I just finished working through Gordon Fee’s brand new commentary on the Book of Revelation and it is excellent. It has been commonly observed that people either tend to avoid the Book of Revelation altogether (I’m tempted to say “avoid it like the plague”) or to become inordinately obsessed with it (see Fee, p. ix). Well, here is a short and insightful commentary for everyone that will help this magnificent book regain its rightful place in the life of the church and in our theology.
The text is Gordon D. Fee, Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary
It is well written, accessible, and grounded in the actual text of Revelation (as opposed to trading in speculation based on current events or novelistic interests). Scholars will turn to Fee’s work for a refresher on Revelation as well as to see the important perspective of this renowned evangelical New Testament specialist. Non-scholars are particularly well served as they will find here a lucid commentary presented almost entirely in English. Indeed, this commentary conveniently incorporates the entire text of the Book of Revelation in the 2011 edition of the NIV, the latest revision of this fine translation of the Bible for which Fee served on the translating committee.
The discussion is substantial but not exhaustive. Other scholars are rarely cited and more could be said on just about every issue; but Fee makes sage exegetical decisions and wisely keeps the discussion moving. This way the reader does not get lost in the details and the danger of losing sight of the forest for the trees is avoided. Do I agree with every interpretive decision Fee makes? That would be too much to ask. For example, I question his identification of “the great city” in 11:8 with Rome. But he remains a model of careful bible exegesis.
Finally, Fee’s commentary is truly edifying – another way it is true to John’s intention as he wrote the vision which is the Book of Revelation. To quote Fee,
John first of all warns the church that suffering and death lie ahead…But the prophetic word of this book is also one of encouragement, as John repeatedly announces that God, not the Empire, is in control of history; that the church will triumph even through death; [and] that God will finally bring justice. [pp. xvii – xviii].
The only thing that is truly off-putting is the price, which stands at $39. I’m not sure how this can be justified for a trade paperback, except that it is from a small publisher. What to do? Perhaps you might “just say no” to two lesser books and purchase this one; or instead purchase a copy for the church library and share it. I would share mine, but it is all marked up – in pencil of course! (See my earlier post “How Do You Read a Book?”)
By the way, there is a recent interview with Gordon Fee in which he discusses Revelation and bible interpretation available here.
Q & A (based on actual correspondence)
What’s Fee’s take?
Hard to give a short answer to this, or maybe I need to ask, “Fee’s take on what?” But briefly, Fee sees John as writing (that is, receiving a vision) at a time PRIOR to any outbreak of major persecution. In fact, Antipas at the church of Pergamum (Rev 2:13) may have been the first martyr among the churches there in Asia Minor. John prophetically saw that the situation was going to become much, much more bloody. He wrote to strengthen the church then – and always – to live faithfully for Christ even to the point of death. He also foresaw something that no one could have imagined at this time of Roman power – that God would bring it crashing down. And not only it, but every power that exalts itself against God and his redemptive purposes.
I meant is he a historicist, etc.?
Fee is constantly asking, “What would this have meant to John and the churches he is writing to?” And it is a glorious and powerful meaning, not all of which is yet “fulfilled”. As far as the four “ists” of traditional Revelation interpretation go (Preterist, Historicist, Futurist, and Idealist), Fee does not discuss them and after a quick review of those positions I find that he does not fit neatly into any of them. For a overview of those basic interpretive positions, see Robert R. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (Rev. Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998), pp. 24-29 “Approaches to Interpretation.”
By: Ray Pennoyer (Dec 12, 2010; revised Dec 15, 2010)
