Francis Gumerlock

Books and Articles on the Theology of Grace and Eschatology

Eschatology

Recent Publication of Cassiodorus’s Brief Explanations of the Apocalypse

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The full title of the book, hot off the press in August 2022, is entitled Cassiodorus, St. Gregory the Great, and Anonymous Greek Scholia. Writings on the Apocalypse. It is Volume 144 in Fathers of the Church series published by The Catholic University of America Press. Written by me, Mark DelGogliano, and T.C. Schmidt, it contains translations of Cassiodorus’s Brief Explanations of the Apocalypse, Testimonies of Gregory the Great on the Apocalypse by pseudo-Paterius, and anonymous Scholia o the Apocalypse. An introduction to each text is provided by the respective translator.

This book provides a window into how the Apocalypse, or Book of Revelation, was interpreted in late antiquity. Two of the three texts appear for the first time here in English translation. For those curious about how the Book of Revelation, with its many mysteries, was interpreted by early Christian writers, the book is sure to elucidate and educate. To purchase a copy, please click here.

New Translation of a Commentary on the Apocalypse by Pseudo-Cyril of Alexandria

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Happy New Year! I am happy to announce the publication of Pseudo-Cyril of Alexandria. Commentary on the Apocalypse by Francis X. Gumerlock with Francesca Lecchi and Tito Orlandi (Middletown, RI: Stone Tower Press, 2021). It was just released about two weeks ago.

This book provides the first English translation of a sixth-century commentary on the Book of Revelation. I collaborated with translator Francesca Lecchi and one of the world’s leading Coptic scholars, Tito Orlandi. The book also provides a transcription of the commentary in the Sahidic Coptic language, and a comprehensive Introduction discussing the manuscript, audience and setting, exegetical method, theology, authorship, date, and sources.

The book is reasonably priced at $24.95. I hope you will obtain a copy, and recommend that your institution’s acquisition librarian acquire it for their library.

For an order form, click here.

To read a review of this book, click here

Wishing the Lord’s blessings on all of us in 2022.
Frank

Exegesis of the Apocalypse in the Tenth Century

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Interpretation of the Book of Revelation in the early Middle Ages has received much scholarly attention, especially the commentaries from the sixth through ninth centuries. Did you ever wonder how Christians in the tenth century interpreted Revelation? My essay, entitled “Exegesis of the Apocalypse in the Tenth Century,” was recently published as Chapter 8 in the Cambridge Companion to Apocalyptic Literature edited by Colin McAllister.

Early Latin Commentaries on the Apocalypse by Francis X. Gumerlock

The article examines three texts from the tenth century: the Commentary on the Apocalypse by Arethas of Caesarea, the Catechesis Celtica, and an anonymous Gloss on the Apocalypse of John. At this time none of these texts are available in English translation. The chapter explains the provenance and purpose of each text, provide summaries and details of their contents, along with excerpts from them in English. The chapter ends with a translation of the entire anonymous Gloss on the Apocalypse of John.

If you are interested in how the Book of Revelation has been interpreted in Christian history, or if you collect commentaries on the Book of Revelation from ancient and medieval writers, I encourage you to purchase a copy of this book, which is available in affordable paperback. Click here.