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Tyconius, Exposition of the Apocalypse

June 20, 2017 by Frank Leave a Comment

My English translation of Tyconius’s Exposition of the Apocalypse has been published. It is in Volume 134 of the Fathers of the Church series. I hope you get a copy and enjoy reading his explanations of the Book of Revelation.

Tyconius wrote this Exposition about 380 AD. It is useful in many ways. He interpreted John’s visions to make them relevant for the church of all times, similar to modern “idealist” interpretations. He also believed that some passages in Revelation were symbolic of the future persecution of Antichrist, the Second Coming, and the Last Judgment.

He believed that the Book of Revelation is recapitulatory, rather than visions of events that reflect chronological order. On some familiar passages and themes, Tyconius saw the 144,000 as a symbol of the whole church. Likewise, the two witnesses are symbolic of the church prophesying in both testaments. Those sitting on thrones and reigning for a thousand years represent the present reign of the saints; and the first resurrection “is in this life through forgiveness of sins.”

The introduction and notes to the translation of Tyconius were written by David Charles Robinson of Toronto.

For a review of our book in Augustinian Studies 50:2 (2019), click here.

To order Tyconius of Carthage, Exposition of the Apocalypse from Amazon, click here.

I leave you with an encouragement from a Syriac commentator: “Let us spiritually refresh ourselves in the Apocalypse of the Son of God which is very dear and wonderful.”

Fulgentius of Ruspe & Newly Translated Texts

June 28, 2014 by Frank Leave a Comment

I am elated to announce the forthcoming publication in Fathers of the Church of important writings of Fulgentius of Ruspe (d. 533) never before published in English. The translators are Donald Fairbairn, professor of Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his colleague Rob Roy McGregor.

McGregor and Fairbairn’s translation of Fulgentius’ Letter 17 is most welcome. This letter is really a treatise, sixty-seven chapters in length, on Christology and the theology of grace.

Also included in the forthcoming volume are Fulgentius’ three books On the Truth of Predestination and Grace. These were very influential upon early medieval authors like Isidore of Seville and Gottschalk of Orbais. In fact in the late 700s Pope Hadrian was trying to settle a dispute in Spain about predestination, and said the problem would be solved if they just understood the views of Fulgentius.

McGregor and Fairbairn’s volume of translated texts of Fulgentius was published in 2013 in the Fathers of the Church series of Catholic University of America Press. For my review of their book, published in Augustinian Studies in 2014, go to the sidebar of this website, scroll down to the bottom and look for it under “Books Reviewed by the Author.”

For more information about Fulgentius’ theology of grace, see my Fulgentius of Ruspe on the Saving Will of God now available in paperback from Mellen Press for half the price of the hardcover.

Best,
Frank

Revelation and the First Century

February 13, 2013 by Frank Leave a Comment

I am happy to announce the publication of my latest book entitled Revelation and the First Century: Preterist Interpretations of the Apocalypse in Ancient Christianity.

The Book of Revelation is a fascinating book filled with wonder, mystery, and triumph. In its visions one sees references to the coming of Antichrist, the last persecution, the last battle, the Second Coming of Christ and the general resurrection accompanying it, the Last Judgment, and everlasting life.

Many people today, however, believe that its visions contain prophecies about historical events that were going to take place shortly, that is, in the first century of Christian history. Those who oppose such a lens for interpreting the visions of the Apocalypse say that this “preterist” view of Revelation is a relatively recent phenomenon not found in early Christianity. Revelation and the First Century challenges that idea by showing that many writers in ancient and medieval Christianity indeed saw references to first century historical persons and events in John’s visions.

For example, some interpreted the “hour of testing” in Rev 3:10 as a time of trial that happened immediately after the death of the emperor Nero. Others saw in the four horsemen of the Apocalypse a description of the deeds of early Roman emperors. Some interpreted the 144,000 sealed in Rev 7 as a picture of Jewish believers in the first century. Others expressed the opinion that Nero was the beast of Rev 13, and that some of the prophecies of the Book of Revelation were fulfilled in the Roman-Judean war of 68-70 AD.

Revelation and the First Century provides citations in English translation from dozens of early commentaries showing just how they often interpreted the visions of the Apocalypse in light of first century historical events.

View the Table of Contents, PDF

To read a review by Jack Kettler, click here.

For those interested in ancient biblical interpretation, the Book of Revelation, eschatology, ancient history, and ecclesiastical history, I trust the book will be an interesting read and a valuable resource.

To order from the publisher, click here.

To order from Amazon, click here.