love which Jesus taught. When the American President Abraham Lincoln was told that he was too lenient with his opponents and that his duty was to destroy his enemies, he answered: 'Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?' The real Christian attitude is to seek to destroy enmity not by force but by the power of that love which won the victory of the cross."

"It has a background which is essentially Greek. One of the great contributions to the world's philosophical thought was Plato's doctrine of ideas or forms. He taught that in the invisible world there existed the perfect form or idea of everything upon earth, and that all things on earth were imperfect copies of the heavenly realities. If that is so, there is a heavenly Jerusalem that is above (Galatians 4:26); and that is also what is in the mind of the writer to the Hebrews when he speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) ... This idea of pre-existing forms may seem strange. But behind it is the great truth that the ideal actually exists. It has the added meaning that God is the source of all ideals. The ideal is a challenge, which, even if it is not worked out in this world, can still be worked out in the world to come."

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Barclay's commentaries almost always feel like you are sitting with a cup of tea and having conversation with Barclay as he explains the way he sees things. I LOVE that. I've read many of his commentaries. The Revelation commentary took me the longest to finish because it is not only intense, but also full of thoughts and wisdom with great things to apply to daily life. I began reading the Revelation commentary last summer (2014) in preparation for this year's study of Revelation in Bible Study Fellowship International. I am so glad that I read this before class!

Barclay's insights into the book of Revelation were very helpful to me. I have never read Revelation all the way through because of what I've heard about how hard it is to understand. Barclay sheds light on John the writer by giving historical perspective to the narrative of Revelation. The historical information on the seven churches who received special, personalized letters from John helped to make sense of the messages that were in the letters.

Barclay helps the reader understand the political climate of John's day, which leads to better understanding of the imagery and symbolism in Chapters 8 and onward of Revelation.

Barclay also draws upon his knowledge of the Bible and specific imagery used by Jewish writers in the Old Testament to help the reader understand the fantastical visions John recorded.

If you are looking for something to help you understand Revelation without having to take a seminary course, read Barclay's "The Revelation of John".

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barclay's commentary is a good middle of the road explanation of Revelation, following a roughly spiritual approach to the book. He does not make a whole lot of the various types of interpretations, however.

Barclay's strength is in describing the parallels with other books of the Bible along with Jewish apocryphal literature. It is full of such quotations throughout. As is consistent with such a focus, application takes a back seat to ascertaining meaning in OT/NT/apocryphal context.

Good to read in concert with other resources.

[Barb Ekman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The two volumes describe the symbolism of the theme for each chapter. I gained valuable information about how the Old Testament prophecies correlated with the book of Revelation. I was reminded that it is just fine if do not fully understand everything. I am more educated on the parrallelism of Revelation, Ezekiel, Daniel, and other books of the Bible. Ultimately, Jesus Christ has the full authority given to Him by God the Father to reveal the mysteries of the Bible in the right time. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit in which I can understand scripture.

[Cws]

228.07

[RE College Lending Library]

We have 2

[John Wadovick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revelation is a difficult book of the Bible to read. Barclay helps provide insights and context to the writing that provides you a glimpse into the mind of John as he wrote Revelation.

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler alert: "It is surely symbolic, and it is surely fitting, that the last word of the Bible should be GRACE." Amen.

[Kimberly Olson Sutor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study of Revelation.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just completed 2nd volume in conjunction w/Bible Study. Excellent reference.