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Rev 21:2. Ἱερουσαλὴμ) It is not without reason that John always writes in his Gospel Ἱεροσόλυμα, of the old city; in the Apocalypse always Ἱερουσαλὴμ, of the heavenly city. Ἱερουσαλὴμ is a Hebrew name, the original and more holy one: Ἱεροσόλυμα, afterwards in ordinary use, is a Greek name, and rather used in a political sense. St Paul observes the same difference, when refuting Judaism, Gal 4:26 (comp. the same Epistle, Rev 1:17-18, Rev 2:1); Heb 12:22, although at other times he uses them indiscriminately, and says to the Romans and Corinthians, for the sake of σεμνότητος [dignity] and to win their favour, Ἱερουσαλήμ.-εἶδον, I saw) The more recent Editions have incorrectly introduced the name of John in this verse.[224] It was the beginning of an ecclesiastical section [used in the services of the Church]; but the text itself most closely connects together the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem. The new city has no connection with the millennium, as Lange and some others judge, Comm. Apoc. f. 241, etc.; but it belongs to the state of perfect renovation and eternity, as is shown by the series of visions, the magnificence of the description, and the opposition to the second death: ch. Rev 20:11-12, Rev 21:1-2; Rev 21:5; Rev 21:8-9, Rev 22:5.-καταβαίνουσαν, coming down) This may be taken in vision, respecting the act of descending: in the reality signified, without reference to that act, it may be understood of the state of the Divine συγκατάβασις to men. For in Topographies, words which convey the idea of motion, often signify a condition, and among them this very verb of descending: Psa 104:8; Jos 15:3; Jos 15:10, etc. The whole city is inclusive and included; in so far as it includes the inhabitants, it descends.
[224] ABh Iren. and best MSS. of Vulg. have not ἐγὼ Ἰωάννης, which Rec. Text has inserted without good authority.-E.