Greek (SBLGNT): λέγοντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· Ἄξιόν ἐστιν τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἐσφαγμένον λαβεῖν τὴν δύναμιν καὶ πλοῦτον καὶ σοφίαν καὶ ἰσχὺν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ δόξαν καὶ εὐλογίαν.
NET: all of whom 38 were singing 39 in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed 40
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!”NWT 2013: and they were saying with a loud voice: “The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
Fanning and most commentators normally read Rev. 5:12ff as evidence for the deity of Christ. Fanning makes this claim:
"It is christologically significant that ascriptions of praise in Revelation are offered to God alone (4:9, 11; 7:12; 19:1), to God and to the Lamb (5:13), or to Christ alone (1:6; 5:12)."
In footnote 92 on page 228 of his recent commentary, Fanning references Richard Bauckham's observation that John was working with a sensitivity to monotheistic worship when he penned Revelation. Yet Fanning (like Bauckham) thinks Christ is given worship in Rev. 5:12, which would indicate that the Lamb is divine like his Father. But I can appreciate the ascriptions that heavenly creatures give Christ without presuming he is ontologically equal with his Father. That is a point which has been discussed ad nauseam. The thing that intrigues me more is the Hebrew and Septuagintal context for the scene in Revelation 5:12ff.
1 Chronicles 29:11 (LXX): σοί κύριε ἡ μεγαλωσύνη καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ τὸ καύχημα καὶ ἡ νίκη καὶ ἡ ἰσχύς ὅτι σὺ πάντων τῶν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς δεσπόζεις ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ταράσσεται πᾶς βασιλεὺς καὶ ἔθνος
There is also Daniel 2:37, which ESV renders: You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory
LXX: σύ βασιλεῦ βασιλεὺς βασιλέων ᾧ ὁ θεὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ βασιλείαν ἰσχυρὰν καὶ κραταιὰν καὶ ἔντιμον ἔδωκεν
See Fanning, Buist M. Revelation. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2020, page 228-229.
very interesting. The book of revelation is packed full of fascinating allusions from the Hebrew bible.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't seem to be a direct citation or anything like that, but it does seem to be paralleled conceptually.
I remember doing some research and finding the allusions festival of booths all over the place in John and Revelation (Palm brances, God residing with man, etc etc). I haven't done any serious research in revelation, only in terms of it being part of the apocalyptic genre/worldview, but I would love to get do some reading in Revelation.
I've also become more persuaded that the gospel of John and the Apocalypse of John have the same author, given that their theological framework is so similar and they draw on similar themes.
Now this is interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteRoman, Duncan and I talked about this subject before. Revelation is packed with quotes/allusions to the Hebrew Bible and other writings. Two commentators, who have thoroughly brought out the allusive passages are David Aune and G.K. Beale.
ReplyDeleteYou're also correct that we see allusions to the Jewish festivals in Revelation too and plenty of tabernacle imagery. I've started collecting commentaries on Revelation. In addition to recommending Aune and Beale, I think Fanning has many nice features although he's clearly Trinitarian. I'm going to buy Stephen Smalley's Revelation commentary soon: it's been highly acclaimed. One older commentary that deals with parallels in Revelation is the one by Moses Stuart.
Although I've had some questions about the authorship of Revelation in the past, I now favor viewing the authors as the same.
Since the Lord Jesus is being worshiped in Revelation 5:12 how then does this not demonstrate that He is God?
ReplyDeleteI'll grant that most commentators explain Rev. 5:12 that way, but that is not the only way to understand the verse. The passage does not explicitly say he's being worshiped, but only given praise, honor, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think though in the context of worship being rendered unto Christ in 5:9-10; 13-14 that it follows that 5:12 would refer to the same thing.
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