Search

[English Version] Smyrna, das heutige Izmir, liegt auf einer Halbinsel im westlichen Anatolien nahe der Mündung des Hermos. Äolische Griechen ließen sich um 1000 v.Chr. dort nieder und traten bald dem Ionischen Bund bei (Strabo XIV 1,4). Verteidigungsmauern aus Lehmziegeln und ein Athene-Tempel deuten darauf hin, daß S. zu dieser Zeit ein Stadtstaat war. 333 wurde S., das zwischenzeitlich unter pers. Herrschaft stand, von Alexander dem Großen eingenommen und neu gegründet (Pausanias VII 5, 1–3), 2…

[German Version] The Greek word διατριβή/ diatribḗ has a range of meanings including “conversation,” “discourse,” “lecture,” and even “school.” The diatribe is distinguished by its dialogical character, including the use of imaginary opponents, hyphothetical objections, and false conclusions. It reflects the Socratic use of ἐλεγκτικὸς λόγος/ elenktikós lógos, “censure,” and προτρεπτικὸς λόγος/ protreptikós lógos, “persuasion.” Recent discussion of the diatribe focuses on three issues: 1. Is the diatr…

[German Version] modern Izmir, was located on a peninsula in western Anatolia where the Hermus river entered the Aegean sea. Aeolian Greeks settled there c. 1000 bce and soon joined the Ionian League (Strabo XIV 1.4). Mud brick defense walls and a temple of Athena indicate that Smyrna was then a city state. In 333 bce Smyrna, which had in the meantime been under Persian rule, was captured and was re-founded by Alexander the Great (Pausanias VII 5.1–3). It was subject to Pergamum in 288 bce, and in 133 bce was willed to Rome by Attalos III. Twice mentioned in the New Testament (Rev 1…

[German Version] I. Exegesis – II. Art History I. Exegesis 1. Historical issues a. Authorship The author of Revelation or the Apocalypse repeatedly tells us in the framework of his book that his name is John (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8). This, together ¶ with the frequent use of first-person verb forms that regularly punctuate the vision narratives, underscores the author's role as witness to the revelatory visions he narrates, a strategy typical of early Jewish apocalypses (Apocalypse). The pseudonymous character of all early Jewish apocalypses implies that the name John is a pseudonym. This proposal, however, has found little scholarly support, primarily because the name was not uncommon. The Greek form ᾿Ιωάννης/Iōánnēs transliterates the Hebrew name יוֹחָנַן/Jôchānan, a theophoric name meaning “Yahweh is [or has been] gracious” (2 Kgs 25:3; 1 Chron 26:3; Neh 6:18; Jer 40:8), a Jewish name which occurs with some frequency in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The author's Jewish origin is further supporte…

[English Version] I. Religionswissenschaftlich 1.  Der BegriffProphetie übersteigt in der den Ereignissen zugewiesenen Bedeutung Individualerfahrungen in Mystik, Ekstase oder bei Inspiration sowie situationsbezogene Aktivitäten etablierter Funktionsträger, etwa von Priestern (Priestertum), Schamanen oder Wahrsagern (Divination/Mantik). Von Propheten (P.) auf die jeweilige Gottheit zurückgeführte Offenbarungen haben wegweisenden ethischen Charakter für eine Gemeinschaft.Der Begriff προϕη´της/prophē´tēs entstammt der griech. Religionsgesch., wo er ähnlich funktio…

[German Version] I. Religious Studies 1. The term. In the significance ascribed to religious phenomena, prophecy surpasses individual experiences of mysticism, ecstasy, and inspiration, as well as the situational activities of established functionaries such as priests (P…

[German Version] I. Religious Studies – II. New Testament – III. Church History – IV. North America – V. Systematic Theology – VI. Islam – VII. China I. Religious Studies Millenarianism (chiliasm) refers to the notion of a 1,000-year (Lat. millenarius, Gk χίλια/ chília) period ¶ immediately preceding the Last Judgment and the end of the world. This co…

…

[German Version] I. Names and Terms – II. Religious Studies – III. Ancient Near East and Old Testament – IV. New Testament – V. Church History…