The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John

LOREN L. JOHNS
The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of
John
An Investigation into Its Origins and Rhetorical Force
[Die Christologie des Lammes in der Johannesapokalypse. Eine Studie zu Hintergrund und
rhetorischer Überzeugungskraft des Bildes.]
Published in English.
This is a study of the symbolic meaning of arnion (lamb) in the Apocalypse of John as the
central feature of the Christology of Revelation. Loren L. Johns argues that arnion did not refer
to an aggressive, militant ram in extant Greek literature prior to the Apocalypse, nor did it
normally denote the expiatory sacri cial lamb. Rather, it symbolized vulnerability in the extant
literature.
The author examines the symbolic antecedents of arnion in the Hebrew Bible, while ranging
throughout the literary evidence from the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman era, even
touching on the evidence from Homer and Aesop's Fables traditions. He analyzes closely the
evidence that has been o ered in support of a militant lamb-redeemer gure in the
apocalyptic traditions of Early Judaism and concludes that none of the writings that predate
the Apocalypse and that are cited in support of this tradition is free from Christian
editorializing. Furthermore, the Christology of the Apocalypse is not militant. The blood on the
lamb in Rev. 19 is not from the defeated enemies of God; it is from the slaughter of the lamb.
Loren L. Johns concludes that the Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse has an ethical force –
2003. XI, 276 pages.
WUNT II 167
ISBN 978-3-16-148164-2
sewn paper 54,00 €
that the author develops his Lamb Christology speci cally to encourage his audience to the
kind of faithful witness that he was convinced would result in their death as innocent lambs in
much the same way that Jesus' witness did.
Loren L. Johns Born 1955; 1977–1985 Pastor; 1985–1988 Theology Book Editor; 1993–2000
Assistant and Associate Professor of Religion, Blu ton College, Ohio; 1998 Ph.D.; Currently
Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament, Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana.
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