The doctrine of the Apocalypse, and its relation to the doctrine of the Gospel and Epistles of John

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NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS,

Preface

I AM aware that the title of the following volume leaves the reader to some extent in doubt whether he has to do with a treatise on biblical theology or on biblical criticism, or with a work of a mixed character. But instead of prefixing a tedious title, which would still need explaining, I have expressed myself briefly, and feel under obligation to define my meaning in a preface.

According to Keim's preface to the third volume of his History of Jesits of Nazareth, John is " historically vanquished." Such great words, often easily uttered, frequently fail to justify themselves. For me there exists no historico- philosophical necessity to reject beforehand the portrait of Christ as sketched by John ; and the generally learned and acute attacks on its authenticity, — far more than all modern defences, whether with or without limitations, more even than the thorough and ingenious researches of Weizsacker, — and, though it may seem strange, above all, the attempt of Keim, surprising in many respects, to construct the life of Jesus exclusively from the synoptical Gospels, have made it to me increasingly improbable that the ecclesiastical tradition respecting the origin of John's Gospel is untrue. But should this avowal be understood to mean that, according to my own statement, the difficulties of the question were gradually overcome in this way, I must strongly protest against such an interpretation; for, on the contrary, the more unacceptable the negative solution became to me, the less did the various attempts at a positive solution — Weizsacker' s not excepted — succeed in satisfying me. My own thoughts and efforts originated and cherished the suspicion that the key to the enigma must lie in the Apocalypse ; this book — it was before the late crusade

against the residence of the Apostle John in Ephesus — was

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still unanimously and energetically, and, as it seemed to me, with the fullest justice, ascribed by the Tubingen criticism to the beloved disciple ; and these opponents of the Gospel of John still recognised a relation between it and the Apocalypse, even as impartially as its apologists, though with reluctance, everywhere felt themselves compelled to do.

Whichever of the two sides the solution might be nearest, in order to escape the dilemma between the unsatisfactory nature of the negative criticism and the not less imperfect character of all positive attempts at a solution of this question, I began a comparison between the doctrine of the Apocalypse and that of the Gospel and Epistles of John. It was very soon clear to me, that the individuality of the first of these three was such as to render this comparison impossible before I had fully wrought out for myself its doctrinal ideas ; and though at first led only by personal interest, I did not permit myself to be intimidated either by the entire absence of a precedent to any considerable extent, or by the testimony of Baur and others respecting the great and almost unconquerable difficulties presented by the style of the Apocalypse itself. Only when, in the course of my labours, I found that the obstacles to a doctrinal representation of the Apocalypse, though considerable, and partly from other causes than its symbolic character, were not in any way insurmountable, did I decide to write with a view to publication, and thus, according to my ability, to help to supply a want in New Testament theology.

There should certainly be no need for the assurance, though I may here most expressly give it, that in my examination and representation of apocalyptic doctrine I have designedly withdrawn my attention as much as possible from the Gospel and the Epistles of John, and with all the means in my power have endeavoured to make myself thoroughly at home in the apocalyptic world of thought. That which during a series of years, in the little time left by the ordinary duties of my office and many additional interruptions caused by sickness, domestic occurrences, change of place, and teaching, I have been able gradually to examine and verify as the doctrinal contents of the Apocalypse, forms the chief part of the following treatise.

I am aware that the representation of apocalyptic doctrine here given departs considerably, and in various ways, from the

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standard forms of biblico-theological monograpliy. Some of these departures were required by the peculiarities of the Apocalypse, and the difficulty, partly lying therein, of its doctrinal treatment. To this cause may be attributed the rather frequent exegesis, which, notwithstanding modern and most recent labours, including the solid work of Diisterdieck, was — like the polemics occurring at almost every more important point — not to be omitted. Mostly, however, that in which my representation differs — and under this head will be found the close connection of the arrangement with the material, the prominence given to the least important doctrinal features, the avoidance, almost without exception, not only of parallels from other IsTew Testament writings, but also of the usual dogmatic categories and assumptions— is connected with my view of the task of special biblico-theological writings as independent preparatory labours, and not fragmentary expositions of biblical theology. May its contents prove to be justified ! The results which I have attained in this way differ throughout from many, and in important points from all, previous conceptions of the Apocalypse. In case these results should attract general attention, I expect attacks from directly opposite sides. Against these, I may beforehand plead, and I do it with all sincerity, that I can hardly hope that it has been given to me to have entirely avoided or obliterated all repetition, prolixity, insufficiency of statement, formal errors, and the like ; and I trust, therefore, that they may be ascribed as much to the numerous and profound questions in dispute as to my personal treatment. On the other hand, I can the less honourably seek shelter from opposition to my conclusions behind the difficulties of the Apocalypse, as I am firmly convinced that in all essential particulars I have found and presented the real sense of the book. Strictly as I avoided, during these doctrinal researches, even a side glance at the fourth Gospel, I could not help remembering the original cause of my labours ; and the result was well adapted to tempt me to a supplementary comparison of that result with the doctrine of the evangelist. I undertook that also, and though conscious of the essential difference between a biblico-theological and a critical examination, and though apprehensive, and not without reason, that on many sides there would be seen in this comparison " the kernel of the matter," and with it the evidence of the " apologetic tendency" of the whole of my work, I have not

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on that account been able to withhold the publication of my comparison as an appendix. That in this appendix I have omitted polemics and expositions of the literature almost entirely, will hardly call forth objection, for even without such an addition it may yet seem too dull. I do not give my comparison as final ; still I believe that if it be extended and deepened by others, — to me a desirable result of my labours, — they will arrive essentially at the same conclusion.

I send forth The Doctrine of the Apocalypse, and its Relation to the Doctrine of the Gospel and Epistles of John with sincere thanks to the authors of The Apocalypse and the Fourth Gospel, which, whether I agree or differ with them, are justly due, — the new edition of Weiss' New Testament Theology I have not been able to use, — with the further humble hope that my labours may be regarded both by friends and foes as not altogether worthless ; and, finally, in these times, and especially in this case, with the very earnest wish that at least some of my readers, instead of beginning with the sentence of condemnation, either on account of " free " ideas respecting the Apocalypse, or of a fixed position with respect to Johannine and other questions of New Testament criticism, will, without prejudice, test the aim, spirit, and results of my treatise, for it has been written in the candid and earnest pursuit of truth.

THE AUTHOR.

MOLSCHLEBEST, GOTHA,

Contents

THE DOCTRINE OF THE APOCALYPSE.