The genre of the Book of Revelation from a source-critical perspective
This is a small contribution to the current debate regarding the genre of the Book of Revelation. The study is motivated by the observation that John employs prolific sources both uniquely and generically. The results of prior source-critical studies are employed to delineate the scope and nature of John's sources. The specific source-critical contribution of this study is a detailed analysis of the manner in which John employs his sources with generic intent. However, the analysis is conducted in strict compliance with the dictates of the principles of generic criticism. For convenience, these principles and those of source criticism are not discussed until just prior to the generic analysis of Rev itself. But the initial chapters assume the principles to lay the necessary groundwork. A study of authorship and unity indicates that Rev is a unified whole, the work of a single author. Source criticism may therefore be confined alone to John's prolific allusions and punctiliar quotations. Generic definitions are deduced for classical OT prophecy and classical apocalyptic in turn. However, available data is far too sparse to permit similar results for NT prophecy or neo-apocalyptic. Accordingly, only the first
Mazzaferri, Frederick David
Philosophy
The genre of the Book of Revelation from a source-critical perspective. This is a small contribution to the current debate regarding the genre of the Book of Revelation. The study is motivated by the observation that John employs prolific sources both uniquely and generically. The results of prior source-critical studies are employed to delineate the scope and nature of John's sources. The specific source-critical contribution of this study is a detailed analysis of the manner in which John employs his sources with generic intent. However, the analysis is conducted in strict compliance with the dictates of the principles of generic criticism. For convenience, these principles and those of source criticism are not discussed until just prior to the generic analysis of Rev itself. But the initial chapters assume the principles to lay the necessary groundwork. A study of authorship and unity indicates that Rev is a unified whole, the work of a single author. Source criticism may therefore be confined alone to John's prolific allusions and punctiliar quotations. Generic definitions are deduced for classical OT prophecy and classical apocalyptic in turn. However, available data is far too sparse to permit similar results for NT prophecy or neo-apocalyptic. Accordingly, only the first
genre book revelation source critical_perspective small current_debate regard genre book revelation study motivate observation john employ prolific source uniquely generically prior source critical_study employ delineate scope nature john source specific source critical_study detail_analysis manner john employ source generic intent however analysis_conduct strict compliance dictate principle generic criticism convenience principle source criticism discuss prior generic analysis itself initial assume principle lay necessary groundwork study authorship unity indicate unified whole work single author source criticism may therefore confine alone john prolific allusion quotation generic definition deduce classical prophecy classical apocalyptic turn however available_data far sparse permit similar prophecy neo apocalyptic accordingly first