Dating the Book of Revelation in Light of Tradition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.296Keywords:
Revelation, dating, Nero, Domitian, Irenaeus, Eusebius, Tertullian, Victorinus, JeromeAbstract
Christian tradition has not been consistent with regards to the date of the Book of Revelation. According to ancient sources, the book was written under Claudius, Nero, Domitian, or Trajan. Among these four traditions, the strongest is that associated with Domitian. The first proponent of this view was Irenaeus. He was quoted by Eusebius, Victorinus, Jerome and several other Church Fathers, because they believed he was a disciple of a disciple of John the Apostle, the author of the Book of Revelation. Consequently, Irenaeus was commonly treated as the best source of information on this subject. This view was dominant among Biblical scholars until to the present day. Evidence for the earlier date under Nero is even older, but not as strong. This view was rejected by majority of Church Fathers. At the present time, only some scholars prefer the Neronic date.
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