Reading Revelation Responsibly
by Michael J. Gorman | Book Summary
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Author: Michael J. Gorman
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Much of the confusion surrounding the book of Revelation centers on the very first Greek word of the book: apokalypsis. This is from where we get the English term apocalypse, and this is why Revelation is often referred to as The Apocalypse of John. Unfortunately, many modern readers hear the word apocalypse and immediately think of a genre of movie where the world is destroyed in some sort of natural, economic, or atomic disaster. In reality, the word apocalypse "does not mean 'destruction,' 'end of the world,' or anything similar" (p. xi). Others are confused by Revelation because they assume it is a book about the rapture and/or the antichrist. However, "Revelation is not about the antichrist, but about the living Christ. It is not about a rapture out of this world but about faithful discipleship in this world" (p. xv). The aim of this book is simply to help Christians read Revelation responsibly. "To read Revelation responsibly…is to read it not as a script for the future but as a script for the church." (p. 189) |
Michael J. Gorman is a New Testament scholar who specializes in Pauline literature, the book of Revelation, missiology, and early Christian ethics. Currently, he teaches at St. Mary's Seminary and University where he is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology. From 1995-2012, Gorman was the Dean of the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's.
Gorman was born in Maryland. He graduated summa cum laude from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. He then received a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary. While at Princeton, he was a teaching fellow in New Testament and an instructor in Greek. Gorman has written dozens of books, taught at several institutions, and led numerous study trips to Greece, Turkey, and Rome. While still affiliated with the United Methodist denomination, Gorman is active in ecuminical and Roman Catholic contexts, as well.
Reading Revelation Responsibly
by Michael J. Gorman
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | Michael J. Gorman |
| Publisher | Cascade Books |
| Date | 2011 |
| Pages | 211 |
Overview:
"This book is for those who are confused by, afraid of, and/or preoccupied with the book of Revelation… My aim is to help rescue it from those who either completely misinterpret it or completely ignore it." (p. xi)
Much of the confusion surrounding the book of Revelation centers on the very first Greek word of the book: apokalypsis. This is from where we get the English term apocalypse, and this is why Revelation is often referred to as The Apocalypse of John.
Unfortunately, many modern readers hear the word apocalypse and immediately think of a genre of movie where the world is destroyed in some sort of natural, economic, or atomic disaster. In reality, the word apocalypse "does not mean 'destruction,' 'end of the world,' or anything similar" (p. xi).
Others are confused by Revelation because they assume it is a book about the rapture and/or the antichrist. However, "Revelation is not about the antichrist, but about the living Christ. It is not about a rapture out of this world but about faithful discipleship in this world" (p. xv).
The aim of this book is simply to help Christians read Revelation responsibly. "To read Revelation responsibly…is to read it not as a script for the future but as a script for the church." (p. 189)
Michael J. Gorman is a New Testament scholar who specializes in Pauline literature, the book of Revelation, missiology, and early Christian ethics. Currently, he teaches at St. Mary's Seminary and University where he is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology. From 1995-2012, Gorman was the Dean of the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's.
Gorman was born in Maryland. He graduated summa cum laude from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. He then received a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary. While at Princeton, he was a teaching fellow in New Testament and an instructor in Greek. Gorman has written dozens of books, taught at several institutions, and led numerous study trips to Greece, Turkey, and Rome. While still affiliated with the United Methodist denomination, Gorman is active in ecuminical and Roman Catholic contexts, as well.