John's Gospel has traditionally been regarded as the least apocalyptic document in the New Testament. This exciting new collection redresses the balance by exploring the ways in which the apocalyptic literature of Second Temple Judaism has contributed to the theology and outlook of John's Gospel. Given that John, like the Jewish apocalyptic texts, is primarily concerned with the theme of revelation, the contributors examine how apocalyptic ideas can help to explain the Johannine portrayal of Jesus as the messenger sent from heaven to reveal the divine mysteries, as well as the Gospel's presentation of the activity of the Spirit, its understanding of evil, and the intended effects of this 'apocalypse in reverse' on its readers and hearers. The highly distinguished contributors include, John Ashton, Christopher Rowland, April DeConick, Judith Lieu and Jorg Frey.

Introduction - Christopher Rowland and Catrin H Williams PART I: INTIMATIONS OF APOCALYPTIC1. Intimations of Apocalyptic: Looking Back and Looking Forward - John Ashton, University of Oxford, UK 2. John and the Jewish Apocalypses: Rethinking the Genre of John's Gospel - Benjamin Reynold, Tyndale College, Canada 3. From the Apocalypse of John to the Johannine 'Apocalypse in Reverse': Intimations of Apocalyptic and the Quest for a Relationship - Ian Boxall, Catholic University of America, USA 4. God's Dwelling on Earth: 'Shekhina-Theology' in Revelation 21 and in the Gospel of John - Jörg Frey, University of Zurich, Switzerland 5. Unveiling Revelation: The Spirit-Paraclete and Apocalyptic Disclosure in the Gospel of John - Catrin H Williams, University of Wales Trinity St David, UK6. 'Intimations of Apocalyptic': The Perspective of the History of Interpretation - Christopher Rowland, University of Oxford, UK PART II: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND ITS APOCALYPTIC MILIEU: SATAN AND THE RULER OF THIS WORLD7. Why are the Heavens Closed? The Johannine Revelation of the Father in the Catholic-Gnostic Debate - April D DeConick, Rice University, USA8. The Ruler of the World, Antichrists and Pseudo-Prophets: Johannine Variations on an Apocalyptic Motif - Jutta Leonhardt-Balzer, University of Aberdeen, UK9. Evil in Johannine and Apocalyptic Perspective: Petition for Protection in John 17 - Loren T. Stuckenbruck, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany PART III: JOHN AND APOCALYPTIC: TEXT AND READERS10. Text and Authority in John and Apocalyptic - Judith M Lieu, University of Cambridge, UK 11. The Reader as Apocalyptist in the Gospel of John - Robert G. Hall, Hampden-Sydney College, USA 12. Apocalyptic Mystagogy: Rebirth-from-above in the Reception of John's Gospel - Robin Griffith-Jones, King's College London, UK Epilogue - Adela Yarbro Collins, Yale Divinity School, USAIndex