Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary by I. Paul

Abstract

Reviewed by: Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary by I. Paul Izaak J. L. Connoway Paul, I. 2018. Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-0830843008. Pp. 387. $20.11. Ian Paul, a freelance theologian and adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, authored the Revelation volume for the new series of Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. This series has been the flagship of evangelical commentaries for over 60 years, and the starting point for those who want more than a one-volume commentary for Bible studies (vii). It is exegetical in focus (vii) with a homiletical aim, and while it solves no critical issues, it informs readers on major scholarly debates (viii). It has a relative lengthy Introduction (1–51) for its size, with twelve sections. In section 1, "Approaching Revelation," Paul notes that many well-known phrases were borrowed from paganism (4). He comments that Revelation has the most developed Trinitarian theology, but since its authorship was questioned early on, it was excluded from early Trinitarian debates (4). Paul ends with his fourfold approach to Revelation (5–7). In section 2, "Who was John?" (7–11), Paul observes that in antiquity John the apostle was considered to be the author and proceeds to survey views for (8–9) and against (9–11) it. In section 3, "The date of Revelation" (11–16), he acknowledges its importance for the context but gives three warnings against overemphasising this (11–13). In section 4, "The social and historical context" (16–22), Paul notes that Christians came from all strata of society and that this is important for interpreting Revelation (18). He also notes that the imperial cult was a prominent [End Page 532] feature in Asia Minor (20), that cities competed in their show of allegiance to the imperial cult (20), and that persecution might be the context of chapter two and three, although the evidence does not require this (22). Paul seeks to answer the question (section 5), "Did John actually have a vision?" (22–25). He also asks (section 6), "What kind of text is Revelation?" (25–30) and offers three challenges to arriving at a genre for Revelation (27–30) but shows that the text claims to be an apocalypse, a letter and a prophecy (30). He explores (section 7) "Reading Revelation’s imagery" (30–34) and posits that calling Revelation a "symbolic" text" is careless (30). Modern humans prefer literal descriptive language and do not realise the importance of metaphor (31–34). In section 8, "Revelation’s use of numbers" (34–39), Paul identifies, inter alia, the mathematical significance of certain shapes (36–37) and Revelation’s use of isopsephism or gematria (37–39). On "Revelation’s use of the Old Testament" (section 9, 39–41) he notes a profusion of references, at 676 allusions in only 405 verses (39). Regarding "The structure of Revelation" (section 10, 41–45), he observes four features that complicate determining the structure (41–45). On "Revelation’s main theological themes" (section 11, 45–48) Paul notes that the implicit theology contains both the Christus victor motif and an exemplary focus (46) in which atonement is not really emphasised (63). He ends with "Approaches to its interpretation" (section 12, 48–51), summarising four interpretive approaches (48–49) and four approaches to the millennium (49–50). He finds some elements from all four interpretive approaches useful (51). Some features of the commentary should be noted. After this lengthy "Introduction," Paul has an "Analysis" section (53–56) in which he argues for a structural breakdown of the fourteen main sections into which he divides the book. Each of these fourteen sections starts with its own introduction and is further broken down into subsections, most of which have a standard structure. The subsections start with a "Context" section that includes, for example, an indication of how the section relates to the OT (e.g., 71), a historical note, like the rivalry between major cities in Asia Minor (77, 83, 88), a discussion of how the seven trumpets relate (169), or a note on identifying the pivotal chapter in the book (213). Each subsection has a "Comment" section that contains the...