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Rev_1:2. What Christ showed the seer, and what the latter beheld ( ὅσα εἰδε ), that he has testified[504] as a revelation of God through Christ ( τ . λογ . τ . θ . κ . τ . μαρ . Ἰης . Χρ .; cf. Rev_1:1) in this book, in order that it may be read and kept.[505] According to the connection borne by the clear correspondence of the individual parts, the entire Rev_1:2 belongs to no other than the present book.[506] But not a few expositors have referred the entire Rev_1:2 to the Gospel of John.[507] Others understand τ . λογ . τ . θ . as referring to the Gospel, and τ . μαρτ . Ἰησ . Χρ . to the Epistles of John; and, finally, the ὅσα ( τε ) εἷδε to the present revelation.[508] To the former, then, the εἱδε is understood in the sense of 1Jn_1:1, as referring to the immediate eye-witness of the apostle who had seen the miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. With this false view of the whole are connected particular errors; viz., that τ . μαρτ . Ἰης . Χρ . is explained as “the testimony concerning Christ,”[509] or when the correct recognition of the subjective genitive is applied to a special testimony,[510] and τ . λογ . τ . θ . is understood[511] of the hypostatic Logos.[512] The occasion for referring Rev_1:2 not, or not exclusively, to the present book, lies in the aor. ἐμαρτυρ . and the false reading ὄσα τε εἰδε . So formerly by Ewald: “who professed the Christian religion, and declared the visions which he saw.” He must thus regard the ἐμαρτ . repeated by a species of zeugma, in order to be able to refer the ὅσα ( τε ) εἷδε , according to Rev_1:19, to the present revelation; while he must interpret the preceding words, as he cannot properly refer to the Fourth Evangelist,[513] in an entirely general sense. But the connection between Rev_1:1-3, is decisive against Ebrard, while the aor. ἐμαρτυρ . is very easily explained by the fact that John pictures his readers[514] to himself.[515] Besides, that the revelation of Jesus Christ[516] belongs to the Christians who are to hear it,[517] is necessary, from the fact that John by his testimony[518] brings it to them; this occurs in the present book,[519] whose contents he therefore charges them to hear and keep. Against Ebrard and Klief, who acknowledge the correct reading, ὅσα εἶδε , testimony is given especially by the indubitable significance of the expression in Rev_1:19, and all other passages in which John designates his reception of the vision of the revelation by εἶδον . But if the ὅσα εἶδε belongs to the visions here described, and yet cannot designate the position of the writer as an apostolic eye-and-ear witness,[520] and if the τε is false, then these words must form a suitable apposition to τ . λογ . τ . θ . κ . τ . μαρτ . Ἰησ . Χρ . These two expressions are, however, perfectly clear already from Rev_1:1. The entire revelation, as here published in writing[521] in various λόγοι τ . προφ .,[522] is a λόγος τ . θεοῦ , because it was originally given by God;[523] it is further a μαρτυρία Ἰησ . Χρ ., since Christ, the faithful witness,[524] “shows” it.[525] Discrepant with this is Ewald, ii.: “The testimony of Jesus Christ to the truth of this word.” The ἐμαρτύρησε , according to its meaning, finally can be said as well of the Prophet John[526] as of the angel,[527] who in like manner interprets to the gazing prophet the revelation made in the visions, as the latter interprets it to Christians.[528] Even to Christ, as the communicator of the revelation, is the μαρτυρεῖν to be ascribed.
[504] In writing, Rev_1:3.
[505] Rev_1:3.
[506] So Andr., Areth., C. a Lap., Beza, Beng., Züll., Bleek (Beitr., p. 192), Hofmann (Weiss, u. Erf., ii. 308), De Wette, Lücke (Einl., p. 510 sqq.), Stern, Ewald, ii.
[507] Ambrosiast., Beda, Nic. de Lyra, Aretius, Grot., Wolf., Eichh., Ebrard (who at the same time refers to “the apostolic activity” of John “in other respects”), Klief.
[508] Coccej., Vitr. Cf., besides, Hengstb.
[509] N. de Lyra.
[510] Joh_18:37. Oeder in Wolf.
[511] Ribera, Ebrard.
[512] Cf. Rev_19:13.
[513] “Who did not blush to publicly confess and defend the Christian religion.”
[514] Cf. Rev_1:3.
[515] “Because, when the book was read in Asia, he already had written it” (Beng.).
[516] Rev_1:1.
[517] Rev_1:3.
[518] Rev_1:2. Cf. Rev_1:11.
[519] Rev_1:3.
[520] Act_1:21 sqq. Klief.
[521] Cf. Rev_21:5, Rev_22:10.
[522] Rev_1:3; Rev_22:18.
[523] Cf. Rev_22:6.
[524] Rev_1:5. Cf. Rev_22:20.
[525] Rev_1:1.
[526] Against Ebrard.
[527] Rev_22:16.
[528] Cf. Rev_19:10.