Food, Wine, Meals, and the Christian opponents of John in the book of Revelation

What is it about?

Food and dining references have generally been treated individually in the Apocalypse rather than as a motif of the text. Reading for typical daily practices such as eating and drinking rather than specific local or historical references or biblical allusions provides a window into the social world of the audience and the ideological agenda of the text. This article argues that the text employs banqueting traditions that would be familiar to Christian communities in urban Asia Minor. John uses aspects of the literary symposium tradition to construct the moral character of several actors in the text and to connect his opponents in the Asian communities with the satanic forces.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This article addresses the food and wine images comprehensively in terms or standard, daily meal practices in the Greco-Roman world.