Kirjahaku

This monograph explores the significance accorded to John's island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9) within the wider reception history of the Apocalypse. In contrast to the relatively scant attention paid to John's island in modern commentaries, this reception-historical survey reveals both the greater prominence accorded to Patmos by earlier interpreters, and the richer diversity of readings the text has provoked. These include interest in the physical character of Patmos and its significance as an island; the date and reason for John's sojourn there; attempts to locate Patmos in a geography which is sometimes more mythical than literal; the meaning of the name 'Patmos' in the context of a biblical book which treats other place-names symbolically. This diversity is supported by a close reading of Rev. 1:9, which highlights the extent to which even its literal sense is highly ambiguous. Ian Boxall brings together for the first time in a coherent narrative a wide range of interpretations of Patmos, reflecting different chronological periods, cultural contexts, and Christian traditions. Boxall understands biblical interpretation broadly, to include interpretations in biographical traditions about John, sermons, liturgy, and visual art as well as biblical commentaries.He also considers popular and marginal readings alongside magisterial and centrist ones, and draws analogies between similar hermeneutical strategies across the centuries. In the final chapter Boxall explores the wider implications of his study for biblical scholarship, advocating an approach which encourages use of the imagination and reader participation, and which works with a broader concept of 'meaning' than traditional historical criticism.

Discovering Matthew is an accessible introduction to the Gospel of Matthew. This guide by Ian Boxall aims to encourage in-depth study of the first of the Gospels. Discovering Matthew is a commentary written for those that want to genuinely grapple with the theological and historical questions raised by the text by providing a map to the Gospel as a whole. This introduction reflects on the sources, origins, themes and characters, covering a wide variety of topics and helping the reader understand the scholarly debates surrounding the Gospel of Matthew. This biblical exegesis is perfect for those studying theology, bringing in historical context and current approaches to understanding scripture.

SCM Study Guide: New Testament Books, together with its companion volume on "New Testament Interpretation", offers an up-to-date, accessible introduction to this fast-changing area of theological study. Aimed at level one students, it encourages interaction with the New Testament texts and provides pointers for further reading and learning. The book describes the world out of which the New Testament came, and what can be known of the key figures of Jesus and Paul, before discussing the 27 books in turn. At every stage, attention is paid to the range of questions New Testament interpretation raises - historical, literary, theological - with worked examples from specific passages. Topics of particular interest include: What can be known about Jesus? Why are there four gospels? What is the Legacy of Paul? Does Revelation predict the End of the World?

The SCM Study Guide to "New Testament Interpretation", together with its companion volume on "New Testament Books", offers an up-to-date, accessible introduction to this fast-changing area of theological study. Aimed at level one students, it encourages interaction with the New Testament texts and provides pointers for further reading and learning. It covers the main areas tackled in introductory New Testament courses, such as the contents and diversity of the New Testament, how the texts came to be written and collected, their relationship to Jesus of Nazareth, and the nature of the canon. In particular, it introduces the main interpretative approaches used by scholars in an accessible way, avoiding unnecessary jargon, and helping the student apply them to specific New Testament passages, so is full of practical examples and accessible learning techniques for the beginner.

Student-friendly introduction to the Gospel of Matthew In this introduction to the story that Matthew tells, Ian Boxall deftly guides readers through the sources, origins, themes, and main characters of the first Gospel. The book's short chapters enable coverage of a wide range of topics, presenting the issues and scholarly debates surrounding the Gospel of Matthew in an accessible yet nuanced manner. Like the first Discovering Biblical Texts volume, on the Gospel of John, Discovering Matthew offers a guide to key issues and questions raised by the text to enable readers to come to their own conclusions. Encouraging in-depth study of the text and genuine grappling with pertinent theological and historical questions, this book is an ideal introduction to the interpretation of Matthew.

The reception of the Gospel of Matthew over two millennia: commentary and interpretation Matthew Through the Centuries offers an overview of the reception history of one of the most prominent gospels in Christian worship. Examining the reception of Matthew from the perspectives of a wide range of interpreters, from Origen and Hilary of Poitiers to Mary Cornwallis and Bob Marley, this insightful commentary explains the major trends in various ecclesial, historical, and cultural contexts. Focusing on characteristically Matthean features, detailed chapter-by-chapter commentary highlights diverse receptions and interpretations of the gospel. Broad exploration of areas such as liturgy, literature, drama, film, hymnody, political discourse, and visual art illustrates the enormous impact Matthew continues to have on Judeo–Christian civilization. Known as “the Church’s Gospel” Matthew’s text has been the subject of apologetic and theological controversy for hundreds of years. It has been seen as justification for political and ecclesial status quo and as a path to radical discipleship. Matthew has influenced divergent political, spiritual, and cultural figures such as Saint Francis of Assisi, John Ruskin, Leo Tolstoy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Mahatma Gandhi. Matthew’s interest in ecclesiology provides early structures of ecclesial life, such as the resolution of community disputes, communal prayer, and liturgical prescriptions for the Eucharist and baptism. A significant addition to the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries series, Matthew Through the Centuries is an indispensable resource for both students and experts in areas including religious and biblical studies, literature, history, politics, and those interested in the influence of the Bible on Western culture.

The reception of the Gospel of Matthew over two millennia: commentary and interpretation Matthew Through the Centuries offers an overview of the reception history of one of the most prominent gospels in Christian worship. Examining the reception of Matthew from the perspectives of a wide range of interpreters, from Origen and Hilary of Poitiers to Mary Cornwallis and Bob Marley, this insightful commentary explains the major trends in various ecclesial, historical, and cultural contexts. Focusing on characteristically Matthean features, detailed chapter-by-chapter commentary highlights diverse receptions and interpretations of the gospel. Broad exploration of areas such as liturgy, literature, drama, film, hymnody, political discourse, and visual art illustrates the enormous impact Matthew continues to have on Judeo–Christian civilization. Known as “the Church’s Gospel” Matthew’s text has been the subject of apologetic and theological controversy for hundreds of years. It has been seen as justification for political and ecclesial status quo and as a path to radical discipleship. Matthew has influenced divergent political, spiritual, and cultural figures such as Saint Francis of Assisi, John Ruskin, Leo Tolstoy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Mahatma Gandhi. Matthew’s interest in ecclesiology provides early structures of ecclesial life, such as the resolution of community disputes, communal prayer, and liturgical prescriptions for the Eucharist and baptism. A significant addition to the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries series, Matthew Through the Centuries is an indispensable resource for both students and experts in areas including religious and biblical studies, literature, history, politics, and those interested in the influence of the Bible on Western culture.