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Rev_4:11. Not without significance, the elders who, as representatives of the redeemed, stand in a still closer relation to their Lord and God than the four beings, address the Enthroned One: ὁ κυρ . καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν .[1832]
ἌΞΙΟς ΕἸ ΛΑΒΕἸΥ . Cf. Rev_5:12. That God not only when he is worshipped, but also when he exterminates his enemies, receives glory,[1833] does not belong here.
ΤῊΝ ΔΟΞ ., Κ . Τ . Λ ., the elders say, because in replying they look back in a certain respect to Rev_4:8.[1834]
ΚΑῚ ΤῊΝ ΔΈΝΑΜΙΝ . While the representatives of even creation are right in offering thanks (Rev_4:8), especially suitable in the mouth of the elders, who although naturally also belonging to creation, yet with a certain objectivity regard the work of creation ( ὅτι σὺ ἔκτισας , κ . τ . λ .), is the thankful acknowledgment of the power of the Creator revealed therein.[1835]
ΚΑῚ ὉΙᾺ ΤῸ ΘΈΛΗΜΆ ΣΟΥ ἮΣΑΝ . The Vulg., correctly: “On account of thy will.” Luther, incorrectly: “Through thy will.” Concerning ΔΙᾺ with the accus. to designate the ground, not the means, cf. Joh_6:57; Winer, p. 372.
In regard to ἮΣΑΝ , the reference may be considered impossible: “In thy disposition from eternity, before they were created;”[1836] and just as little dare the ἘΚΤΊΣΘΗΣΑΝ be applied to regeneration through Christ,[1837] if the ἮΣΑΝ be correctly referred to the creation. Bengel’s explanation of the ἮΣΑΝ : “All things were, from the creation to the time of this ascription of praise, and still henceforth. Hereby the preservation of all created things is praised,” is also artificial; while his explanation of ἐκτίσθησαν : “Since thou hast created all things, they remain as long as thou wilt have them,” is utterly incorrect. The ἮΣΑΝ is taken mostly[1838] as synonymous with ἘΚΤΊΣΘΗΣΧΝ ; but ἮΣΑΝ is not equivalent to ἘΓΈΝΟΝΤΟ or ἘΓΕΝΉΘΗΣΑΝ .[1839] On the contrary, after the divine work of creation is mentioned ( ἜΚΤΙΣΑς ), the idea recurs to the same point with vivid clearness: as all things were, which before were not. The καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν is, then, not synonymous with the ἮΣΑΝ , but presents expressly the precise fact upon which the ἮΣΑΝ depends: “they were created.” Thus the lauded work of the Creator ( ΣῪ ἜΚΤΙΣΑς ) is made manifest even to the creatures by the idea in its two modifications of the ἮΣΑΝ and ἘΚΤΊΣΘΗΣΑΝ .
[1832] See Critical Notes.
[1833] Beng. Cf. Rev_11:17.
[1834] Beng.
[1835] Cf. Rom_1:20.
[1836] N. de Lyra.
[1837] Grot.
[1838] “They came into being:” De Wette. Cf. C. a Lap., Eichh., Herd., Hengstenb., Ebrard.
[1839] Psa_33:9.