Revelation 1:1-3

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 1:3-8

We have here an apostolic benediction on those who should give a due regard to this divine revelation; and this benediction is given more generally and more especially. I. More generally, to all who either read or hear the words of the prophecy. This blessing seems to be pronounced with a design to encourage us to study this book, and not be weary of looking into it upon account of the obscurity of many things in it; it will repay the labour of the careful and attentive reader. Observe, 1. It... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:2

Who bore record of the word of God ,.... Of the essential and eternal Word of God, his only begotten Son; as John the apostle did in his Gospel, and in his epistles, and also in this book; and which is a clear evidence of his being the writer of it, And of the testimony of Jesus Christ ; that is, the Gospel, which testifies of the person of Christ, of the truth of his divinity, and reality of his human nature; of the union of the two natures, divine and human, his person: of his several... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:3

Blessed is he that readeth ,.... This book the Revelation, privately, in his closet or family, carefully and diligently, with a desire of understanding it; or publicly in the church of God, and endeavours open and explain it to others; and may allude to the reading of the law and the prophets in the synagogues, which were not barely read, but expounded; see Acts 13:15 ; and the rather this may be thought to be the sense of the words, since there is a change of number in the next clause, ... 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

Group of Brands