C. Marvin Pate's Interpreting Revelation and Other Apocalyptic Material: An Exegetical Handbook offers an important introductory contribution for students and pastors on reading, preaching and teaching Revelation (and other forms of biblical apocalyptic literature). Pate has given us a clear path through all the noise that struggles to misread Revelation. Drawing upon the best in biblical scholarship, Interpreting Revelation focuses on the differences of genre, text, context, and history. And only then should we move toward application. Pate begins with the standard 1979 Society of Biblical Literature definition of "apocalyptic" and works from there to provide a clear picture of the various genres of biblical apocalyptic -- from Daniel to Revelation -- and along the way provides a clear understanding of the way in which those genres may be mixed with other genres.
Interpreting Revelation looks at the connections between apocalyptic and Israel's story -- ultimately embodied in Jesus himself. There's help with text and historical criticism here. But it's Chapters 6 and 7 that are among the most important for Bible students for the Church's proclamation.
I was excited to see Pate include a final chapter on learning to negotiate through the various resources for Revelation and apocalyptic literature.
This book is a must!
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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.