Revelation 1:4,Revelation 1:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:4-6

Salutation and song. The writer of the book again gives us his name: "John." It is extremely unlikely, as the name John was by no means uncommon, that any other John than the apostle would have given his name thus briefly and without a word of explanation. £ Those to whom the book was addressed are "the seven Churches which are in Asia." It does not lie within our province here to inquire whether these seven Churches are selected from others," to symbolize the whole Church of God." We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:4-7

The apostolic salutation. The servant John, by no other name known, in fulfilment of his duty as the one by whom the great revelation was "sent and signified," hurries to pronounce his salutation to "the seven Churches which are in Asia"—typical examples of the one Church in its sevenfold, universal experience. I. The salutation INVOKES BLESSINGS : 1 . Of the highest character: "grace and peace." The entire revelation is, for the Church, a revelation of "grace and peace." It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:4-8

The address and greeting. Of this section only Revelation 1:4-6 are, strictly speaking, the salutation; Revelation 1:7 , Revelation 1:8 constitute a kind of summary, or prelude— Revelation 1:7 being more closely connected with what precedes, Revelation 1:8 with what follows. The salutation proper ( Revelation 1:4-6 ) should be compared with the salutations in St. Paul's Epistles. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches which are in Asia - The word “Asia” is used in quite different senses by different writers. It is used:(1)As referring to the whole eastern continent now known by that name;(2)Either Asia or Asia Minor;(3)That part of Asia which Attalus III, king of Pergamos, gave to the Romans, namely, Mysia, Phrygia, Lycaonia, Lydia, Carla, Pisidia, and the southern coast - that is, all in the western, southwestern, and southern parts of Asia Minor; and,(4)In the New Testament,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 1:4-6

Revelation 1:4-6. John The dedication of this book is contained in the 4th, 5th, and 6th verses; but the whole Revelation is a kind of letter. To the seven churches which are in Asia That part of the Lesser Asia, which was then a Roman province. There had been several other churches planted here; but it seems these were now the most eminent. And it was among these that St. John had laboured most during his abode in Asia. In these cities there were many Jews. Such of them as believed, in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:1-8

1:1-20 JOHN’S INTRODUCTIONGreetings to the seven churches (1:1-8)Jesus Christ received this revelation from God and passed it on to John by a series of visions that an angel interpreted for him. John, in turn, was to pass this revelation on to God’s persecuted people in Asia Minor, for it concerned events about to take place that would affect them. All who took notice of the book would be blessed, both the person who read it to the church and those who listened as he read it (1:1-3).The writer... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 1:4

seven. See App-10 and App-197 . churches. Greek. ekklesia. App-120 and App-186 . in. App-104 . Asia. Not Europe, and consequently not Christendom. Grace. App-184 . from. App-104 . Him. . . come. Greek paraphrase of "Jehovah". See App-4 . Which = Who, and so throughout Revelation. Spirits. App-101 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne.To the seven churches ... It is evidently John's preference for the number seven that lies behind this book's being directed to only seven congregations, because the New Testament names others in the same province, namely, Troas, Colossae and Hierapolis. Among the Hebrews, this was a sacred number often used to symbolize the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 1:4

Revelation 1:4. John to the seven churches— The apostle dedicates his book, Rev 1:4-6 to the seven churches of the Lydian or Proconsular Asia, wishing them grace and peace from God the Father, as the author and giver; from the seven spirits, the representatives of the Holy Ghost, as the instruments; and from Jesus Christ the Mediator,whoismentioned last, because the subsequent discourse more immediately relates to him. To the dedication he subjoins a short and solemn preface, Rev 1:7-8 to shew... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 1:4

4. John—the apostle. For none but he (supposing the writer an honest man) would thus sign himself nakedly without addition. As sole survivor and representative of the apostles and eye-witnesses of the Lord, he needed no designation save his name, to be recognized by his readers. seven churches—not that there were not more churches in that region, but the number seven is fixed on as representing totality. These seven represent the universal Church of all times and places. See TRENCH'S... read more