Revelation

This ground-breaking commentary on The Revelation to John (the Apocalypse) reveals its far-reaching influence on society and culture, and its impact on the church through the ages. Explores the far-reaching influence of the Apocalypse on society and culture. Shows the book's impact on the Christian church through the ages. Looks at interpretations of the Apocalypse by theologians, ranging from Augustine to late twentieth century liberation theologians. Considers the book's effects on writers, artists, musicians, political figures, visionaries, and others, including Dante, Hildegard of Bingen, Milton, Newton, the English Civil war radicals, Turner, Blake, Handel, and Franz Schmidt. Provides access to material not readily available elsewhere. Will appeal to students and scholars across a wide range of disciplines, as well as to general readers. More information about this series is available from the Blackwell Bible Commentaries website at http://www.bbibcomm.net/

"This volume on the Book of Revelation is a stunning achievement. Since the authors are also the editors of the overall project, it is certainly a good sign for the series as a whole." First Things "The present commentary on Revelation ... the first to be published in the series, is a full success. If you have little space on your shelves for biblical commentaries, I would advise you to throw the other commentaries out and keep this one." International Review of Biblical Studies “In giving a sense of how these biblical texts have been read and interpreted by generations of readers these commentaries succeed admirably. They will educate, illuminate, surprise, and delight.” Australian Religious Studies Review "The reader will come away with a good general sense of just how powerful this text has been in the Christian Church." Epworth Review "The reader is provided with a good range of readings, and ways in which the text has been appropriated byt he church, and in music, art and literature." Colloquium "Judith Kovacs and Christopher Rowland give us something new – an in-depth analysis that emphasizes the reception history of the Apocalypse, its significance for later theology, literature, and art. The result is an eye-opening book that will dramatically change how readers understand the last book of the Bible and its role in Western history. This is a rich and fascinating work." Bernard McGinn, Divinity School, University of Chicago "This is a rich and multifaceted commentary on Revelation that includes highlights from the whole range of the history of interpretation and reception of the work. Special attention is given to the role the book has played in art, literature and music, both within the churches and without. It should be required reading in any course on Revelation." Adela Yarbro Collins, Yale University Divinity School

Judith Kovacs is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. She is the author of a forthcoming book on the church fathers’ interpretation of 1 Corinthians. Christopher Rowland is Dean Ireland's Professor of Exegesis of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Queen's College, Oxford. His previous publications include The Open Heaven (1982), The Book of Revelation (1998), Christian Origins (revised edition, 2002) and Radical Christian Writings: A Reader (Blackwell, 2002).