Abstract
This volume contains 13 essays on the reception of the book of Revelation in the early church with particular emphasis on images of violence. Luca Arcari begins, with a discussion of early Jewish background of war scenes, and is followed by Tobias Nicklas’s engagement with Charles Hill on the second-century reception of the Apocalypse. Ilaria Ramelli then explores Origen’s interpretation of violence, while Andreas Merkt compares the use and function of language of violence in visions, illustrated from the work Passio Perpetuae. Chapters 5 and 6 find Konrad Huber and Martin Hasitschka investigating different aspects of the interpretation of Victorinus of Pettau, and are followed by Jan Dochhorn on Lactantius, and Christopher Rowland and Ian Boxall’s analysis of Tyconius and Bede. Interpretations from the East include Pieter de Villiers’ study of the sixth-century Commentary of Eocumenius, together with Eugenia Constantinou’s reflection on the work of Andrew of Caesarea. Harald Buchinger presents an analysis of the apocalypse in Christian worship (in liturgy and iconography), while Julia Wannenmacher reflects upon apocalyptic literature and Joachim of Fiore. Finally, Stefan Alkier presents a methodological essay on reading the Apocalypse intertextually.
This is a stimulating work, engaging with those ‘uncomfortable’ violent texts in the Apocalypse, and detailing the reception of the work in later commentaries and in liturgy and art. The later reflections, from both East and West, are insightful, and the authors combine exegetical analysis with the critical importance of locating works within their social and political contexts (particularly where these involve various crises). Highly recommended.