A.W. Zwiep

Paul, John, and Apocalyptic Eschatology

These studies in honour of Martinus C. de Boer offer important backgrounds and new insights by leading New Testament scholars on Paul, John, and Apocalyptic Eschatology.

“The Text of the Ascension Narratives (Luke 24.50-3; Acts 1.1-2,9-11).”

In view of recent forceful challenges to the authenticity of the so-called “longer (non-Western) text” of Luke 24:50-53 in conjunction with calls to treat individual Western readings more seriously, this investigation undertakes a critical reexamination of Lk 24:50-53 and Acts 1:1-2,9-11 in light of external evidence, transcriptional probabilities, and Luke’s style and theology. It concludes that a development from the B-text to the Western text yields a more convincing and consistent explanation of the evidence than the reverse. The Western reviser quite consistently removes any suggestion that Jesus ascended physically into heaven. The 2nd- and 3rd-century christological controversies provide a most plausible setting in which such a radical reinterpretation of the ascension narrative could take place (C.R.M. in NTAbstr 40.3, 1996, p. 428).

Jairus, His Daughter and the Haemorrhaging Woman (Mk 5.21-43; Mt. 9.18-26; Lk. 8.40-56): Research Survey of a Gospel Story about People in Distress

This article examines the history of interpretation of the pericope of the healing of the haemorrhaging woman and the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5.21-43; Mt. 9.18-26; Lk. 8.40-56). It starts with the earliest attempts to harmonize the synoptic accounts, and reviews medieval allegorical interpretations, historical-critical theories, including the apparent death (coma) theory, D.F. Strauss and mythical interpretation, form-criticism, the question of sources, literary and narrative approaches, socio-critical (feminist) interpretation, psychoanalytical criticism, and contextual (poststructural) readings.

Eight Kings on an Apocalyptic Animal Farm: Reflections on Revelation 17:9–11

A brief survey of recent New Testament introductions, commentaries and scholarly articles on the Book of Revelation suggests that a growing number of biblical scholars favour an early date for the books composition, shortly after the death of Nero and before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple two years later. This article reviews the evidence and suggests a more coherent reading of the text. The frequent use of symbolic numbers in the Book of Revelation surely favours such a symbolic understanding of the list of kings. Linguistic conventions and metaphorical language would admit of such a collective-figurative understanding: in ancient thinking a king, after all, represents a kingdom. The recent history of Rome and its rulers the Christian community could know what to expect of the immediate future. Keywords:animal farm; christian community; eight kings; kingdoms; revelation; Rome; symbolic

How Antichrist Defeated Death. The Development of Christian Apocalyptic Eschatology in the Early Church

This chapter first summarizes Martinus C. de Boers analysis of Paul from the perspective of Jewish apocalyptic eschatology in the early Church. Then, it looks at the scenarios depicted in 1 Cor 15 and the Book of Revelation. It also looks at a slant within the development of early Christian eschatology by looking at a number of key authors from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It becomes clear that originally distinct scenarios of the final period of history gradually merged into a harmonization of texts in the period under consideration, a development in which 1 Cor 15 gave way to 2 Thess 2, and death was ultimately defeated by Antichrist. Keywords:Antichrist; christian apocalyptic eschatology; church; Jewish; Paul

Alternative Patronage in John 2:1–11?

This chapter argues that a plausible interpretation of the entire pericope can be found when it is interpreted with the background of (divine) patronage in the Greco-Roman world, taking into account the miraculous provision of wine, the large quantity of it, and its quality. Jesus appears in this way as a superior patron, superior to human ones as well as a true representative of the patron of all. In doing so, the chapter specifically seeks to further the interpretation offered by Collins and is in line with approaches to the Gospel of John in the tradition of social-scientific exegesis, such as Neyreys recent commentary that pays ample attention to questions of honor and patronage.In arguing this point, the chapter also seeks to show that an interpretation of John 2:1 11 in terms of (a potentially anti-Jewish) statement on the relationship between Christianity and Judaism is highly implausible. Keywords:anti-Jewish; Christianity; Greco-Roman world; John 2:1 11; Judaism; miraculous wine; patronage