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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 1:1-2

Here we have, I. What we may call the pedigree of this book. 1. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is so; for all revelation comes through Christ and all centres in him; and especially in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son, and concerning his Son. Christ, as the king of his church, has been pleased thus far to let his church know by what rules and methods he will proceed in his government; and, as the prophet of the church, he has made known to us the things... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 1:1-3

1:1-3 This is the revelation revealed by Jesus Christ, the revelation which God gave to him to show to his servants, the revelation which tells of the things which must soon happen. This revelation Jesus Christ sent and explained through his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word sent to him by God and attested by the witness borne by Jesus Christ everything which he saw. This book is called sometimes the Revelation and sometimes the Apocalypse. It begins with the words "The... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 1:1-3

This short section gives us a concise account of how revelation comes to men. (i) Revelation begins with God, the fountain of all truth. Every truth which men discover is two things--a discovery of the human mind and a gift of God. But it must always be remembered that men never create the truth; they receive it from God. We must also remember that that reception comes in two ways. It comes from earnest seeking. God gave men minds and it is often through our minds that he speaks to us.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 1:1-3

Twice the word servant appears in this passage. God's revelation was sent to his servants and it was sent through his servant John. In Greek the word is doulos ( Greek #1401 ) and in Hebrew 'ebed ( Hebrew #5650 ). Both are difficult fully to translate. The normal translation of doulos ( Greek #1401 ) is slave. The real servant of God is, in fact, his slave. A servant can leave his service when he likes; he has stated hours of work and stated hours of freedom; he works for a wage;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 1:1-3

This passage ends with a threefold blessing. (i) The man who reads these words is blessed. The reader here mentioned is not the private reader, but the man who publicly reads the word in the presence of the congregation. The reading of Scripture was the centre of any Jewish service ( Luke 4:16 ; Acts 13:15 ). In the Jewish synagogue scripture was read to the congregation by seven ordinary members of the congregation, although if a priest or levite was present he took precedence. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ ,.... Either of which he is the author: for it was he that sent and showed it by his angel to John; it was he, the lion of the tribe of Judah, that took the book, and opened the seals of it, and which is a very considerable proof of his deity; since none but God could foreknow and foretell things to come, or declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet, as is done in this book: or of which he is the subject; for it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The word Αποκαλυψις , from which we have our word Apocalypse, signifies literally, a revelation, or discovery of what was concealed or hidden. It is here said that this revelation, or discovery of hidden things, was given by God to Jesus Christ; that Christ gave it to his angel; that this angel showed it to John; and that John sent it to the Churches. Thus we find it came from God to Christ, from Christ to the angel, from the angel to John, and from John to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ . This phrase occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in 1 Peter 1:7 , 1 Peter 1:13 . It means the revelation which Jesus Christ makes, not that which reveals him. John is the writer, Jesus Christ the Author, of the book. Revelation ( απόκαλυψις ) is a word reserved for the gospel; no Old Testament prophecy is called a revelation (contrast 1 Samuel 20:30 ). It means the unveiling of Divine mysteries ( Ephesians 3:3 ), and from this it easily... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:1

Revelation. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him." The very word belongs to the Holy Scriptures, and is peculiar to them. None of the Greek writers use it in the sacred sense which we always associate with it. And this is not to be wondered at, for they had naught to tell with any authority on those profound questions with which it is the province of revelation to deal, and upon which the mind of man yearns for light. But when that light first flashed upon men, no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 1:1-3

The superscription. This consists of a brief description of the contents and origin of the book, and a commendation of it to the reader and hearer. read more

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