Die dilemma van die literere vorm van Openbaring 2 en 3

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the still unsatisfactorily addressed problem of the literary form of Revelation 2 and 3. In this article formula­tions and elements in the Old Testament prophecies (as pointed out by Aune, 1983) as well as the proposed definition of apocalyptic genre by Aune (1986) are applied. In this article Aune’s definition of apocalyptic literature, as applied by him to Revelation in totality, is applied specifically to Revelation 2 and 3. At the same time the findings of Aune (1990) that the seven pericopae have the form of royal edicts, as well as the conclusion of Shea (1983) that these messages have a covenantal form, are evaluated. The conclusion arrived at in this study points to the following: formally these seven messages are prophetic apocalypses as well as royal edicts. They display neither the form of epistles nor of Hittite vassals. As far as their content is concerned, they have a prophetic character which corres­ponds to the Old Testament prophecies. Each message in Revelation 2 and 3 functions as a book of comfort, conveys the idea of Christ as King, and states the promises of God to the seven churches. The messages in Re­velation 2 and 3 do not represent a single typical literary form of antiquity: it rather displays a combination of literary forms - and this should be taken into account in the interpretation of Revelation 2 and 3.