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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 1:5 - 1:5
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Who is the faithful witness (ho martus ho pistos). “The witness the faithful,” nominative in apposition like prōtotokos and archōn with the preceding ablative Iēsou Christou with apo, a habit of John in this book (apparently on purpose) as in Rev 2:13, Rev 2:20; Rev 3:12, etc. See this same phrase in Rev 2:13; Rev 3:14. The use of martus of Jesus here is probably to the witness (Rev 1:1) in this book (Rev 22:16.), not to the witness of Jesus before Pilate (1Ti 6:13).
The first-born of the dead (ho prōtotokos tōn nekrōn). A Jewish Messianic title (Psa 89:27) and as in Col 1:18 refers to priority in the resurrection to be followed by others. See Luk 2:7 for the word.
The ruler of the kings of the earth (ho archōn tōn basileōn tēs gēs). Jesus by his resurrection won lordship over the kings of earth (Rev 17:14; Rev 19:16), what the devil offered him by surrender (Mat 4:8.).
Unto him that loveth us (tōi agapōnti hēmās). Dative of the articular present (not aorist agapēsanti) active participle of agapaō in a doxology to Christ, the first of many others to God and to Christ (Rev 1:6; Rev 4:11; Rev 5:9, Rev 5:12.; Rev 7:10, Rev 7:12, etc.). For the thought see Joh 3:16.
Loosed (lusanti). First aorist active participle of luō (Aleph A C), though some MSS. (P Q) read lousanti (washed), a manifest correction. Note the change of tense. Christ loosed us once for all, but loves us always.
By his blood (en tōi haimati autou). As in Rev 5:9. John here as in the Gospel and Epistles states plainly and repeatedly the place of the blood of Christ in the work of redemption.