The Book of Revelation: Evil, Empire, and Eschatology (BN3130P)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

The Book of Revelation is a highly symbolic, political, and justice-oriented text that speaks to a range of ancient and contemporary issues. This unit offers a close exegetical study of the Revelation in its historical and political setting. Particular attention will be given to the visual context of Revelation, noting how the author of Revelation utilizes and critiques ancient statuary, visual rhetoric and imperial iconography to expose evil and offer an alternate vision of God’s reign. A Greek tutorial stream will be provided for students with Greek.

Unit code: BN3130P

Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: New Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Summarize the characteristics of Judeo-Christian apocalyptic literature with particular reference to Revelation
2.

Identify and describe the main theological motifs in Revelation
3.

Describe the socio-political setting of Revelation and the use of images in promoting political and religious ideology
4.

Apply exegetical tools to critically interpret Revelation

5.

Apply research skills to articulate and evaluate theological themes in Revelation and their relevance for the contemporary church and/or world

Unit sequence

At least 2 units (30 points) of biblical studies or permission of the lecturer

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, discussion, visual images, weekly online forums

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bauckham, Richard, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (Cambridge: CUP, 1993).
  • Carey, Greg, Ultimate Things: An Introduction to Jewish and Christian Apocalyptic Literature (St Louis: Chalice Press, 2005).
  • deSilva, David, Seeing Things John’s Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009).
  • Fiorenza, Elizabeth Schüssler, Revelation. Vision of a just world (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991).
  • Friesen, Steven J. Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins (Oxford; OUP, 2001).
  • Howard-Brook, Wes & Gwyther, Anthony 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).
  • Koester, Craig. Revelation: A New Translation and Commentary (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2014).
  • Levine, Amy-Jill, (ed.) A Feminist Companion to the Apocalypse of John (London: T. & T. Clarke, 2009).
  • Maier, Harry, Apocalypse Recalled: The Book of Revelation after Christendom (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002).
  • Thompson, L. L. The book of Revelation. Apocalypse and Empire (NY/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990).

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Forum - Tutorial presentation

Tutorial presentation / Participation & leading discussion

 1000 20.0
Exegetical Essay - Exegesis

Exegetical Essay

 1500 40.0
Essay - Thematic Essay

Thematic Essay

2000 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 19 Jul, 2021

Unit record last updated: 2021-07-19 15:14:54 +1000