Content

This unit explores the literary context and socio-political location of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the seer John. Exegesis of selected passages leads into a study of themes in the text such as Christology, eschatology, discipleship, mission and prophetic witness. The influence on the text of OT traditions, Roman Imperial propaganda, Greco-Roman theatre and iconography will also be explored, together with an overview of the history of interpretation of Revelation.

Unit code: BN9042W

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Apply a range of exegetical methods to the text of Revelation and demonstrate this in forum discussions and in the writing of interpretive essays;

2.

Describe the character and development of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature and its relationship to prophetic literature;

3.

Analyse and describe the theology of the book of Revelation (Christology, eschatology, ecclesiology, missiology); and some of the ways this has been interpreted since;

4.

Give a coherent account of the most plausible social and political settings for the book of Revelation; and

5.

Show an awareness of the relationship between context, method and the interpretation of Revelation.

Unit sequence

Prerequisite units:
Foundation units in NT and in OT

Pedagogy

Face-to-face lectures and discussions, seminar presentations.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bauckham, R. The climax of prophecy: Studies on the book of Revelation. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1993.
  • Fiorenza, E. S. Revelation: Vision of a just world. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.
  • Friesen, Steven J. Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins. Oxford/New York: OUP, 2001.
  • Gorman, Michael J. Reading Revelation Responsibly. Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation. Eugene: Cascade, 2011.
  • Hays, Richard B and Stefan Alkier (eds). Revelation and the Politics of Apocalyptic Interpretation. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2012.
  • Howard-Brook, W. & Gwyther, A. Unveiling Empire. Reading Revelation Then and Now. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1999.
  • Huber, Lynn R. Thinking and Seeing with Women in Revelation. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2013.
  • Kovacs, Judith, and Christopher Rowland. Revelation. Blackwell Biblical Commentaries. Oxford: Blackwell, 2004.
  • Levine, Amy-Jill (ed). A Feminist Companion to the Apocalypse of John. London: T&T Clark, 2009.
  • Walliss, John and Lee Quincy (eds.). Reel Revelations: Apocalypse and Film. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2010.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Critical Review

Critical review of readings

2000 25.0
Seminar or Tutorial

Thematic seminar paper

2000 25.0
Exegetical Essay

Exegetical essay

4000 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 8 Oct, 2020

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:49 +1000