Sacra Pagina - by Wilfrid J Harrington

About the Book

"With updated bibliography"--Copyright page.

Book Synopsis

Revelation, a prophetic apocalyptic letter, is a profoundly Christian text. Father Harrington is concerned to open up Revelation and to convey its Christian message.

After an introduction he provides a new translation of each section of the writing, followed by notes which deal with mattes of text and content that require clarification. He then treats the passage as a whole by discussing its literary character, its theological significance, and its relevance to our situation. Bibliographies direct the reader to important modern studies.

Father Harrington (1927-2025), brings his scholarship to the Book of Revelation and conveys its Christian message. He puts the work in its historical and social setting a first-century c.e. province of the Roman Empire and explores its social and religious background and its literary character. Through Father Harrington we hear clearly the challenge of John, the prophet, to the Churches of his time and to ours not to compromise the gospel message.

Review Quotes

Have you preached from the Revelation recently? Have you taught a study of the book? Harrington's seriously pastoral and scholarly book would be an excellent place to begin.Homiletic

This commentary provides a lucid translation, clear explanatory notes and interpretation of each passage, and also applies the lessons of the Apocalypse to our contemporary experience. Fr Harrington brings a clear understanding to this difficult book above all in his highlighting of two dominant motifs, the assurance of final victory and the ongoing challenge of living in a hostile world dominated by evil and by tyrannical pagan religion. These motifs underpin the various visions and symbolic representations. He writes: 'The decisive battle in God's war against evil will not be at Armageddon; it was fought on the cross.' Fr Harrington does not shrink from asking the hard questions posed by the Book of Revelation, as for example when he asks: 'Can we honestly claim that religion, even our Christian religion, has not been tyrannical, that it does not still, in some measure, dominate?' This is a book highly to be recommended to student, preacher, professional theologian and biblical schola

While the struggle between good and evil is a messy affair, Harrington's thesis that Revelation provides a positive perspective for Christians is convincing in detail and substance.The Canadian Catholic Review

One of the unique features of this volume is the printing of Harrington's continuous translation. . . . the introduction addresses a number of the most pertinent critical issues and the notes and interpretation sections offer steady guidance.The Expository Times

After an introduction, Fr. Harrington provides a new translation of each section of the writing, followed by notes which deal with matters of text and content that require clarification. He then treats the passage as a whole, by discussing its literary character, its theological significance, and its relevance to our situation. A comprehensive bibliography is included to direct readers to important modern studies.Crux

Scholars, pastors, and theological students who have good background in Scripture and theology will benefit much from this book. It should however, be on the shelf of every university library and seminary.Catholic Library World