Early Christianity

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

Hippolytus of Rome’s Commentary on Daniel

November 7, 2009 by Frank Leave a Comment

Hippolytus was a presbyter in the church at Rome about 200 AD. It is he who started the genre of literature we know as biblical commentaries, being the first to write a running commentary on one book of the Bible. The book he chose was the prophet Daniel. Hippolytus’ church was suffering under the persecution of the emperor Septimus Severus, and as a pastor he used the examples of Daniel, Susanna, and the three youths to encourage his congregation to endure the persecution.

There is a new book out by W. Brian Shelton entitled Martyrdom from Exegesis in Hippolytus: An Early Church Presbyter’s Commentary on Daniel. It’s put out by Paternoster Press in their series “Studies in Christian History and Thought.” Since Hippolytus’ commentary is still in Greek and unavailable in English translation, Shelton’s book is the best means of ascertaining the contents of the commentary (unless you read patristic Greek).

I recommend the book for those interested in the subject of persecution and martyrdom in early Christianity, early Christian eschatology, patristic biblical commentaries, or the book of Daniel. It contains some interesting information. For example, Hippolytus’ Daniel commentary tells about a Christian leader in his day who prophesied that the Lord was coming soon, and consequently led his congregation out to the desert to wait for Jesus. People quit their jobs and went along. But when the leader’s prophecy did not come true, they were all humiliated, and returned to their former lives. Hippolytus says that Christians in persecution cannot always expect the Lord to intervene by His coming; it is God’s will for some to endure martyrdom.

Martyrdom from Exegesis is available for purchase from the publisher and Amazon.com.
For a full review of Martyrdom from Exegesis in Hippolytus, refer to the Book Review page.