Fitting Writing into Sabbatical Plans
As I end this semester and anticipate the beginning of a new one in January 2009, I confess to you that I am looking forward to my sabbatical that begins June 1, 2009 and runs to the end of that year.
Several months ago I shared with you the anxieties I was feeling with regard to writing a commentary on Revelation. Many of your comments were posted on the website and many of you sent personal notes to me encouraging me to work on a commentary on Revelation that would highlight the theme of discipleship.
Several weeks ago I came across a statement attributed to Mark Twain: “The researches of many commentators have already thrown much darkness on this subject, and it is probable, that, if they continue, we shall soon know nothing at all about it.” He was writing about commentaries on Scripture! Indeed, I believe I have read some of those commentaries over the years.
Your kind and encouraging words helped me see that the weariness I refer to above was having too much impact. I am feeling a bit weary, and it is not the end-of-the-semester weariness, but a deeper one. Lord willing, I have decided to pursue the project. But I am not committing that I will get the entire commentary done by the end of 2009. I need a break from research and writing (as well as from classroom responsibilities and dean-ing work). I will try my best to write a commentary that sheds light on the subject but I also need time to do other things. What those other things will be are not clear at this point.
In the days ahead I invite you to share with me what kind of commentary you need. I will share with you in future posts the shape of the project has already begun developing. Indeed, I have written up nearly two hundred pages of initial observations.
Of course, your prayers are appreciated.
Related posts:
I would like to see a commentary which shows the Old Testament prophetic language and how it is used in Revelation. You know what im talking about? Those OT figures of speech which were originally used in a book like Jeremiah or Ezekiel and John uses them to make a point. You can show how it was originally used and how John is using that original meaning to make a specific application to his audience.
Bob,
I would really love to see a commentary that spends more time exploring the images and themes of Revelation within its literary style. Such a commentary might be structured more thematically around Revelation’s central images (throne, temple, Lamb, people of God, evil, judgment, etc.) than verse-by-verse. Such a commentary would help us preachers and teachers to be continually seeing Revelation as a whole than atomistically. There are lots of good verse-by-verse commentaries of Revelation. I haven’t seen too many that have really helped me see the grand story through all of the different lenses/perspectives that God used to communicate to John, and by extension, His people.