David A. DeSilva

Revelation.

The very word conjures up all kinds of crazy: crazy pictures, crazy ideas, crazed people.

And not without warrant. It is understandable why most people are a little hesitant about and leery of the Book of Revelation. It seems freaky, and the people who obsess over it are, to put it mildly, generally off-putting.

And yet there is a powerful and important message in Revelation which Christians today do well to hear. And David deSilva does well at presenting the core of that message in Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation’s Warning (affiliate link).

deSilva provides a healthy contextual understanding of the Book of Revelation in its late 1st century setting in Asia Minor, and he does well at insisting on keeping the contextual focus there. Yes, this means he accepts more of a later date but certainly that it is mostly about Rome, to the chagrin of the Jerusalem camp. And deSilva does extremely well at associating the metaphors of Revelation with the situation on the ground in the Roman Empire and regarding Rome.

The book does serve as a kind of commentary: you may not notice what the author is doing, but he is explaining the use of the imagery of Babylon, etc., in terms of Rome, and then discusses select messages to the churches of Asia Minor and the contextual challenges and what they might mean for us, and then explores the rest of the themes of the book not otherwise covered by the end.

This is not a long book but well sufficient for its purpose. All of the craziness, and all of the doctrinal argumentation and misdirections too often distract us from John’s message. Christians should take comfort and strength in the victory accomplished in Jesus, and they must be on guard regarding their relationship with the nation-states of the world and the idolatry demanded therein. It is good to be reminded of what Revelation is really about and what is actually at stake for us in according to the same spirit in the twenty-first century, and not abandon Revelation to the neo-Gnostics who tie themselves into knots attempting to identify the events of Revelation in real time.

Highly recommended for those who are a bit afraid of Revelation, and all the more so for those wholly convinced they understand Revelation.… (altro)

One of the era's premier commentaries on the letter to the Hebrews.

No one will consider the author's commentary to be "brief," as the Hebrews author asks his audience to bear with his "brief" exhortation. The commentary is wide-ranging but does focus on its theme: socio-rhetorical.

The "rhetorical" part features deSilva's continual reference to the various forms of rhetoric in use in the Greek world with ample quotations from Aristotle and others, all to display just how elevated the Hebrews author's Greek rhetoric proves to be.

The "socio" part involves well and deep researched understanding of the letter in a first century Greco-Roman milieu. deSilva provides plenty of evidence to buttress his major patron-client thesis, that the Hebrews author exhorts his audience to behave as if they were the clients of God the patron, replete with references from Seneca and others about the nature of the patron-client relationship. He is sensitive to the honor-shame dynamic in ancient society.

deSilva particularly excels at embracing the ambiguities inherent in the letter's situation: the author and audience know each other, but we do not know who they are in specifics. For instance, deSilva, of all the commentaries I read, brought out how the audience is expected to know and feel affinity for Timothy, and that is a major strike against the Jerusalem hypothesis, and much more in favor of Italy, Asia Minor, Greece, or somewhere else more firmly within the Pauline circle. And yet deSilva does well at not imposing a framework based on assumptions of audience and author, but allows the substance of the letter to inform its purpose: to encourage Christians who were starting to grow weary to persevere, always expressing gratitude to God for all He has done for them (and thus the title).

The author's exegesis is valuable. He is very much in conversation with the other commentators on Hebrews. His modern applications are uncomfortably apt.

It's a major endeavor to read and absorb this commentary, but it deserves its standing. If you are interested in Hebrews, or preaching/teaching through it, this is an essential read.… (altro)

A robust analysis of the social-scientific context of the Hebrews letter by a foremost scholar of the letter of the Hebrews.

A lot of the material in this book is consistent with deSilva's commentary on Hebrews (Perseverance in Gratitude); in this work he addresses the matter more on a topical basis and in some greater depth in some subjects.

He first approaches the author and audience of Hebrews and attempts to assess the matter based on what is found in the substance of the work. deSilva is notable for his skepticism regarding the audience being purely Jewish Christian based on the text strongly reflecting the Greco-Roman world of patron/client relations, the polished rhetoric of its author, and the association/connection with Timothy, which marks the work as in the Pauline circle, itself never based in Jerusalem, and ministering to Jewish Christians but also widely to Gentile Christians. He also notes the skillful rhetoric used by the author as one very well trained in Greek rhetorical style. deSilva reinforces all of these conclusions with deep quotations of Greek works of rhetoric and style.

The rest of the work addresses the socio-rhetorical strategy of the Hebrews author in light of his goal of encouraging Christians to endure in the faith despite weariness and social pressure to conform to societal standards. He wishes to negate the social power of shame by emphasizing the greatness of what God has done in Christ. He uses Hebrews 6 as a way of setting forth the patron/client model relation between God the patron, Christians the client, and why Christians must not forsake their Patron but continue to glorify and honor him, and how turning away from the Patron will lead to loss of salvation (and deSilva does take Hebrews 6:4-6 very seriously as written). He also describes how the Hebrews author does well at encouraging the audience to maintain their identity as God's people and to uphold their commitment to each other.

A good complement to any study of the letter to the Hebrews, even if one is also reading deSilva's commentary.… (altro)

Summary: A historical novel exploring the religious and cultural context of Ephesus during the reign of Domitian c. 90 AD.

The latest installment in the IVP Academic A Day in the Life Series acquaints us with the religious and cultural context during the reign of Domitian, around 90 AD. Like other books in the series, David deSilva uses a historical fiction approach centering around Amyntas, a prosperous Christian landowner in a context becoming increasingly hostile to Christians, who were considered atheists because they did not join in the worship of the pantheon of deities, from local deities to the cult of the Roman Emperor Domitian.

Amyntas hosts a gathering of Christians in his home. Some community leaders, who are also involved in the various religious cults, including that of the Emperor Domitian, for whom Ephesus has been designated a regional center, collude in a plot to trap Amyntas. They invite him to become a neopoioi for the temple of Domitian. This is a kind of caretaker or trustee position, that on the face of it is an honor and would make him an insider. But it would either compromise him, or "out" him as a Christian, leading to his being ostracized, or worse. A close friend, and then his own son, are beaten up for their Christian beliefs.

A Christian friend from Pergamum suggests that he "go along to get along." After all, "idols don't really mean anything." The contacts he would make, and the influence he would wield, could help the Christians. People from his house church disagree, and even as Amyntas' friend to leave. Amyntas struggles to decide. It becomes more complicated when a letter arrives from the John, in exile on the isle of Patmos.

Through the narrative and sidebars, we learn about the pantheon of gods, and emperor worship, and how Christians worshiped. An underlying theme is the power of imperial Rome and how that power was projected through the imperial cult, and how imperial Rome was a drain on the rest of the empire. Although set two millenia ago, the narrative raises questions about what Christian faithfulness looks like in relation to the competing claims of empire. We are forced to consider what we would do, or perhaps are doing, when faced with the conflicting claims to allegiance of empire, and the kingdom of God. David deSilva portrays the subtle guise in which the temptation may come, the allure of the inner ring, the justifications one may use, and the real consequences of Christian faithfulness many through the ages have faced.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.… (altro)