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Revelation
"Roloff has produced an intrepretation of the Revelation of John that can be certain to gain the special interest of theologians because of his . . . emphasis on the Christological starting-point of Revelation and the perspective that this discloses for the Christian community."
-- Hans-Friedrich Weiss
"In this commentary, one catches the Revelator's vision of eternity ablaze with promise and expectation of accountability in the bleakness of the present. May this book find many who are willing to dialog with the Revelator."
-- Frederick Danker
-- Hans-Friedrich Weiss
"In this commentary, one catches the Revelator's vision of eternity ablaze with promise and expectation of accountability in the bleakness of the present. May this book find many who are willing to dialog with the Revelator."
-- Frederick Danker
- GenresNew Testament
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 4, 2018
A serviceable commentary on the Revelation of John.
The author does well at going through and providing Biblical context for all of the imagery used in Revelation; he is very familiar with apocalyptic primary sources. The author also does well to recognize Revelation is not necessarily linear in progression.
Yet, as a continental commentary, the author is very much of continental European ways of looking at the text, and thus sees a much later author putting together different strands of traditions; this is the way he attempts to resolve some of the thornier issues in interpretation. Meh.
Not necessarily the first commentary I'd recommend on Revelation, but some good thoughts within it.
The author does well at going through and providing Biblical context for all of the imagery used in Revelation; he is very familiar with apocalyptic primary sources. The author also does well to recognize Revelation is not necessarily linear in progression.
Yet, as a continental commentary, the author is very much of continental European ways of looking at the text, and thus sees a much later author putting together different strands of traditions; this is the way he attempts to resolve some of the thornier issues in interpretation. Meh.
Not necessarily the first commentary I'd recommend on Revelation, but some good thoughts within it.
June 9, 2015
A volume in the Continental Commentary. Roloff has done an excellent job of summarizing the historical factors behind the symbols and images in Revelation, explaining how every one of them fits the current situation of the young Christian community in the precarious Roman environment of growing pressure in Asia Minor to publicly participate in Emperor Worship. The Emperor Worship cult was the most active in this province.
The English translation for the German of this Swiss Reformed scholar is smoothly handled, with helpful indications of the German chosen to represent the particular Greek word or concept. The Greek vocabulary is presented in the discussions, enabling the reader to understand the original concerns and expression of the Revelator.
Although he takes the more sound thematic approach, rather than an analytical approach, Roloff follows a standard classic exegesis format, providing a summary of main points of each focal passage as he goes. He then provides a brief commentary of the passage as a whole, before analyzing the passage point by point. He provides a very competent and thorough thematic analysis, enabling the reader to see the connection and interaction of the various and multi-focal images the Revelator uses.
The author traces themes, images and concerns of the Revelation drama, even specific phrasing, back to Jewish-Christian sources, and distinguishes these influences from the Gentile Christian influences in the mixed cultural setting of Asia Minor. This work helps us understand the interplay of the Old Testament apocalyptic visions adapted by the Revelator.
Roloff provides the first detailed comparison I have seen of the partial borrowings, and discusses changes John makes in some visions and instances where the writer combines two or more scenes or visions.
He spends meaningful time on the possible influences and themes from non-canonical, but very popular, literature of Jewish apocalyptic of that time. His careful and prolific referencing to chapter and verse of these common sources clarifies the broader Jewish context of the Revelation and its message, and provides some insight into the prominent Jewish composition of the churches of Roman Asia.
Each section ends with suggestions for application of the meaning in our time and sociopolitical setting. He deftly shows how Emperor-worship finds its modern contemporary in the modified political structures of western governments and nationalism that equates God with country or nationality.
Roloff maintains the integrity of the text, rightly rejecting the modern popular-culture "Rapture" cult of prediction and linear end-time scenario. A refreshing benefit of this thorough contextual exegesis is to illustrate how out of touch modern millennial theory is with the book of Revelation in its own proper historical and cultural context and format.
Roloff brings the Revelation into its own again in its original integrity and power. This prodigious yet readable work brings the Revelation to vibrant life and enables its message to speak anew to our time.
The English translation for the German of this Swiss Reformed scholar is smoothly handled, with helpful indications of the German chosen to represent the particular Greek word or concept. The Greek vocabulary is presented in the discussions, enabling the reader to understand the original concerns and expression of the Revelator.
Although he takes the more sound thematic approach, rather than an analytical approach, Roloff follows a standard classic exegesis format, providing a summary of main points of each focal passage as he goes. He then provides a brief commentary of the passage as a whole, before analyzing the passage point by point. He provides a very competent and thorough thematic analysis, enabling the reader to see the connection and interaction of the various and multi-focal images the Revelator uses.
The author traces themes, images and concerns of the Revelation drama, even specific phrasing, back to Jewish-Christian sources, and distinguishes these influences from the Gentile Christian influences in the mixed cultural setting of Asia Minor. This work helps us understand the interplay of the Old Testament apocalyptic visions adapted by the Revelator.
Roloff provides the first detailed comparison I have seen of the partial borrowings, and discusses changes John makes in some visions and instances where the writer combines two or more scenes or visions.
He spends meaningful time on the possible influences and themes from non-canonical, but very popular, literature of Jewish apocalyptic of that time. His careful and prolific referencing to chapter and verse of these common sources clarifies the broader Jewish context of the Revelation and its message, and provides some insight into the prominent Jewish composition of the churches of Roman Asia.
Each section ends with suggestions for application of the meaning in our time and sociopolitical setting. He deftly shows how Emperor-worship finds its modern contemporary in the modified political structures of western governments and nationalism that equates God with country or nationality.
Roloff maintains the integrity of the text, rightly rejecting the modern popular-culture "Rapture" cult of prediction and linear end-time scenario. A refreshing benefit of this thorough contextual exegesis is to illustrate how out of touch modern millennial theory is with the book of Revelation in its own proper historical and cultural context and format.
Roloff brings the Revelation into its own again in its original integrity and power. This prodigious yet readable work brings the Revelation to vibrant life and enables its message to speak anew to our time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews