Andrew of Caesarea: Commentary on the Apocalypse
Overview
The early seventh-century Roman Empire saw plague, civil war, famine, and catastrophic barbarian invasions. Eschatological fervor ran high, as people were convinced that the end of the world was near. In this climate, a noteworthy Greek commentary on the Apocalypse was composed by Andrew, Archbishop of Caesarea, Cappadocia.
In 611, Andrew of Caesarea applied his superior exegetical skills to the challenging Book of Revelation and concluded that the end was not near, in spite of the crises that the empire was facing. Striking a balance between the symbolic language of the book and its literal, prophetic fulfillment, Andrew’s interpretation is a remarkably intelligent, spiritual, and thoughtful commentary that encourages the pursuit of virtue and confidence in the love of God for humanity.
Standing in the stream of patristic tradition, Andrew wove together pre-existing written and oral interpretations of Revelation passages by earlier Fathers and anonymous teachers, drawing together various interpretive strands and pointing to a previously unknown rich tradition of Apocalypse interpretation in the Greek East. His commentary also influenced the textual transmission of the Apocalypse and created a unique text type. Andrew’s commentary quickly eclipsed that of Oikoumenios to become the predominant and standard patristic commentary for the Greek East as well as the Slavic, Armenian, and Georgian Churches. Andrew influenced Eastern Christian eschatology and is responsible for the eventual acceptance of Revelation into the canon of the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Key Features
- Contains what became the standard patristic commentary on Revelation for Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches
- Weaves together interpretations of Revelation from earlier Fathers
- Presents a valuable contribution to Apocalypse interpretation in the Greek East
Top Highlights
“The first Latin commentary was composed by Victorinus of Pettau, around the year 300” (Page 6)
“‘Therefore, it is necessary to confess that the Church must be the one in labor and gives birth to those redeemed, as the Spirit said in Isaiah: ‘Before she labored to give birth, she escaped and gave birth to a male.’16 Whom did she escape? Either the dragon, certainly, in order for the spiritual Zion to give birth to virile people.’” (Page 137)
“it directly led to the ultimate reception of Revelation into the New Testament canon of the Orthodox Church.” (Page 3)
“Among the major patristic figures, East or West, not a single one wrote a commentary on Revelation” (Page 6)
“For by the excessiveness of the unceasing joy and magnitude of the prizes of the rewards in the struggles, they will also forget the pains and labors. And elsewhere the same <prophet> says, ‘The manner in which the new heaven and new earth, which I make, remains before me, thus will be your offspring and your name.’11 Therefore, the creation which came into being for us is to receive with us the way of life changed for the better, not proceeding to non-existence, just as neither will we <have no existence> after death.” (Page 217)
- Title: Andrew of Caesarea: Commentary on the Apocalypse
- Author: Andrew of Caesarea
- Series: The Fathers of the Church
- Volume: 123
- Publisher: Catholic University of America
- Print Publication Date: 2011
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 284
- Era: era:byzantine
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. Revelation › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9780813201238, 0813201233
- Resource ID: LLS:CMMNTYAPOCLYPSE
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:25:11Z