This, the last of the books of the New Test., according to their usual arrangement, is entitled in the A.V. “The Revelation (Α᾿ποκάλυψις, Apocalypse) of [St.] John the Divine (τοῦ θεολόγου),” but in Codices Alex., Sinait., and Ephr. Rescrip. it is simply Α᾿ποκάλυψις Ι᾿ωάννου; and in Cod. Vat. it takes the fuller and more explicit form of ‘Α᾿ποκάλυψις Ι᾿ωάννου θεολόγου καὶ Εὐαγγελιστοῦ, thus clearly identifying the author with the writer of the fourth gospel. The true and authoritative title of the book, however, is that which it bears in its own commencing words, Α᾿ποκάλυψις Ι᾿ησοῦ Χριστοῦ; which has been restored by Tregelles in his critical edition of 1844, and which has been adopted by most of the critical authorities and versions since.
I. Canonical Authority and Authorship. — These two points are intimately connected with each other. If it can be proved that a book, claiming so distinctly as this does the authority of divine inspiration, was actually written by John, then no doubt will be entertained as to its title to a place in the canon of Scripture. Was, then, John the apostle and evangelist the writer of the Revelation? This question was first mooted by Dionysius of Alexandria (Eusebius. H.E. 7:25). The doubt which he modestly suggested has been confidently proclaimed in modern times by Luther ( Vorrede auf die Offenbarung, 1522 and 1534), and widely diffused through his influence. Lucke (Einleitung, p. 802), the most learned and diligent of modern critics of the Revelation, agrees with a majority of the eminent scholars of Germany in denying that John was the author. But the general belief of the mass of Christians in all ages has been in favor of John’s authorship.
1. Evidence in Favor of the Apostolic Authorship. This consists of the assertions of the author and historical tradition.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia
Keywords: Revelation, Apocalypse, John's Apocalypse, Revelation of John
Bible reference(s): Revelation 1
Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.