Ekphrasis, Vision, and Persuasion in the Book of Revelation

Description

Robyn J. Whitaker demonstrates how a rhetorical analysis of the visions of God in the Book of Revelation reveals the persuasive role of the visions of God and the Lamb in John's argument against cultic images and worship. Through the rhetorical technique of ekphrasis, the author adapts his Jewish sources to make present a God who is perceived to be spatially or temporally absent. In doing so, he offers a verbal-visual image that seeks to combat the power of imperial cult images. Locating the text in its religious and rhetorical context, Robyn J. Whitaker argues that the author participates in an ongoing debate over whether writers or sculptors (artists) could best represent the gods; that is, whether God is best represented by words or images. John ultimately mounts an argument for the epiphanic power of words and of his text in particular as a way to encounter divine presence and, moreover, to facilitate worship of the divine. Cover Preface Contents List of Tables Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction A. Locating Revelation in its Literary Context I. Visuality and Sight in Revelation II. Visuality and Sight in Jewish Literature III. Visuality and Sight in Greco-Roman Literature B. Locating Revelation in its Rhetorical Context C. Revelation and Rhetorical Criticism: The Current State of Scholarship D. The Approach of this Study I. Rhetorical Criticism as Historical and Literary II. Genre, Authorship, and Dating III. Method E. Structure and Argument Chapter 2: Epiphanic Encounter and the Rhetoric of ῎Εκφρασις A. The Progymnasmata B. The Subjects of Ekphrasis in Antiquity C. Ekphrastic Traits I. Vividness ἐνάργεια II. Clarity (σαφήνεια) III. Style (λέξις) IV. Versimilitude D. Visuality and Sight in the Ancient World E. An Appeal to Pathos F. Implications for Reading Revelation I. Excursus: The Style of Revelation G. Conclusion Chapter 3: The Rhetoric of Fear in Rev 1:9–20 A. R ev 1:9-20 as an Ocular Proof I. An Appeal to Ethos II. The Vision as Testimony III. Visual Markers B. An Ekphrasis of One “Like a Son of Man” (Rev 1:12–20) C. Interpretive Puzzles D. An Appeal to Pathos I. The Orator’s Role in Creating Emotion II. Responses to Viewing III. The Rhetoric of Fear and Divine Imminence E. Fear that Foreshadows F. Conclusion Chapter 4: Game of Thrones: Ekphrastic Spectacle and Divine Worship (Rev 4:1–11) A. Rev 4:1–11 as ἔκφρασις I. New Elements in the Vision (a) Twenty-Four Elders (b) The Seven Spirits II. Reciprocal Gaze (a) Divine Gaze in Greco-Roman Culture (b) Divine Gaze in Jewish Tradition (c) Implications III. Cultic Response B. Making the Abse nt Present C. Conclusion Chapter 5: The Epiphanic Entrance of the Lamb (Rev 5:1–14) A. Who is Worthy? B. A Scroll that is Seen C. An Appeal to Pathos D. The Ekphrasis of the Lamb E. Worthy is the Lamb I. Acclamations of Worth II. A New Song III. Worthy of Wealth IV. Worthy of Worship F. Absence and Presence G. Conclusion Chapter 6: Dueling Images and Ekphrastic Competition A. Poetic and Plastic Competition in t he Ancient World B. Revelation’s Presentation of Good and Evil Images I. Evil as Deceptive II. The Dragon as Deceiver III. The False Prophet’s Great Signs IV. The Image of the Beast V. Evil as Imitator VI. Beast and Lamb VII. Secret and Coded Names VIII. Triadic Titles C. Responses to Viewing in Revelation I. Responding with Wonder (θαῦμα) II. Responding with Worship (προσκύνησις() D. Visual and Verbal Competition in Revelation E. Conclusion Chapter 7: Conclusion Bibliography 1. Primary Sources 2. Secondary Literature Index of References Old Testament New Testament Early Jewish Literature Early Christian Literature Greek and Latin Literature Index of Modern Authors Subject Index Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament