‏ Revelation of John 1:6

 And he made ( κα εποιησεν ). Change from the participle construction, which would be  κα ποιησαντ (first aorist active of  ποιεω ) like  λυσαντ just before, a Hebraism Charles calls it, but certainly an anacoluthon of which John is very fond, as in 1:18; 2:2, 9, 20; 3:9; 7:14; 14:2f.; 15:3.

 Kingdom ( βασιλειαν ). So correctly Aleph A C, not  βασιλεις (P cursives). Perhaps a reminiscence of Ex 19:6, a kingdom of priests. In 5:10 we have again "a kingdom and priests." The idea here is that Christians are the true spiritual Israel in God's promise to Abraham as explained by Paul in Ga 3; Ro 9.

 To be priests ( ιερεις ). In apposition with  βασιλειαν, but with  κα (and) in 5:10. Each member of this true kingdom is a priest unto God, with direct access to him at all times.

 Unto his God and Father ( τω θεω κα πατρ αυτου ). Dative case and  αυτου (Christ) applies to both  θεω and  πατρ. Jesus spoke of the Father as his God (Mt 27:46; Joh 20:17) and Paul uses like language (Eph 1:17), as does Peter (1Pe 1:3).

 To him ( αυτω ). Another doxology to Christ. "The adoration of Christ which vibrates in this doxology is one of the most impressive features of the book" (Moffatt). Like doxologies to Christ appear in 5:13; 7:10; 1Pe 4:11; 2Pe 3:18; 2Ti 4:18; He 13:21. These same words ( η δοξα κα το κρατος ) in 1Pe 4:11, only  η δοξα in 2Pe 3:18; 2Ti 4:18, but with several others in Re 5:13; 7:10.

Copyright information for RWP