Preaching in the Last Days: The Theme of 'Two Witnesses' in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries - Couverture rigide

Petersen, Rodney L.

 
9780195073744: Preaching in the Last Days: The Theme of 'Two Witnesses' in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 0195073746 ISBN 13 : 9780195073744
Editeur : Oxford University Press Inc, 1993

Synopsis

Among the enigmatic prophecies of the Book of Revelation is a passage (11.3-13) concerning `two witnesses' who will appear in the dark days of the church to preach or prophesy with powers like those of the prophets of ancient Israel. In this book Rodney Petersen presents an exhaustive examination of the treatment of this passage by interpreters from medieval times to the Protestant Reformation.

Petersen demonstrates that speculation on the identity and theological meaning of the two witnesss has abounded since the days of the early church. They have been linked to a time of culminating evil, the final proclamation of hope, and the end of history associated with divine judgement. Such speculation found ample expression in medieval literature, art and drama. In the writings of the reformers, however, the witnesses acquired increased social implications. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries saw a proliferation of commentaries on the Apocalypse, in which reformist exegetes appropriated the image of the witnesses to their own movement, often identifying them with specific contemporary figures or using them to predict a future in tune with their hopes for the Protestant movement. Finally, Petersen shows, the theme of the two witnesses inspired and sustained those who carried the Puritan message into the New World, and features in the writings of such leading New England divines as Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Among the enigmatic prophecies of the Book of Revelation is a passage (11.3-13) concerning `two witnesses' who will appear in the dark days of the church to preach or prophesy with powers like those of the prophets of ancient Israel. In this book Rodney Petersen presents an exhaustive examination of the treatment of this passage by interpreters from medieval times to the Protestant Reformation. Petersen demonstrates that speculation on the identity and theological meaning of the two witnesss has abounded since the days of the early church. They have been linked to a time of culminating evil, the final proclamation of hope, and the end of history associated with divine judgement. Such speculation found ample expression in medieval literature, art and drama. In the writings of the reformers, however, the witnesses acquired increased social implications. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries saw a proliferation of commentaries on the Apocalypse, in which reformist exegetes appropriated the image of the witnesses to their own movement, often identifying them with specific contemporary figures or using them to predict a future in tune with their hopes for the Protestant movement. Finally, Petersen shows, the theme of the two witnesses inspired and sustained those who carried the Puritan message into the New World, and features in the writings of such leading New England divines as Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards.

Revue de presse

`a valuable addition to our understanding of a theme that currently evokes a lot of attention.'Richard Pierard, Indiana State University

The book has been thoroughly researched, contains a wealth of interesting detail and valuable observations... (Journal of Theological Studies Vol 46 no 1)

contains some fascinating information (Alastair Hamilton, University of Amsterdam, Heythrop Journal, July 1997, Vol. 38, No. 3)

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Oxford University Press Inc
Date d'édition
1993
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0195073746
ISBN 13 
9780195073744
Reliure
Relié
Nombre de pages
336
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
Ufficio Anagrafiche Messaggerie
ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it

Via Verdi, 8
Assago Milano
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Italie