City of Gods: The New Jerusalem of John’s Revelation in Early Christianity

Nathan Betz, Ph.D. (KU Leuven), holds a DFG Eigene Stelle fellowship at the University of Regensburg. He publishes on early Christian history, theology, and biblical exegesis. A co-founder of the Revelation Reception Network, he also co-edited Revelation's New Jerusalem in Late Antiquity (Mohr Siebeck, 2023).

• AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsGeneral IntroductionPart1 The Beginning until Alexandria (until 190)1 Introduction2 Papias of Hierapolis and His Presbyterial Tradition: Sourcing the Tradition3 Hermas of Rome: Tower, City, and Bride—An Early Allegorical Approach4 Justin of Rome: Millennialism Goes to Rome5 Melito of Sardis: Reconstructing a Lost Witness6 New Prophecy: An Early Orthodox Perspective7 Irenaeus of Lyons: The End of the Beginning8 Vestiges and Possible Allusions9 Part1 ConclusionPart2 The Greek Authors (190–313)10 Introduction: The New Jerusalem and John’s Revelation in Rome and Alexandria11 Clement of Alexandria: Flying to Jerusalem12 The Hippolytan Corpus: The Christological Turn13 Origen: “The City Is the People”14 Gregory of Neocaesarea: The Pedagogue and the Polis15 Methodius of Olympus: A Greek Synthesis16 Part2 Conclusion: What Has Alexandria to Do with Jerusalem?Part3 The Latin Authors (190–313)17 Introduction: The New Jerusalem in Carthage and Beyond18 Tertullian: First Among the Latins19 Perpetua and Saturus: Dreaming of Jerusalem20 The Two Mountains Sinai and Zion: A Holy and New City21 Cyprian of Carthage: City of Gods22 Victorinus: The First Latin Exegete23 Commodian: Golden Camp, Golden Age24 Lactantius: Reigning Together with God25 Part3 Conclusion: Millennium and MysticismGeneral Conclusion Eschaton and Telos: The New Jerusalem in Early ChristianityBibliographyIndexes

"For the scholar interested in how the Apocalypse of John was received in the early church this is a splendid work. Betz’s work should be applauded for the rigor with which he treats each author. Prized scholarly volumes are supposed to launch further discussion, debate, and synthesis; for this, Betz’s volume should indeed be prized."Josh Roach, Point Loma Nazarene University, in: Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies, 9/2025 "Betz has presented the most thoroughgoing and insightful account of the early Christian reception of Revelation’s New Jerusalem figure to date."Miriam de Cock, Dublin City University, in: Biblica, 106/4 (2025) "Die Studie von Betz ist daher hoch willkommen. [...] Damit ist schon gesagt, dass sich Betz’ Studie vorzüglich zum Überblick über die Quellen des 2. bis beginnenden 4. Jhs. eignet. [...] Die Studie von Betz ist allen, die die Entwicklung der Vorstellung vom neuen Jerusalem und das millenarisch-chiliastische Denken von Papias bis Commodian und Laktanz verfolgen wollen, unbedingt zu empfehlen."Martin Karrer, Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal, in: Novum Testamentum, 68/3 (2026)