Steven J. Friesen - Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins

Reading Revelation in the Ruins

Steven J. Friesen

2001

OxfordNew York

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Copyright 2001 by Steven J. Friesen

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Friesen, Steven J.

Imperial cults and the Apocalypse of John : reading Revelation in the ruins /

Steven J. Friesen.

p.cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-19-513153-3

1. Bible. N.T. RevelationCriticism, interpretation, etc.2. Emperor worshipRome.

3. Christianity and other religionsRoman.I. Title.

BS2825.6.E46 2000

228'.067dc2100-026806

To John and Anne Friesen in honor of their lives of service on their 56th anniversary

This book is beginning to seem like a group project, for I have relied on many friends at every stage of the process. My thanks go out to those who helped me formulate my ideas early on: David Barr, Jill Raitt, Leonard Thompson, Mike White, and my colleagues in the Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Reading the Apocalypse: The Intersection of Literary and Social Methods. Their input enriched my thinking and enhanced this study. Several people helped me better understand the archaeological materials relevant to this study, especially Dieter Knibbe, Ulrike Outschar, Peter Scherrer, and Hilke Thr from the Austrian Archaeological Institute; engiz Iten from the Efes Mzezi, Seluk; Wolfgang Radt of the German Archaeological Institute; Bert Smith and Chris Rattee of Aphrodisias; and Crawford H. Greenewalt, Jr., and Marcus Rautman from the joint excavations at Sardis. Their hospitality is exceeded only by their knowledge of the sites and by their patience with inquisitive visitors. Long before this project ever started, Helmut Koester and David Mitten piqued my interest in the interpretation of archaeological materials. Even now, several years later, I see their influence in my research.

Some friends read parts or all of the manuscript, and thereby saved me from many problems: Paul Johnson, Leonard Thompson, Sharon Welch, Chris Wilson, and the anonymous readers from Oxford University Press. Theirs was not an enviable task, and I appreciate their gracious methods of correction. Thanks also go to Theo Calderera, Peter Ohlin, and Cynthia Read for editorial assistance.

Funding for the research came from several sources: the Research Board of the University of Missouri, the Office of the Provost of the University of Missouri-Columbia, the Research Council of the University of Missouri-Columbia, and the Society of Biblical Literature Research and Publications Committee. Their generosity made it possible for me to set aside the time necessary to complete this project. Thanks are also due to my fellow faculty members in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia for their commitment to research and teaching and for their collegial advice and support.

My wife, Janice, and our sons, David and Dan, endured a great deal with this project, especially in absences (physical and otherwise). Thanks for your faithfulness.

Finally, it is an honor for me to dedicate this book to my parents, John and Anne Friesen, for there is no one I admire more.

Columbia, Missouri S. J. F.

December 31, 1999