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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 1:4 - 1:4
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
To the seven churches which are in Asia (tais hepta ekklēsiais tais en tēi Asiāi). Dative case as in a letter (Gal 1:1). John is writing, but the revelation is from God and Christ through an angel. It is the Roman province of Asia which included the western part of Phrygia. There were churches also at Troas (Act 20:5.) and at Colossal and Hierapolis (Col 1:1; Col 2:1; Col 4:13) and possibly at Magnesia and Tralles. But these seven were the best points of communication with seven districts (Ramsay) and, besides, seven is a favorite number of completion (like the full week) in the book (Rev 1:4, Rev 1:12, Rev 1:16; Rev 4:5; Rev 5:1, Rev 5:6; Rev 8:2; Rev 10:3; Rev 11:13; Rev 12:3; Rev 13:1; Rev 14:6.).
From him which is (apo ho ōn). This use of the articular nominative participle of eimi after apo instead of the ablative is not due to ignorance or a mere slip (lapsus pennae), for in the next line we have the regular idiom with apo tōn hepta pneumatōn. It is evidently on purpose to call attention to the eternity and unchangeableness of God. Used of God in Exo 3:14.
And which was (kai ho ēn). Here again there is a deliberate change from the articular participle to the relative use of ho (used in place of hos to preserve identity of form in the three instances like Ionic relative and since no aorist participle of eimi existed). The oracle in Pausanias X. 12 has it: Zeus ēn, Zeus esti, Zeus essetai (Zeus was, Zeus is, Zeus will be).
Which is to come (ho erchomenos). “The Coming One,” futuristic use of the present participle instead of ho esomenos. See the same idiom in Rev 1:8; Rev 4:8 and (without ho erchomenos) in Rev 11:17; Rev 16:5.
From the seven spirits (apo tōn hepta pneumatōn). A difficult symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit here on a par with God and Christ, a conclusion borne out by the symbolic use of the seven spirits in Rev 3:1; Rev 4:5; Rev 5:6 (from Zec 4:2-10). There is the one Holy Spirit with seven manifestations here to the seven churches (Swete, The Holy Spirit in the N.T., p. 374), unity in diversity (1Co 12:4).
Which are (tōn article Aleph A, ha relative P).
Before his throne (enōpion tou thronou autou). As in Rev 4:5.