Table Of ContentRevelation 21–22 in Light of Jewish and
Greco-Roman Utopianism
Biblical Interpretation Series
Editors in Chief
Paul Anderson (George Fox University)
and Yvonne Sherwood (University of Kent)
Editorial Board
Akma Adam (University of Glasgow)
Roland Boer (University of Newcastle, Australia)
Musa Dube (University of Botswana)
Jennifer L. Koosed (Albright College, Reading, USA)
Vernon Robbins (Emory University)
Annette Schellenberg (Theological Seminary, San Francisco)
Carolyn J. Sharp (Yale Divinity School)
Johanna Stiebert (University of Leeds, UK)
Duane Watson (Malone University, USA)
Ruben Zimmermann ( Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz)
VOLUME 118
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/bins
Revelation 21–22 in Light of Jewish
and Greco-Roman Utopianism
By
Eric J. Gilchrest
LEIDEN • BOSTON
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/bins 2013
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ISSN 0928-0731
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To Kendel,
with whom I journey to find utopia,
and without whom utopia is entirely unimaginable
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments .......................................................................................... xi
1. Introduction ................................................................................................ 1
1.1. The Task of the Project ................................................................... 1
1.2. Definition of Utopia ........................................................................ 1
1.3. Methodology ...................................................................................... 3
1.4. The Topoi of Utopia ......................................................................... 9
1.5. Significance of the Project ............................................................. 10
2. Greco-Roman Utopia ............................................................................... 12
2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 12
2.2. The Categories of Utopian Expression ...................................... 14
2.2.1. Political Utopianism .......................................................... 14
2.2.2. Primitivistic Utopianism ................................................... 17
2.2.3. Afterlife Utopianism .......................................................... 23
2.3. The Topoi of Greco-Roman Utopias ........................................... 29
2.3.1. Setting .................................................................................... 30
2.3.2. Wealth and Communism ................................................. 36
2.3.3. Temples .................................................................................. 46
2.3.4. Rivers/Water ......................................................................... 48
2.3.5. Wine ........................................................................................ 50
2.3.6. Food ........................................................................................ 50
2.3.7. Pleasant Fragrances ........................................................... 53
2.3.8. Music ...................................................................................... 54
2.3.9. Light ........................................................................................ 56
2.3.10. Climate ................................................................................... 58
2.3.11. War and Peace ..................................................................... 59
2.3.12. Citizens .................................................................................. 66
2.3.13. Work ....................................................................................... 74
2.3.14. Divine Presence ................................................................... 76
2.4. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 81
3. Jewish Utopia ............................................................................................. 83
3.1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 83
3.2. The Categories of Utopian Expression ...................................... 84
viii contents
3.2.1. Edenic Utopianism ............................................................ 86
3.2.2. Nationalistic Utopianism ................................................. 99
3.2.3. Eschatological Utopianism .............................................. 106
3.3. The Topoi of Jewish Utopias ......................................................... 123
3.3.1. Setting .................................................................................... 123
3.3.2. Wealth ................................................................................... 125
3.3.3. The Temple .......................................................................... 137
3.3.4. Rivers/Water ........................................................................ 141
3.3.5. Wine ....................................................................................... 147
3.3.6. Food ........................................................................................ 149
3.3.7. Pleasant Fragrances ........................................................... 163
3.3.8. Music ...................................................................................... 166
3.3.9. Light ....................................................................................... 167
3.3.10. Climate .................................................................................. 172
3.3.11. War and Peace .................................................................... 173
3.3.12. Citizens of Utopia .............................................................. 179
3.3.13. Work ....................................................................................... 192
3.3.14. Divine Presence .................................................................. 195
3.4. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 198
4. The Utopia of Revelation 21–22 ............................................................ 201
4.1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 201
4.2. The Audiences of Revelation ........................................................ 205
4.3. Revelation 21–22 as Utopian Vision ............................................ 208
4.3.1. Setting .................................................................................... 209
4.3.2. Wealth ................................................................................... 214
4.3.3. Temple ................................................................................... 223
4.3.4. Rivers/Water ........................................................................ 227
4.3.5. Wine ....................................................................................... 235
4.3.6. Food ........................................................................................ 235
4.3.7. Pleasant Fragrances ........................................................... 242
4.3.8. Music ...................................................................................... 246
4.3.9. Light ....................................................................................... 248
4.3.10. Climate .................................................................................. 251
4.3.11. War and Peace .................................................................... 252
4.3.12. Citizens .................................................................................. 254
4.3.13. Work ....................................................................................... 260
4.3.14. Divine Presence .................................................................. 264
4.4. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 265
contents ix
5. Conclusion .................................................................................................. 270
Appendices
Appendix A .................................................................................................. 279
Appendix B .................................................................................................. 284
Bibliography ..................................................................................................... 289
Index Ancient Sources .................................................................................. 309
Index of Subjects ............................................................................................. 329
