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Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary
The Book of Revelation is a remarkable text. A fascinating piece of Scripture as well as an extraordinary piece of literature, its interpretation has affected our theology, art and worship, and even international politics. Yet it is widely neglected in the church and almost entirely avoided from the pulpit.
In this Tyndale Commentary, Ian Paul takes a disciplined approach to the text, paying careful attention to the ways that John draws from the Old Testament. Additionally, Paul examines how the original audience would have heard this message from John, and then draws helpful comments for contemporary reflection.
The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. TheIntroduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties.
In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
In this Tyndale Commentary, Ian Paul takes a disciplined approach to the text, paying careful attention to the ways that John draws from the Old Testament. Additionally, Paul examines how the original audience would have heard this message from John, and then draws helpful comments for contemporary reflection.
The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. TheIntroduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties.
In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 19, 2020
For me this is the straight forward, down to earth, no nonsense approach I was looking for. It is what one would expect from a mathematician, which was Ian Paul's line of study I believe before becoming a theologian. It did make me think a little of reading the book on poetry by Steven Fry, but a commentary should dissect, and dissect Ian Paul does, whilst also giving a refreshing overview of the whole, and communicating his own sense of worship and awe that the text inspires.
I am now reconciled to number significance and word counting in particular. In the past I'd encountered it more as superstition - 3 means this - (er, says who?) but here it is shown to be part of a literary language used consciously by the writer, much like the composer of the sonnet or ode is not only transported in wonder at their subject matter but mathematically works out the stanza lengths and rhyme locations to carry the content, adding extra layers to the meaning for those in the know. It seems it was a Jewish literary device to use certain words a set number of times in a text. And what a relief to find that 666 would have been quite clear to the initial hearers and was probably never intended to have the magical terror with which it has been imbued in our popular culture, at least according to this author, although the message was still a very serious warning not to be taken lightly.
I think one of the author's aims may have been to reduce the superstition and misplaced anxiety often linked with this book of the Bible (I have a vivid memory of coming in one evening to find my normally very level headed room-mate at university sitting on the edge of her bed in tears of fear having read Hal Lindsey). For me this was successful. I was struck by the repeated reminders that this work was probably intended to be comforting as well as a warning to the initial hearers, the opposite of the anxiogenic use it has been put to.
I still don't like the word eschatological and not just because it accumulates too many consonants at the front of the word which feels like having to walk barefoot over shingle before finally getting to the sea, but because of the association with all sorts of whacky theology. I think we need to start afresh with a simpler word phrase with less history and overtones, using translated not transliterated words like last, end, far or final.
As far as judgment goes he underlines God's characteristic approach to justice which he calls "lex talionis" which he defines as :"He gives to people only what they have given to others" and "God only gives to others what they deserve if they refuse the gift they do not deserve." An eminently sensible approach not matched in some more classic views of hell and judgement as defined, I discovered latterly, by Greek and Norse concepts of an afterlife torture for the wicked and as portrayed on the Medieval frieze on my beloved Lincoln Cathedral West Front with the torturer being the very one who Revelation says will be destroyed.
I found his regular references to genre helpful. Having recently watched almost all the 'making of' videos of Game of Thrones out of curiosity to see what all of the fuss was about, the great throne room setting for the large part of the action in Revelation was particularly vivid. I was happily led on a Google rabbit hole exploration about angels after his fairly brief but clear description of their role and found myself reading up about stock characters and plot devices in Greek plays (which he then gets on to, but I was inordinately satisfied to have found out for myself lol) and lo and behold there are the messengers (angels, which I would have preferred to not have been transliterated, can't have everything) and heralds (trumpets) along with letters (scrolls), and we all know about ancient Greek pottery so the bowls seem pretty logical too, all being as familiar to audiences at the time as the staff and equipment in the bar at The Queen Vic is to modern soap watchers or the language of sleuths, witnesses, clues to adepts of the murder mystery genre.
He then draws out layer after layer of allusion to the then current cultural references of Roman myths, along with a good dose of Roman Empire and Emperor cult language. Then there's the Old Testament references which come in nearly every verse, - very familiar to anyone raised in a Jewish environment, a closed book to outsiders readers and thus ideal for communicating the subversive message i.e. The Emperor isn't the real overlord, Jesus is; The Emperor can't come up with the goods on his promises, he has neither the power nor the niceness to do it, so don't be seduced into compromising with him.
That said, Ian Paul does not tie Revelation to just being a political cartoon/religious coded message against The Empire of the time but as he says in his introduction :"Although there are clear connexions made with the specific realities of Roman imperial power, the metaphorical description that John offers us provides a critique of all human imperial aspiration." (p34)
I liked his tables comparing groups of words, and the helpful summaries of what he thinks Revelation is also not saying for words and concepts like Satan, the Millennium, Beast etc etc Obviously he can't recapitulate on all the vast literature around and he has taken a particular line that not everyone will agree with but given the nature of the task I think this was always going to be inevitable. In my opinion he's made a readable book of it, that is accessible as a go to first source for the serious Bible reader and balanced jump off point to more detailed researches.
I am now reconciled to number significance and word counting in particular. In the past I'd encountered it more as superstition - 3 means this - (er, says who?) but here it is shown to be part of a literary language used consciously by the writer, much like the composer of the sonnet or ode is not only transported in wonder at their subject matter but mathematically works out the stanza lengths and rhyme locations to carry the content, adding extra layers to the meaning for those in the know. It seems it was a Jewish literary device to use certain words a set number of times in a text. And what a relief to find that 666 would have been quite clear to the initial hearers and was probably never intended to have the magical terror with which it has been imbued in our popular culture, at least according to this author, although the message was still a very serious warning not to be taken lightly.
I think one of the author's aims may have been to reduce the superstition and misplaced anxiety often linked with this book of the Bible (I have a vivid memory of coming in one evening to find my normally very level headed room-mate at university sitting on the edge of her bed in tears of fear having read Hal Lindsey). For me this was successful. I was struck by the repeated reminders that this work was probably intended to be comforting as well as a warning to the initial hearers, the opposite of the anxiogenic use it has been put to.
I still don't like the word eschatological and not just because it accumulates too many consonants at the front of the word which feels like having to walk barefoot over shingle before finally getting to the sea, but because of the association with all sorts of whacky theology. I think we need to start afresh with a simpler word phrase with less history and overtones, using translated not transliterated words like last, end, far or final.
As far as judgment goes he underlines God's characteristic approach to justice which he calls "lex talionis" which he defines as :"He gives to people only what they have given to others" and "God only gives to others what they deserve if they refuse the gift they do not deserve." An eminently sensible approach not matched in some more classic views of hell and judgement as defined, I discovered latterly, by Greek and Norse concepts of an afterlife torture for the wicked and as portrayed on the Medieval frieze on my beloved Lincoln Cathedral West Front with the torturer being the very one who Revelation says will be destroyed.
I found his regular references to genre helpful. Having recently watched almost all the 'making of' videos of Game of Thrones out of curiosity to see what all of the fuss was about, the great throne room setting for the large part of the action in Revelation was particularly vivid. I was happily led on a Google rabbit hole exploration about angels after his fairly brief but clear description of their role and found myself reading up about stock characters and plot devices in Greek plays (which he then gets on to, but I was inordinately satisfied to have found out for myself lol) and lo and behold there are the messengers (angels, which I would have preferred to not have been transliterated, can't have everything) and heralds (trumpets) along with letters (scrolls), and we all know about ancient Greek pottery so the bowls seem pretty logical too, all being as familiar to audiences at the time as the staff and equipment in the bar at The Queen Vic is to modern soap watchers or the language of sleuths, witnesses, clues to adepts of the murder mystery genre.
He then draws out layer after layer of allusion to the then current cultural references of Roman myths, along with a good dose of Roman Empire and Emperor cult language. Then there's the Old Testament references which come in nearly every verse, - very familiar to anyone raised in a Jewish environment, a closed book to outsiders readers and thus ideal for communicating the subversive message i.e. The Emperor isn't the real overlord, Jesus is; The Emperor can't come up with the goods on his promises, he has neither the power nor the niceness to do it, so don't be seduced into compromising with him.
That said, Ian Paul does not tie Revelation to just being a political cartoon/religious coded message against The Empire of the time but as he says in his introduction :"Although there are clear connexions made with the specific realities of Roman imperial power, the metaphorical description that John offers us provides a critique of all human imperial aspiration." (p34)
I liked his tables comparing groups of words, and the helpful summaries of what he thinks Revelation is also not saying for words and concepts like Satan, the Millennium, Beast etc etc Obviously he can't recapitulate on all the vast literature around and he has taken a particular line that not everyone will agree with but given the nature of the task I think this was always going to be inevitable. In my opinion he's made a readable book of it, that is accessible as a go to first source for the serious Bible reader and balanced jump off point to more detailed researches.
December 8, 2022
This commentary makes Revelation, a book that causes fear and confusion for many Christians, accessible, clear, and approachable. Ian Paul does an excellent job of breaking down imagery in its original context, shining light on the masterful work that the book is.
September 28, 2018
Readable and succinct. These are words that are not usually spoken of in regard to commentaries on Revelation. Yet this new commentary by Ian Paul is just that extremely readable and very succinct. It is not that this commentary is short in any way (370 pages) but it proves his conclusions.
This commentary is part of a sweeping revision of the Tyndale New Testament Commentary which saw the stalwart Leon Morris commentary retired to have Paul’s commentary take it’s place. Although while this work is new it still follows the typical sections of context, comment and theology.
With regard to introductory matters Paul takes are more traditional approach to the the dating of the work followed which aids in a more conservative approach to his conclusions. Sadly some of the other conclusions he has drawn are less traditional. For instance with regard to his interruption of Revelation 20, Paul rejects the traditional amillennial view of the millennial in favor of connecting Revelation 20 to Revelation 12 holding more of a partial-preterist view rather than other traditional views.
In the end this is worth while read of a commentary with good exegesis, abet some odd conclusions, while adding to the discussion of Revelation scholarship. This commentary is a good choice for pastors and Bible study leaders as an introduction to the study of the book of Revelation.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
This commentary is part of a sweeping revision of the Tyndale New Testament Commentary which saw the stalwart Leon Morris commentary retired to have Paul’s commentary take it’s place. Although while this work is new it still follows the typical sections of context, comment and theology.
With regard to introductory matters Paul takes are more traditional approach to the the dating of the work followed which aids in a more conservative approach to his conclusions. Sadly some of the other conclusions he has drawn are less traditional. For instance with regard to his interruption of Revelation 20, Paul rejects the traditional amillennial view of the millennial in favor of connecting Revelation 20 to Revelation 12 holding more of a partial-preterist view rather than other traditional views.
In the end this is worth while read of a commentary with good exegesis, abet some odd conclusions, while adding to the discussion of Revelation scholarship. This commentary is a good choice for pastors and Bible study leaders as an introduction to the study of the book of Revelation.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
September 26, 2021
A revelation!
What a clear, balanced, well-researched and engaging work. It does not answer every question or deal with every difficulty ( it would be amazing if it did) but for a relatively short work it covers the material in detail and picks up the Old Testament and contemporary allusions most helpfully. And it does not get sidelined from the heart of the message, the ‘Theology’ sections ensuring a rootedness in life now.
What a clear, balanced, well-researched and engaging work. It does not answer every question or deal with every difficulty ( it would be amazing if it did) but for a relatively short work it covers the material in detail and picks up the Old Testament and contemporary allusions most helpfully. And it does not get sidelined from the heart of the message, the ‘Theology’ sections ensuring a rootedness in life now.
January 18, 2022
Reading it alongside translating Revelation form Greek to French, and I loved it!
As the Tyndall series, this book is really straight and accessible for preachers. Ian Paul balance amazingly between the historical context (Greco-Roman) and the Jewish scripture, giving a wonderful picture of the book!
For only les than 300 pages, it is worth it to read it for an introduction to Revelation!
As the Tyndall series, this book is really straight and accessible for preachers. Ian Paul balance amazingly between the historical context (Greco-Roman) and the Jewish scripture, giving a wonderful picture of the book!
For only les than 300 pages, it is worth it to read it for an introduction to Revelation!
May 15, 2023
An amazing commentary through an Amillenial and idealistic reading through Revelation. Great articulation of very complex imagery. His explanations are concise but also very helpful with connections to Old Testament imagery as well as Greco-Roman influences in the world of John and his vision. Very well done.
March 23, 2021
A fantastic commentary, readable and exciting cover to cover. Paul draws out in lucid prose the significance of John's text for his own time and ours.
May 28, 2022
An exceptionally good commentary. Succinct and clear. The “theology” portions at the end of section are helpful.
October 27, 2022
If you have to read a commentary on Revelation, this is a good one. Sane as well...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews