Book Review: For Everyone Bible Study Guide: Revelation

I’ve reviewed some previous titles in Tom Wright’s series of bible study aids on the New Testament, the “For Everyone Bible Study Guides”, before, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I initially thought about adding some thoughts about the one on Revelation to that review, but when it arrived I realised it was as thick as all three stuck together, and so I felt it deserved its own review! Furthermore, given that Revelation is a notoriously difficult book of the Bible to study and apply, I’m always grateful for accessible and usable resources to aid in our understanding and Bible study.

Much of what I said about style and format in my previous review of the other BSG’s still stands, with all the utility and straightforwardness of previous books. There is a helpful introduction to Revelation, “Getting the Most out of Revelation”, which is followed eventually by a map of the seven churches of Asia, who are the recipients of the letters in the early chapters of the book. Sandwiched between these two bits of contextualisation are helpful “Suggestions for Individual Study” and “Suggestions for Group Members”. I’ve used the BSG on James for my own study, and found it worked well in a devotional context, and I would imagine they would make a good small group study too.

Tom Wrights years of study (and book writing, under his real name, N.T.Wright) have endowed him with a winsome and insightful mind, as well as a surprisingly readable style. Whilst some may not agree with everything he writes, he still has much to offer us. This is very apparent here, as indeed it is in the “New Testament For Everyone: Revelation” commentary on which this study guide is based. Wright opens his book with an acknowledgement; “many people today regard Revelation as the hardest book in the New Testament”, which is probably true! But we then get a challenge to whet our appetites with, as Wright boldly asserts that “this book in fact offers one of  the clearest and sharpest visions of God’s ultimate purpose for the whole creation, and of the way in which the powerful forces of evil, at work in a thousand ways but not least in idolatorous and tyrannous political systems, can be and are being overthrown through the victory of Jesus the Messiah and the consequent costly victory of his followers”. Bold words indeed - but I’m inclined to agree, and through the rest of the guide Wright gently leads us toward that conclusion.

Wright’s helpful summary of the structure of the book in his introduction sets the scene for his logical layout of the studies. Without sharing a study online (probably not allowed!) I can’t really persuade you of the utility of this study guide, but in my opinion it is a good roadmap through revelation. I’d recommend this to people running small groups, looking to read Revelation themselves, or people looking to build a library of resources. Its a great addition to the “For Everyone” Empire, and I will come back to it if I ever lead a small group again!

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Other books in the “For Everyone” stream include a set of beginner Old Testament commentaries by John Goldingay, such as “1 and 2 Chronicles for Everyone”, and also books on church calendar and so on, as well as more general books like the recently published and excellent “New Testament Prayer for Everyone" by Tom Wright.