Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins [Paperback]

Steven J. Friesen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195188217 | ISBN-13: 978-0195188219 | Publication Date: February 23, 2006

After more than a century of debate about the significance of imperial cults for the interpretation of Revelation, this is the first study to examine both the archaeological evidence and the Biblical text in depth. Friesen argues that a detailed analysis of imperial cults as they were practiced in the first century CE in the region where John was active allows us to understand John's criticism of his society's dominant values. He demonstrates the importance of imperial cults for society at the time when Revelation was written, and shows the ways in which John refuted imperial cosmology through his use of vision, myth, and eschatological expectation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book will benefit students of early Christianity as well as students of Greco-Roman history. Certainly anyone seriously interested in the study of Revelation should not pass it by."--The Journal of Religion

About the Author

Steven J. Friesen is at University of Texas, Austin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195188217
• ISBN-13: 978-0195188219
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dubious Disciple Book Review, September 11, 2011

By 

Dubious Disciple "Lee Harmon" (White Bear Lake, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins (Paperback)

If you are a serious student of Revelation, this is a book you must read. I don't think there's another book like it ... yet. That Revelation's warnings often relate directly to the Imperial Cult of the late first century has been understood for a long time, but this book tackles the topic head on, in scholarly fashion. Friesen relates what archaeology has discovered about Caesar worship in Asia Minor, Revelation's target audience. Much can be gathered from the study of coins, temple ruins, and writings. The Caesars were often simulated into the worship of traditional Greek deities, and what we understand from archaeology about both the public and mystery rituals is detailed.

One conclusion Friesen draws is that the Imperial Cult was definitely founded upon Caesar Augustus and his accomplishments. Augustus was worshiped as Zeus, the high god of the Greeks. In my mind, at least, there can be little doubt that the first of the seven kings of Revelation is Augustus ... not, as some preterists insist, Julius Caesar. Friesen also concludes that the Flavians, including Vespasian and Titus, were also highly honored in myth. This matches the findings and conclusions in my own book, Revelation: The Way it Happened. ([...])

Friesen's book is in two parts: First, the study of the Imperial Cults, and then, how Revelation relates to that study in its direct opposition to Roman imperialism and the abomination of Caesar worship. Of particular interest to readers of Revelation, of course, is Nero Caesar, considered by most to be either the fifth or the sixth king of the seven (depending upon whether you begin counting with Augustus or Julius). Most studied scholars of Revelation agree that, at least on some level, John was surely writing about Nero as the Beast of the Sea.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roman Imperialism as a point of interpretation, December 5, 2006

By 

Kendall Rogers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins (Paperback)

I have had this book for some time and have been watching for reviews. I found this book extremely illuminating about imperial cults and John's critique in Revelation. Price's book was the 1st I had read on the subject but found the material in Friesen's book to give great additional detail in part 1 and a good connection to the text of Revelation in part 2. Have been suprised that other reviews have not popped up.