Of all the books in the New Testament,
Revelation is probably the one most discussed in American
culture but at the same time the one least read and understood.
Admittedly, Revelation is a difficult book to read, and
no one has ever claimed to understand it completely. This
course will explore the basic principles of sound interpretation
of the Book of Revelation. It will look at how Catholics
interpret Revelation in two main ways: by applying historical-critical
methodologies and by exploring the rich traditional interpretations
of the ancient Greek and Roman fathers (patristics). It
will help you recognize that a symbolic narrative such as
Revelation invites infinite interpretation, but that some
of those interpretations are better than others.
Unit 1: Revelation as a whole and within
context of other ancient apocalypses.
Unit 2: Authorship and social setting
of the Book of Revelation.
Unit 3: Interpretation of the seven-sealed
scroll.
Unit 4: Revelation 12 and the number,
666.
Unit 5: The Roman Empire and interpretations
by the Church Fathers, like St. Augustine.
- Created by Theology Professor.
- Six weeks in duration, with one week
for orientation.
- Typically 15-20 students in each course.
- Lectures delivered by video via web-streaming.
A CD-ROM of lecture also available for purchase.
- All lecture text available online in course.
- Supplemental readings are provided
to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links
provided for all readings.
- Weekly written assignments (150-200
words) required.
- Weekly facilitator moderated chat sessions
with students in course.
All course materials available online
in the course.
Requirements for course include:
- Weekly viewing or reading of lecture
texts.
- Participation in class discussion using
discussion area (minimum 2 comments, questions or responses
weekly.)
- Weekly written assignment (150-200
words.)
- Weekly chat session with other course
participants (3 required throughout course.)
- Course evaluation.
- 3 to 5 hours a week (time varies from
student to student depending on your learning style and
schedule.)
A Certificate of Completion awarding 25
Contact Hours will be sent upon completion of all course
requirements.
This course offers an optional Supplemental
CD. While the video lectures for the course are available
in the course via webstreaming, Supplemental CDs containing
the video lectures can be purchased for viewing the lecture
without being connected to the Internet or for reviewing
the lecture after the course has ended.
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Leslie Baynes teaches
and engages in research at Missouri State University
in Springfield, Missouri. She earned her Master’s
degree in theology with high honors at the University
of Dayton and her Ph.D. in Christianity and Judaism
in Antiquity at the University of Notre Dame (2005).
The author of many scholarly articles, she has also
written for the Wall Street Journal. Her book, My
Life is Written Before You: The Heavenly Book Motif
in Judeo-Christian Apocalypses 200 BCE-200 CE,
is under contract with Brill. Dr. Baynes’ research
interests focus on apocalyptic literature, especially
Revelation and the Jewish pseudepigraphal book of
1 Enoch. Recent honors include being named Regional
Scholar by the national body of the Society of Biblical
Literature (2008).
Ph.D.,
University of Notre Dame, 2005 |
