Kretschmar, Georg: Die Offenbarung des Johannes: Die Geschichte ihrer Auslegung im 1. Jahrtausend. Calwer Theologische Monographien, B9. Stuttgart: Calwer Verlag, 1985. 164 pp.

Contents (apart from foreword, list of abbreviations and abbreviated references)

I. Jewish apocalyptic (sic) as the background of traditional material for Revelation (pp. 11-18)
1. Apocalyptic as prophecy
2. Book of Daniel

II. The pictorial Book of Promises (pp. 19-68)
1. Christian apocalyptic
2. The origins of Revelation
3. Intention and characteristics
4. The structure of Revelation

III. Revelation in Early Christianity (pp. 69-79)
1. Early Christian apocalyptic and Revelation
2. Christian chiliasm
3. Gnostic reception
4. Irenaeus and Hippolytus, Methodius

IV. Revelation in the Greek Church and the rest of the Orient (pp. 80-90)
1. Acceptance and influence of Revelation
2. Christian apocalyptic and interpretation of history besides Revelation

V. Revelation in the Latin Church (pp. 91-115)
1. Early Christian heritage: Victorinus of Poetovio
2. Church Controversy: Tyconius and Augustine
3. Learned collectors: Jerome, Cassiodor, Primasius

VI. Revelation in the Middle Ages of the West (pp. 116-160)
1. Collecting and sieving the ancient heritage
a) Britain: Beda
b) Spain: Beatus
c) Italy: Ambrosius Autpertus

a) The Carolingian Renaissance
b) Book paintings
c) Commentators

3. The High Middle Ages
a) Ottonic, imperial theology
b) Anti-Christ and the end of the world
c) Revelation in the Investiture Controversy
d) The Crusades and the theology of the House of Hohenstaufen

4. Exposition of Scripture and interpretation of history
a) The methods of theology
b) Experience of history and interpretation of Scripture
c) Epilogue: Change into a new chiliasm

Primasius, Adrumetan. Commentarius in Apocalypsin. Ed. A. W. Adams. Vol. 92 of Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina. Turnholti (Turnhout): Brepols, 1985. xxxv + 365 pp.

The critical edition of Primasius’ commentary with an English translation. Primasius’ commentary in regularly cited in Weinrich.

Steinhauser, Kenneth B. The Apocalypse Commentary of Tyconius: A History of Its Reception and Influence. Vol. 301 of European University Studies, Series 23: Theology. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 1987.

According to Weinrich, Steinhauser provides a careful analysis. Weinrich included the commentary by Primasius because it preserves significant Tyconius-material, although not as much as the later commentary by Beatus of Liebana (see Weinrich p. xxx with notes). The Primasius material was identified by Weinrich on the basis of Steinhauser’s synopsis.

The publisher writes: “The present study investigates the lost Apocalypse Commentary of Tyconius. Two manuscript fragments are extant while nine authors from the fourth to the eighth centuries directly cite the lost commentary in some cases extensively. Four conclusions follow the detailed study of the manuscripts and works influenced by Tyconius. First, the interdependence of the nine works influenced by Tyconius is demonstrated. Second, the manuscript tradition is reconstructed as far as possible. Third, the structure of the lost commentary is discussed. Fourth, a complete synopsis of the manuscripts and the passages quoted from the lost Apocalypse Commentary is presented.”

Weinrich, William C., ed. Revelation. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, vol. 12. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2006. xxxii + 454 pp. RRP $40.00 (but street prices are much cheapter). ISBN: 0830814973

This volume is strongly recommended.

In the ideal world, students would read the ancient Christian commentaries themselves in the original language. In the real world this volume is a very welcome one. Indeed, it should sit on every student’s shelf, or rather, it should lie on the desk and be consulted regularly. I really missed this volume when I wrote my forthcoming commentary on Revelation.

Professor Weinrich is professor of early church history at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In his introduction, Weinrich surveys the ancient commentaries, as to their view on authorship and canonicity of Revelation (pp. xvii-xx). In the next section, Weinrich reviews the ancient commentaries and the interpretation of Revelation (pp. xx-xxix).

Weinrich has chosen eight commentaries for regular citation. He also includes selections from the Christian writers in order to illustrate their uses of Revelation, be it thematic, moral or theological and doctrinal reasons.

The eight commentaries that Weinrich cites regularly eller Petuvium