APOCALYPSE OF JOHN:  RESERVE COMMENTARIES

The following commentaries are recommended not only for use in the final paper / project, but for our work throughout the term.

Aune, David E. Revelation. 3 vols. Word Biblical Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997-1998.
        This massive commentary is the place to go for detailed grammatical, textual, and historical information,
        though I disagree with Aune's basic argument regarding different editions and literary layers in Revelation.

Blount, Brian. Revelation. The New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
        Blount focuses on Revelation as John's call to the churches to "self-identify" in a culture where doing
        so would bring danger. A solid commentary that keeps an eye on what it would mean to live out this call.

Boring, M. Eugene. Revelation. Interpretation Commentary. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1989.
        (In the REFERENCE section). This commentary is especially good at connecting solid historical exegesis
        with its implications for preaching and teaching.

Caird, G. B. The Revelation of St. John the Divine. Harper’s New Testament Commentaries. New York:
        Harper & Row, 1966.
        A classic from a previous generation by one of the great NT exegetes and theologians.

Fiorenza, Elisabeth Schüssler. Revelation. Vision of a Just World. Proclamation Commentaries. Minneapolis:
        Fortress, 1991.
        From a deeply influential scholar, this commentary focuses attention on the theological
        and ethical implications of Revelation.

Krodel, Gerhard. Revelation. Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1989.
        A commentary from a fine Lutheran scholar.

Murphy, Frederick J. Fallen Is Babylon. The Revelation to John. The New Testament in Context. Valley Forge:
        Trinity Press International, 1998.
        This commentary is especially good at setting Revelation within the context of first century culture, politics,
        religion, and economics.

Richard, Pablo. Apocalypse. A People’s Commentary on the Book of Revelation. Maryknoll, NY:
        Orbis, 1995.
        This commentary stands (helpfully, and unlike the other commentaries on this list) outside the
        stream of North American / Northern European biblical scholarship. Pablo's commentary focuses
        on how this text speaks to and empowers those who suffer oppression, especially the church in Latin America.

Smith, Robert. Apocalypse. A Commentary on the Book of Revelation in Words and Images. Collegeville, Minn.:
        Liturgical Press, 2000.
        This commentary includes, and comments on, the 1498 series of woodcuts by Albrecht Durer
        illustrating Revelation.

Talbert, Charles. The Apocalypse: A Reading of the Revelation of John. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1994.
        This commentary is especially helpful in looking at Revelation in a literary, narrative way.

Witherington, Ben III. Revelation. The New Cambridge Bible Commentary. University of Cambridge, 2003.
        This commentary manages to pay attention both to the social-cultural setting of these 1st century
        churches, and to the message of the book for the church today.

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