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Revelation 1:4-8
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Jesus' Apocalyptic Return," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Chapter III, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110). (Longer Version only - 4th cent interpolation)
  • Chapter XIV, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • I.6, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter VII, Exhortation to Chastity, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter LI, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XVII, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Chapter VII, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
  • I.II.10, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • I.34-35, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • V.2, VII.25, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "I am he before whom there was nothing, indeed, by whom everything that is made, was made: and I shall remain though everything else should perish."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "There can be no true peace, where there is not true grace; and where grace goeth before, peace will follow."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Three glorious appellations are here given him, and in their proper order. He was the faithful witness of the whole will of God before his death, and in death, and remains such in glory. He rose from the dead, as "the first fruits of them that slept;" and now hath all power both in heaven and earth. He is here styled a prince: but by and by he hears his title of king; yea, King of kings, and Lord of lords." This phrase, the kings of the earth, signifies their power and multitude, and also the nature of their kingdom. It became the Divine Majesty to call them kings with a limitation; especially in this manifesto from his heavenly kingdom; for no creature, much less a sinful man, can bear the title of king in an absolute sense before the eyes of God."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • ""He was the faithful witness, because all things that He heard of the Father He faithfully made known to His disciples. Also, because He taught the way of God in truth, and cared not for man, nor regarded the persons of men. Also, because the truth which He taught in words He confirmed by miracles. Also, because the testimony to Himself on the part of the Father He denied not even in death. Lastly, because He will give true testimony of the works of good and bad at the day of judgment" [RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR in TRENCH]."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "I am the Alpha and the Omega. The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; hence "the beginning and the end." All begins with God and he closes the drama of earthly history."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4b-8, Isarel Kamudzandu, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2016.
    • "Above all, God is in absolute control of all things and this same God has the first and final word in creation."
  • Pulpit Fiction, podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2016.
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2016.
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4-8, Keegan Osinski, A Plain Account, 2016
    • "The greeting of peace is not insignificant. The revelator writes during the Pax Romana, a time of "peace" only if you were the favored and privileged of the Roman Empire, which the early Christians were not. Indeed, peace would have been hard for Christians to come by if solicited from the Empire."
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4b-8, Greg Carey, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
    • "Was Bob Dylan correct in his assessment that 'You gotta serve somebody'? Ancient people could imagine no alternative. Modern believers are wise to take that testimony seriously."
  • "Radical Hospitality: Building Bridges, Respecting Differences," Jim Kast-Keat, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks. Video: Life After Hate.
  • Commentary, textual notes and illustration, Stan Mast, Center for Excellence in Preaching, 2015.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4b-8, Eric Barreto, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.
    • "These are living words of great theological depth too often neglected by some Christians or poorly interpreted by others."
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4b-8, Valerie Nicolet-Anderson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
    • "Charis recalls the patronage system of the early Roman world, in which a patron displayed generosity to his clients, and expected loyalty in return. Eirene reminds one of the Hebrew shalom, the notion of wholeness and peace that is often associated with a deep and meaningful relationship to God."
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "The elaborate imagery about Jesus comes from the world of courts and kings, and the rituals which accompanied them. It was a way of saying: God has underlined that this Jesus really was the valid exponent of what God's being and doing, his going and his coming, is about."
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4-8, Walter F. Taylor, Jr., Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "On 'Doubting Thomas' Sunday, it is hard to entertain the possibility of preaching on another text. Revelation 1:4-8, however, gives us three good options."
  • Commentary, Revelation 1:4b-8, Susan Eastman, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "...the violence and greed of our culture in fact do test our faith, sometimes in shocking and unexpected ways. So preaching this text requires us to search out particular, local points of conflict and opposition to the reign of Christ in the immediate realities of our congregations."
  • "First Thoughts on Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Easter 2, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "In the beginning: God; in the end: God; in the midst of life: God. These are less statements about time and place as they are statements of hope and trust."
  • "World Without End," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2009.
    • "When we think of end-time scenarios that depict the destruction of the world, we need to remember that the God who is the Alpha and Omega will act no differently at the end of all things than at the beginning of all things."
  • "The Art of Final Judgment," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Heaven and Hell," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2002.
  • "John's Vision of Christ the King," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Anticipating the End," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
    • "How do you anticipate the coming of the Lord? How does such anticipation affect your worship?"
  • "The Living Presence of Christ in the Church," God's Song of Revelation: From Easter to Pentecost in the Apocalypse, Wendell W. Frerichs , Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1986.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Revelation 1:4-8, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
  • "'The Lamb Who Was Slain Has Begun His Reign. Amen!' Texts from the Revelation to John for the Sundays of Easter," James H. Burtness, Word & World, 1992.
  • "The Prologue (Revelation 1:1-8)," by J. Hampton Keathley III at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "For His present ministry??who loves us.? The Greek text uses one article with two adjectival participles which descriptively portray the person, work, and ministry of the Lord. Literally??the one who loves, ? and who released us, ?? The construction of the Greek text ascribes Christ?s love for us as a constant quality and characteristic. It speaks of His constant care and ministry on our behalf."
  • Environmental & earth-centered reflections from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission.
  • "The Introduction to the Book," from The Most Revealing Book of the Bible, Vernard Eller.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Bandstra, Andrew J., "'A Kingship and Priests': Inaugurated Eschatology in the Apocalypse," Calvin Theological Journal, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Blevins, James L., "Revelation 1-3," Review and Expositor, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Blount, Brian K., "Reading Revelation Today: Witness as Active Resistance," Interpretation, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Burtness, James H., "'The Lamb Who Was Slain Has Begun His Reign. Amen!' Texts from the Revelation to John for the Sundays of Easter," Word & World, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Brighton, Louis A., "Christological Trinitarian Theology in the Book of Revelation," Concordia Journal, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Charles, Gary W., "Diving into Wonderland: Preaching Revelation in the Mainline Pulpit," Journal for Preachers, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Cook, W. Robert, "The 'Glory' Motif in the Johannine Corpus," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Dyrness, William, "What Kind of King?" The Christian Century, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fiorenza, Elisabeth Schüssler, "Redemption as Liberation: Apoc 1:5f and 5:9f," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1974.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Frerichs, Wendell W., "God's Song of Revelation: From Easter to Pentecost in the Apocalypse," Word & World, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hauerwas, Stanley, "Embodied Memory," Journal for Preachers, 1996. (Sermon)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Herron, Keith, D., "Royal Choice," The Christian Century, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lewis, David I., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series B - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 412.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Siker, Jeffrey S., "Revelation 1:4-9, Between Text & Sermon," Interpretation, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Thompson, Leonard, "Lamentation for Christ as a Hero: Revelation 1:7," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Thompson, Leonard, "Son of God, Seed of David: Paul's Messianic Exegesis in Romans 2:3-4," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Saltwater Apocalypse," the Rev. Eugenia Gamble, Day 1, 1997.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 26B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2012.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
  • "I Am Alpha and Omega," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Revelation 1:5, 7, 8. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!
    • Face to Face
    • Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
    • I Will Follow Thee
    • O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Christ Enthroned
  • Revelation
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Revelation

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