Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)

~ Grant Osborne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Book of Revelation contains some of the most difficult passages in Scripture. Grant Osborne's commentary on Revelation aims to interpret the text while also introducing readers to the perspectives of contemporary scholarship in a clear and accessible manner. Osborne begins with a thorough introduction to Revelation and the many difficulties involved in its interpretation. He discusses authorship, date of writing, and the social and cultural setting of the work. He also examines elements that complicate the interpretation of apocalyptic literature, including the use of symbols and figures of speech, Old Testament allusions, and the role of prophetic prediction. Osborne surveys various approaches commentators have taken on whether Revelation refers primarily to the past or to events that are yet future. Osborne avoids an overly technical interpretative approach.

Rather than exegeting the text narrowly in a verse-by-verse manner, he examines larger sections in order to locate and emphasize the writer's central message and the theology found therein. Throughout, he interacts with the best recent scholarship and presents his conclusions in an accessible manner. When dealing with particularly problematic sections, he considers the full range of suggested interpretations and introduces the reader to a broad spectrum of commentators. As with all volumes published in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation seeks to reach a broad audience with scholarly research from a decidedly evangelical perspective. Each volume in the BECNT series interacts with the best contemporary scholarship, offering up-to-date, accurate, and authoritative analysis of the Greek text through rigorous exegesis and exposition. Central themes are developed throughout, and each exegetical unit is related to the overall message of the biblical book. Pastors and seminarians especially appreciate the combination of broad overview and in-depth analysis found in BECNT volumes, but the BECNT series is also popular with scholars and thoughtful lay readers.

About the Author

Grant R. Osborne (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of a number of books, including The Hermeneutical Spiral. END

Product Details

• Hardcover: 896 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801022991
• ISBN-13: 978-0801022999
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #74,195 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for students and teachers, March 11, 2003

By	rossuk (London, UK) - See all my reviews

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More accessible for the student than Beale, he is very readable and lucid and the layout is clear. He compares the views of different commentators (useful because he includes Beale and Aune). He deals with most options on difficult passages before coming to his own conclusion. Despite its size he is not over detailed. His interpretation is eclectic, i.e. he combines preterist, idealist and futurist, with the futurist being primary rather than idealist. Premill on chap 20. Uses his own translation of the Greek, which is better than the NIV. He is very useful on the Greek and Greek text is transliterated. Footnotes are kept to a minimum and textual variants are left to the end of each section. There is a good bibliography and four indexes. The introduction is short (49 p) but adequate for the student. Comments on a paragraph at a time, individual verses are not indicated, which is a pity. He is a little weak on numerology and sometimes fails to see or mention contrasts such as the new Jerusalem the Bride and Babylon the whore. Overall however, a very useful commentary, which I highly recommend for students, teachers and preachers. I found him hard to put down, he reads so well. He bodes well to become the standard evangelical commentary for students.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At the top next to Beale on Revelation, June 12, 2006

By	David A. Bielby "Ev Xpistw" (Normal, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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As a pastor who is studying and preaching from the Greek text through Revelation, and who audited Beale at Wheaton on Revelation, I find that this commentary is used on every sermon.
It's a first rate commentary with opinions that true scholars and regular pastors learn to respect even if they do not agree with him on every point. Sometimes when reading Beale there are so many references to apocalyptic literature and other sources that one can get overwhelmed. Osborne doesn't give as many references, but the other reviewer is correct...he's easier to read than Beale or Aune. I have several hundred dollars of the best commentaries I could find on Revelation. This one is one of the few that almost always makes it in my book bag (and it's pretty thick). I am unwilling to go without it when I have the potential of preparing a sermon at home rather than my office.

He sets apart special comments and exegetical points in shaded frames for quick reference. One time when we were discussing a particularly detailed and crucial point in class Dr. Beale excitedly said, I've got to call Osborne about this....which shows that if one of the top scholars in the world on Revelation is excited about calling Osborne...he must be great. And as I've used him, I agree. His stuff is great.

When they diverge, I usually go with Beale, but Osborne makes one think carefully and helps you work through issues in a different way than Beale does. The big differences are that Osborne has smooth reading, fewer references to research on most points, but about as much material in general as Beale.

Any pastor who is preaching from Revelation should refer to Osborne as well as Beale for indepth background on almost every nuance of the text one can imagine. So although I cannot say I agree with every single point in this book...it's easily a five star commentary that you need in your library and open on your desk as you research the textual issues and depths of this incredible grand finale of the bible...the book of Revelation.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best balance commentary on the Revelation, August 21, 2006

By	Carl A. Dixon (Bradenton, Fl United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a Bible teacher I have read many commentaries on the Revelation. I have taught every verse of the Revelation 3 times and have a different view than the one Osborne has. But in saying that I find this particular commentary the best balanced and clearest thinking of any I have read. It is not a technical commentary but I find it as useful as those that major in handling the original language. So read commentaries that agree with whatever view of interpretation you hold to - then sit back and really enjoy and be challenged by this clear writing scholar.