The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting

by Colin J. Hemer

Publishers:

Eerdmans; Dove Booksellers

, 2001

Overview

This modern classic by Colin Hemer explores the seven letters in the book of Revelation against the historical background of the churches to which they were addressed. Based on literary, epigraphical, and archaeological sources and informed by Hemer’s firsthand knowledge of the biblical sites, this superb study presents in the clearest way possible a picture of the New Testament world in the later part of the first century and its significance for broader questions of church history.

Contents

Top Highlights

“There is no ground for the definitive identification of ‘Jezebel’.⁵⁰ The probable explanation is simply that she was an unknown woman who had undue influence in the local church and met the problem of Christian membership of the trade-guilds with permissive antinomian or Gnostic teaching.” (Page 117)

“I conclude that there is good reason for seeing Rev. 3:17 against the background of the boasted afluence of Laodicea, notoriously exemplified in her refusal of Roman aid and her carrying through a great programme of reconstruction in a spirit of proud independence and ostentatious individual benefaction. The flourishing church was exposed as partaking of the standards of the society in which it lived (cf. SC, p. 428). It was spiritually self-sufficient and saw no need of Christ’s aid.” (Page 195)

“We conclude that Nicolaitanism was an antinomian movement whose antecedents can be traced in the misrepresentation of Pauline liberty, and whose incidence may be connected with the special pressures of emperor worship and pagan society.” (Page 94)

“The Christian was faced with a cruel dilemma. His safety was assured only by preparedness, in time of need, to identify himself either with pagan society, by sacrifice to the emperor and the expected participation in the religious aspects of guilds and social life (the ‘Nicolaitan’ answer), or with Judaism on whatever terms would gain him acceptance in the synagogue, that is, probably, at least an implicit denial of his Lord.” (Page 10)

“The salvation of the cross was for the repentant sinner, in marked contrast with that of Artemis, which gave the criminal immunity to continue his crimes.” (Page 51)

Praise for the Print Edition

This is an excellent work, indeed the best on the relevant historical background of the seven letters of Revelation.

—G. K. Beale in Trinity Journal

This book is one of the best contributions ever published on the letters of Revelation.

—Gerhard Meier in Theologische Literaturzeitung

Product Details

• Title: The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia
• Author: Colin J. Hemer
• Series: Eerdmans Biblical Resources Series
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2000
• Pages: 364

About Colin J. Hemer

Colin J. Hemer (d. 1987) was a research fellow at Tyndale House in Cambridge, England.