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Revelation (New Cambridge Bible Commentary)

by Ben Witherington III (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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This book is the first of its kind: an innovative socio-rhetorical commentary on the Book of Revelation. Without sacrificing scholarly perspective or academic rigor, it is written to be accessible for a wide audience--including pastors, scholars, teachers, seminarians, and interested lay people. A "Suggested Reading List"--a feature of all volumes in the New Cambridge Bible Commentary--will serve as point of entry for the new serious student of Revelation and as a helpful annotated bibliography for all readers. Frequent "Closer-Look" sections examine key elements of the Roman-Greco world that bear on the text's meaning while "Bridging the Horizons" sub-chapters connect this world with the cultural, political, and religious environments of today. The entire NRSV translation is provided throughout the text as a convenience to the reader. Award-winning author Ben Witherington III brings a New Testament scholar's insight to the often opaque passages of the last book of the New Testament.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0521000688
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0521000680
  3. Publisher
    Cambridge University Press
  4. Publication date
    September 15, 2003
  5. Part of series
    New Cambridge Bible Commentary
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.98 x 0.82 x 8.98 inches
  8. Print length
    326 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Witherington has such felicitious turns of phrase and a manner of writing that makes reading such dense material delightful. I would especially recommend this book for faculty in the humanities who wish to learn about the Book of Revelation without getting bogged down in the usual inside exchange among biblical scholars; that sort of exclusive conversation does not happen in the text for its notes. I would also recommend this book to the biblical scholar who still thinks that the historical critical method is the only real tool at our disposal; W. has convincingly demonstrated that socio-rhetorical criticism can meaningfully enhance the findings of historical criticism (and, so, yes, Witherington has also shown that historical criticism is still the most fundamental tool in the box)." --Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"Written by a prolific evangelical scholar, this is a solid commentary on the New Testament's most enigmatic book. Witherington brings to this work his characteristic emphasis on the social context and literary stucture of the book in question. His extensive introduction is particularly helpful because it traces the history of interpretation of Revelation and charts where recent writings on the book stand. Along the way, the commentary is enhanced with explanations in bold print that take up particular historical issues or problems of interpretation." The Bible Today

"this commentary would serve as a useful introduction to one of the most complex books of the Bible. It is especially helpful for dealing with the practical value of the Apocalypse for the modern day. However, its brevity would demand that the preacher/teacher consult more extensive commentaries such as those of Osborne or Beale." - Mark D. Owens, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Witherington offers a 'socio-rhetorical' approach, but does this by rooting Revelation in the first century. The commentary offers suggested reading early on, and this gives a good overview of scholarship on Revelation. Witherington appears to be in touch with the major streams of thinking in the areas noted above, and his commentary is impressively concise." --Ian Paul, The Expository Times

"...introduces the reader to recent mainstream, sound research on Revelation, it fruitfully engages in debate with questionable literalist readings, it opens the eyes for Revelation as a book of the first century, it applies responsible hermeneutical strategies, and, finally, it also assists readers who are interested in more contemporary application of its material." --Pieter G.R. de Villiers, University of the Free State: Neotestamentica

"Ben Witherington has written a well-informed commentary on John's Apocalypse that will aid undergraduates and other adult learners in exploring the texts in its ancient context...this commentary does a fine job of explicating a difficult biblical book in a way that is accessible to the intended audience." --Vincent Skemp, The College of St Catherine: The Catholic Bible Quarterly

Book Description

This book is a socio-rhetorical commentary on Revelation, with a suggested reading list and entire NRSV translation.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press (September 15, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521000688
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521000680
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.98 x 0.82 x 8.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the author

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Ben Witherington

Ben Witherington

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Bible scholar Ben Witherington is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. He is now considered one of the top evangelical scholars in the world, and is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies.

Witherington has also taught at Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell. A popular lecturer, Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings not only in the United States but also in England, Estonia, Russia, Europe, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. He has also led tours to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

Witherington has written over thirty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. He also writes for many church and scholarly publications, and is a frequent contributor to the Beliefnet website.

Along with many interviews on radio networks across the country, Witherington has been seen on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

EEG
5.0 out of 5 stars A Revelation of The Revelation
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2012
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Professor Ben Witherington III has produced a thoroughly researched commentary on the Apocalypse (or Revelation) of John. It is well annotated with textual footnotes, which I prefer to having to flip back and forth to notes at the back of the book. The author uses sources creatively. Some reviewers have suggested that the book is suitable for use by scholars, pastors, students and laypeople. This is generally true, although the level of difficulty of vocabulary and concepts will be exceptionally challenging for some. The book contains an exceptional wealth of background information about the conditions that existed in Rome and the Roman province of Asia in the period preceding and that which was contempory with that of the people who were the original hearers of the Apocalypse. Witherington further documents the hundreds of direct and blended allusions that John made to the Jewish writings of the Old Testament and the inter-testamental period, to the New Testament, and to a wide range of classical literature, rhetoric, and mythology. Interpretation is responsibly handled with sensitivity to the organizational properties manifested in John's structure of the text. Readers will be disappointed if they expect to find here sensationalistic interpretations of links between The Revelation to contemporary events. Instead, it offers a nuanced treatment of future events, identifying what has already taken place, what is yet to come and of instances when John intentionally presents some events more than once in order to elaborate on them from another angle. Thus the presentation of events by John is not invariably sequential. Those will be blessed who read and understand the book's message.
9 people found this helpful
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JJS
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Commentary
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2008
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This is probably the best all-around commentary on Revelation that I have read. I am a college student and have only read a handful, but this particular one was required for a course and it was one of my favorites to read. Witherington opens up so clearly and well what is happening in the book of Revelation based on historical and social situations of the time in which it was written. This is not an overly large commentary and is quite easy to read. Another nice feature is that after the verse-by-verse commentary of each chapter, he has little break-out sidenotes to explain in a little more basic language what this all means for us today. He also quotes from Eugene Peterson's "Reversed Thunder" commentary on Revelation, so if you have read and enjoyed that book, or any other by Peterson, you will most likely enjoy this commentary by Witherington as well.
5 people found this helpful
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Michael Glidden
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Insight
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2013
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The author brings the environment Revelation was written in alive. He provides good insight for any serious student of this book. He validates ancient texts that are not canonized but were highly valued by early Christianity and were quoted in scripture such as the Books of Enoch.

He approaches the subject with single mindedness set in his determination to explain how the book of Revelation was received by those who were contemporary with its composition.

However I find that the author fails to explore some of the more subtle symbolisms that make the book relevant for all generations. Some of his conclusions are typical main stream Christian interpretation such as a majority would agree on even today. However in my studies I have come to agree with the old saying that "truth is often a very lonely thing." There is a deeper meaning to all the scriptures of the Bible. There is a surface, relevant to its day, reality and there is a sublime message that tells a great, more epic story than the surface reveals. I was disappointed that the author stood on this cusp and did not indulge as if perhaps he understood such but was reluctant to investigate to the common reader such that would have surely brought controversy to his authorship.

But as it is the book is a sound, sturdy authority on a book that is highly misunderstood by Christianity today even as Christianity leans on its teaching for its hope.

I would recommend this work to anyone who indulges in the study of the Bible.
5 people found this helpful
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IndySez
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read... Great book.
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2019
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Wonderful book. Explains Revelation verse by verse with scholarly reference to the Old Testament. Required for my ministry degree.
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David G Muller Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars Introduction is the Best Part
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2011
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There are dozens of commentaries on Revelation, and this is at least as helpful as any other. What prompted my purchase, however, was the extensive introduction, which includes much more than the usual background information. The only shortfall in it was a lack of detail on the debates over whether to include Revelation in the NT canon, but still, it's very good.
One person found this helpful
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Marianna Johnston
5.0 out of 5 stars Biblical Studies teacher nourishing
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2014
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BWIII does his homework -- head and heart.
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P Bliss
4.0 out of 5 stars What a great book. I put all of Dr
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2014
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I recently read Dr. Witherington's book What's in the Word: Rethinking the Socio-Rherotical Character of the New Testament. I downloaded it free on the Logos App for iPad. I was hooked. What a great book. I put all of Dr. Witherington's commentaries on my "must have" list. I discovered that I already have his commentary on 1Corinthians. I use it with renewed interest. Although I really like this commentary on Revelation I was disappointed that he didn't have a little more detail, especially in the section on the seven letters to the seven churches in Asia. I really thought he did not take the time to plum the depths of that section. However I do like the book. I felt that he did a good job connecting the sections and helping the reader see Revelation through the eyes of the first century reader in one of the seven churches. His commentaries are still on my "must have" list.
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Top reviews from other countries

JR
5.0 out of 5 stars Chapter and verse commentary
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2018
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Very thorough exegesis and social commentary. Good background and context for application. Ben Eitherington never disappoints.
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Tristan Sherwin
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2022
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I don’t often read through commentaries. Like many (I think), I often hop in and out for referencing purposes. But with the nature of Revelation, I thought it best to go from cover to cover.

Witherington’s social-rhetorical analysis of Revelation is an excellent resource, offering plenty of historical and cultural insight and stimulating plenty of thought. It’s also greatly increased the number of books added to my must-read list.
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Tristan Sherwin
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2022
I don’t often read through commentaries. Like many (I think), I often hop in and out for referencing purposes. But with the nature of Revelation, I thought it best to go from cover to cover.

Witherington’s social-rhetorical analysis of Revelation is an excellent resource, offering plenty of historical and cultural insight and stimulating plenty of thought. It’s also greatly increased the number of books added to my must-read list.
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Jimmy McPartland
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2017
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Excellent
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