Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##

Vol. 24 (2025)

Scientific articles

Rev 18:4 in the context of the tradition of the flight of Christians to Pella

Published: 2026-03-12

Abstract

In this article, the author seeks answers to the question of possible connections between the call to leave Babylon in Revelation 18:4 and the tradition of Christians fleeing to Pella in connection with the Jewish War (66–70 AD). The analysis of the status quaestionis showed that scholars overlook the existence of such a link. The reason for this is the interpretation of Babylon/the Great Harlot as a metaphor for imperial Rome. In the author’s opinion, linking Babylon with Rome raises a number of problems, especially since another metaphor appears in Rev 17–18 – the Beast – which points to imperial Rome. Referring to contemporary research, the author assumes that the Great Harlot is Jerusalem, personifying the whole of Israel in the first century CE. An analysis of ancient texts from the Christian milieu reveals certain common elements that allow us to assume that in the early stages of Christianity there was a tradition of the flight of Christians to Pella. This tradition contains three elements: 1) a mention of the fact that Christians escaped from Jerusalem; 2) a mention of travelling to a safe place in the land (which may indicate Pella); 3) a mention of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place shortly after the flight. The above elements are also visible in Rev 18.

References

  1. Apocalypse de Baruch. Introduction, traduction du syriaque et commentaire by P. Bogaert. Tome II (SCh 145), Paris 1969. [Google Scholar]
  2. Aune D. E., Revelation 6-16 (WBC 52b), Nashville 1998. [Google Scholar]
  3. Aune D. E., Revelation 17-22 (WBC 52c), Dallas 1998. [Google Scholar]
  4. Bach R., Die Aufforderungen zur Flucht und zum Kampf im alttestamentlichen Prophetenspruch (WMANT 9), Neukirchen 1962. [Google Scholar]
  5. Baltzer K., Deutero-Isaiah: A Commentary on Isaiah 40-55 (Hermeneia), tłum. M. Kohl, Minneapolis 1999. [Google Scholar]
  6. Barker M., The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Edinburgh 2000. [Google Scholar]
  7. Beagley A. J., The „Sitz im Leben” of the Apocalypse with Particular Reference to the Role of the Church’s Enemies (BZNW 50), Berlin – New York 1987. [Google Scholar]
  8. Beale G. K., The Book of Revelation. A Commentary on the Greek Text (NIGTC), Grand Rapids 1999. [Google Scholar]
  9. Berges U., Jesaja 40-48 (HThKAT), Freiburg – Basel – Wien 2008. [Google Scholar]
  10. Boring M. E., Revelation (Int), Louisville 1989. [Google Scholar]
  11. Campbell G., Antithetical Feminine-Urban Imagery and a Tale of Two Women-Cities in the Book of Revelation, „Tyndale Bulletin” 55(2004), s. 81–108. [Google Scholar]
  12. Corsini E., Apocalisse prima e dopo, Torino 1980. [Google Scholar]
  13. Court J. M., Myth and History in the Book of Revelation, Atlanta 1979. [Google Scholar]
  14. Desprez P. S., Daniel and John: The Apocalypse of the Old and that of the New Testament, London 1878. [Google Scholar]
  15. Epiphanius’ Treatise on Weights and Measures. The Syriac Version, ed. J. E. Dean, Chicago 1935. [Google Scholar]
  16. Euzebiusz z Cezarei, Historia Kościelna, tłum. A. Caba na podstawie tłumaczenia ks. A. Lisiec­kiego, opr. H. Pietras, Kraków 2013. [Google Scholar]
  17. Fanning B., Revelation (ZECNT), Grand Rapids 2020. [Google Scholar]
  18. Gentry K. L., The Divorce of Israel. A Redemptive-Historical Interpretation of Revelation. Volume II: Revelation 10:1–22:21, Acworth 2024. [Google Scholar]
  19. Gregg S., Revelation: Four Views. A Parallel Commentary, Nashville 1997. [Google Scholar]
  20. Józef Flawiusz, Wojna żydowska, tłum. J. Radożycki, Poznań 1980. [Google Scholar]
  21. Kistemaker S. J., Exposition of the Book of Revelation (NTC 20), Grand Rapids 2001. [Google Scholar]
  22. Koester C. R., Revelation: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (AB 38a), New Haven – London 2014. [Google Scholar]
  23. Koester C. R., The Origin and Significance of the Flight to Pella Tradition, „Catholic Biblical Quarterly” 51(1989), s. 90–106. [Google Scholar]
  24. Krodel G. A., Revelation (ACNT), Minneapolis 1989. [Google Scholar]
  25. Ladd G. E., A Commentary on the Revelation of John, Grand Rapids 1972. [Google Scholar]
  26. Lüdemann G., Die Nachfolger der Jerusalemer Urgemeinde. Analyse der Pella-Tradition, w: tenże, Paulus, der Heidenapostel. Band II. Antipaulinismus im frühen Christentum, Göttingen 1983, s. 265–286. [Google Scholar]
  27. Massyngberde Ford J., Revelation. Introduction, Translation, and Commentary (AB 38), New Haven – London 2008. [Google Scholar]
  28. Malina B. J., Pilch J. J., Social-Science Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Minneapolis 2000. [Google Scholar]
  29. Mayo P. L., „Those who call themselves Jews”. The Church and Judaism in the Apocalypse of John, Eugene 2006. [Google Scholar]
  30. Minear P. S., I Saw a New Earth. An Introduction to the Visions of the Apocalypse, Washington – Cleveland 1968. [Google Scholar]
  31. Moloney F. J., The Apocalypse of John: A Commentary, Grand Rapids 2020. [Google Scholar]
  32. Mounce R. H., The Book of Revelation (NICNT), Grand Rapids 19973. [Google Scholar]
  33. Mussies G., The Morphology of Koine Greek as Used in the Apocalypse of St. John. A Study in Bilingualism (NovTSup 27), Leiden 1971. [Google Scholar]
  34. Osborne G. R., Revelation (BECNT), Grand Rapids 2002. [Google Scholar]
  35. Provan I., Foul Spirits, Fornication and Finance: Revelation 18 form an Old Testament Perspective, „Journal for the Study of the New Testament” 64 (1996), s. 81–100. [Google Scholar]
  36. Satake A., Die Offenbarung des Johannes (KEK 16), Göttingen 2008. [Google Scholar]
  37. Schüssler Fiorenza E., Revelation: Vision of a Just World, Minneapolis 1991. [Google Scholar]
  38. Schreiner T. R., Revelation (BECNT), Grand Rapids 2023. [Google Scholar]
  39. Strecker G., Das Judenchristentum in den Pseudoklementinen (TU 70), Berlin 19812. [Google Scholar]
  40. Tacyt, Dzieła, z języka łacińskiego przeł. S. Hammer, Warszawa 2004. [Google Scholar]
  41. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis. Book I (Sects 1–46). Second Edition Revised and Expanded (Nag Hammadi and Manichean Studies 63), translated by Frank Wiliams, Leiden – Boston 2009. [Google Scholar]
  42. Water R. van de, Reconsidering the Beast from the Sea (Rev 13,1), „New Testament Studies” 46(2000), s. 245–261. [Google Scholar]
  43. Wenham G. J., Genesis 15–50 (WBC 2), Dallas 1994. [Google Scholar]
  44. Witherington B., III, Revelation, Cambridge 2003. [Google Scholar]
  45. Witulski T., Die vier ‘apokalyptischen Reiter’ Apk 6,1-8. Ein Versuch ihrer zeitgeschichtlichen (Neu-)Interpretation (BThSt 154), Neukirchen–Vluyn 2015. [Google Scholar]
  46. Yarbro Collins A., Crisis and Catharsis: The Power of the Apocalypse, Philadelphia 1984. [Google Scholar]
  47. Yarbro Collins, The Political Perspective of the Revelation to John, „Journal of Biblical Literature” 96(1977), s. 241–256. [Google Scholar]

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.