Abstract
This article examines how the use of libation imagery, such as bowls (phialai) and wine, in the Book of Revelation to showcase the ways in which early Christians negotiated the language of sacrifice into their own praxis. As opposed to embracing libation imagery, as occurs in other New Testament texts (e.g., Luke’s cup in 22:20; Philippians 2:17), Revelation uses such imagery to point to wrong religious practice. Libation practice is used as a metaphor for God’s wrath (e.g., “wine poured … unmixed into the cup of [God’s] anger” in Revelation 14:10); the libations that are poured out in the vision of the Bowls of Wrath, in chapter 16, pour out plagues. The implications of this judgmental imagery for early Christian hearers of this text in Asia Minor, and for their own meal practices, are significant. I argue that the edicts against the Thyatirans and the Pergamians in the letters of Revelation refer to their use of wine in Eucharistic practice—a practice which John condemns.
Highlights
Revelation uses wine and libation imagery to condemn its enemies in a way that is surprising given the dominance of wine in early Christian meal ritual
This paper examines how the Book of Revelation repurposes libation imagery as a means to critique what its author perceives as wrong ritual practice
The verb “pour out”, ἐκχέω, is not the most common term for a libation poured out, which is σπένδω, but does agree with other New Testament texts that discuss the sacrificial pouring out, for instance Luke 22:20 and Matthew 26:28.16 ἐκχέω is used in texts outside the New Testament, with wine and other libation liquids
Summary
Revelation uses wine and libation imagery to condemn its enemies in a way that is surprising given the dominance of wine in early Christian meal ritual. This paper examines how the Book of Revelation repurposes libation imagery as a means to critique what its author perceives as wrong ritual practice. Christian meal meal practice practice as aas way awith way of constructing of constructing These verses, appearing justlens after the episode with theview seven bowls, strongly connect wine. Revelation to the cup is here ποτήριον rather than φι ά λη, but ποτήριον can still imply, as it does in Matthew and practice, libation bowls (φι λαι), pouring ( κχ ω), wine itself are used in Revelation to paint aavivid a vivid picture picture of of what the the author oflibation.
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