Mobile Ed: AR271 The Seven Cities of Revelation (2 hour course - audio)
Overview
To understand the book of Revelation better, one must understand the world in which its first audience lived. This principle is basic to the interpretation of any New Testament letter, but it’s easy to forget when reading Revelation. Many people get caught up in the visions and forget that, from beginning to end, Revelation had to make good sense to Christians in Asia Minor toward the end of the first century; if it was going to speak to anyone at all, it had to speak to them.
In this course, Dr. David deSilva provides a visual tour of the local contexts of the seven cities addressed in Revelation. Beginning at the island of Patmos, Dr. deSilva examines the archaeology of these sites, explaining what this can tell us about the everyday world the early Christians encountered in these places. This course—enriched with photographs of the sites—will give you a sense of how the first audiences in these cities might have encountered the visions and oracles of Revelation.
This is the audio only version of AR271 The Seven Cities of Revelation. To purchase the full course, click here.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion you should be able to:
- Discuss the archaeological and material contexts of the seven churches addressed in Revelation
- Explain facets of the cultural, political, economic, and ideological contexts of these cities as evidenced from the material remains
- Make connections between the biblical text and the historical/material context
Course Outline
Introduction
- Introducing the Speaker and the Course
Unit 1: Patmos
- The Island of Patmos
Unit 2: Ephesus
- The Civic Agora
- Down Curetes Street
- Downtown Ephesus
- The Harbor Area and Temple of Artemis
- Imperial Cult and Ephesus: Part 1
- Imperial Cult and Ephesus: Part 2
Unit 3: Smyrna
- Archaeological Landmarks of Smyrna
- Smyrna and the Imperial Cult
Unit 4: Pergamum
- The Upper and Middle City
- The Lower City and the Asklepion
- Pergamum and the Imperial Cult
Unit 5: Thyatira
- The City of Thyatira
Unit 6: Sardis
- Hellenistic and Romans Sardis
- The Gymnasium and Synagogue
Unit 7: Philadelphia
- The City of Philadelphia
Unit 8: Laodicea
- The Southern City of Laodicea
- The Central and Western City of Laodicea
Conclusion
- Conclusion to the Course
Product Details
- Title: AR271 The Seven Cities of Revelation (audio)
- Instructor: David A. deSilva
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2018
- Product Type: Logos Mobile Education
- Resource Type: Audio
- Length: 2 hours
Partially included
Dr. David A. deSilva, PhD, is the Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio, where he’s taught since 1995.
He’s written over 20 books in the areas of New Testament and Second Temple Judaism, including Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation's Warning (Hendrickson, 2013), The Jewish Teachers of Jesus, James, and Jude (Oxford, 2012),Seeing Things John’s Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (WJKP, 2009), An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation (IVP, 2004), Introducing the Apocrypha (Baker Academic, 2002), and Perseverance in Gratitude: A Socio-rhetorical Commentary on the Epistle “to the Hebrews” (Eerdmans, 2000). He’s also interested in spiritual formation, having written Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation through the Book of Common Prayer (IVP, 2008) and Praying with John Wesley (Discipleship Resources, 2001).
He’s ordained in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, and serves as director of music and organist at Christ United Methodist Church in Ashland. He and his wife, Donna Jean, have three sons.