The Revelation of John, and Biblical Authors interpret Sodom (and Gomorrah) in vastly different ways...

Dear Bible Challenge participants,

Every once in a while I'm intrigued by how our reading schedule gives us a different window into scripture, and how scripture interprets itself--if it's possible to say such a thing. For example, in the last two days we've read as two biblical authors, Ezekiel and Jude, interpreted the sin of Sodom (and Gomorrah) in vastly different ways.  Ezekiel described the sin of Sodom thusly:

"She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.  They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen."  (Ezekiel 16:49-50)  

While Jude 1:7 offers:

"In the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah and neighboring towns practiced immoral sexual relations and pursued other sexual urges. By undergoing the punishment of eternal fire, they serve as a warning."

Interestingly (I think...) the Greek in Jude is "ekporneusasai ...apelthousai opiso sarkos heteras", out-prostituting...and  going after "sarkos heteras"--different flesh....not the same flesh...but different, by Jude's context in 1:8, referring to that of angels.

It's interesting, perhaps heartening, to know that the biblical authors were also engaged in something like biblical interpretation, and that they didn't necessarily agree with one another. Having recalled that episode in the first book of the Bible, we're about to turn our attention to the last: Revelation...

We're in for an adventure. The final book of the New Testament is The Revelation of John... and while we've dipped our toes into apocalyptic literature in the Gospels, while reading Revelation we'll be diving in, becoming fully submerged in this genre.

The Bible Brief for Revelation at the VTS website is quite good-- and reminds us that this book is prophetic in content, apocalyptic in form and pastoral in intent. 

Prophetic: interpreting history and current events as having divine relevance... this is not holy-fortune telling, and John is not pulling a Nostradamus, and writing about some time hundreds of years in the future, but is writing, albeit in code language, about what is happening in his time to the community of believers.

Apocalyptic: (from the Greek apo (remove) calupsys (cover/veil)... so John is removing the veil, revealing, the divine import of current events.

Pastoral: John's community is hurting, agonizing, under oppression and persecution, likely under Emperor Domitian. John's pastoral message is encouragement in an excruciating time: Hold on, Faithful! God wins in the end!

PBS's Frontline offers considerable resources on Apocalyptic Literature, including a resource page on Revelation, that includes some helpful unpacking of some of the symbolism.

Of all the books of the Bible, Revelation may be the most complex and challenging-- but in some ways among the most rewarding. I encourage us all to take our time, to plumb the available resources (here are some more from textweek.com) and truly savor this book.  After Revelation our New Testament schedule returns us to the Gospels-- we may, instead, wish to take more time with Revelation, if we feel so called.

As ever, thank you for being on this journey!

Peace,

Paige+ 

PS, the VTS (Virginia Theological Seminary) website has a fun collection of Bible Briefs here... you may want to bookmark this page for future reference as we work through the Old Testament Prophets...