rwp nearer
rwp@1Peter:4:7 @{But the end of all things is at hand} (\pantn de to telos ggiken\). Perfect active indicative of \eggiz\, to draw near, common late verb (from \eggus\), same form used by the Baptist of the Messiah's arrival (Matthew:3:2|) and by James in strkjv@5:8| (of the second coming). How near Peter does not say, but he urges readiness (1:5f.; strkjv@4:6|) as Jesus did (Mark:14:38|) and Paul (1Thessalonians:5:6|)...though it is drawing nearer all...(Romans:12:11|), but not at once (2Thessalonians:2:2|). {Be ye therefore of sound mind} (\sphronsate oun\). In view of the coming of Christ. First aorist (ingressive) active imperative of \sphrone\ (\ss\, sound, \phrn\, mind) as in strkjv@Mark:5:15|. {Be sober unto prayer} (\npsate eis proseuchas\). First aorist (ingressive of \nph\ (see strkjv@1:13|) and plural \proseuchas\, (prayers). Cf. strkjv@Ephesians:6:18|.
rwp@Hebrews:10:25 @{Not forsaking} (\m egkataleipontes\). "Not leaving behind, not leaving in the lurch" (2Timothy:4:10|). {The assembling of yourselves together} (\tn episunaggn heautn\). Late double compound from \episunag\, to gather together (\sun\) besides (\epi\) as in strkjv@Matthew:23:37; strkjv@Luke:17:27|. In N.T. only here and strkjv@2Thessalonians:2:1|. In an inscription 100 B.C. for collection of money (Deissmann, _Light_, etc., p. 103). {As the custom of some is} (\kaths ethos tisin\). "As is custom to some." For \ethos\ (custom) see strkjv@Luke:22:39; strkjv@John:19:40|. Already some Christians had formed the habit of not attending public worship, a perilous habit then and now. {Songs:much the more as} (\tosouti mallon hosi\). Instrumental case of measure or degree, "by so much the more as," both with \tosouti\ and \hosi\. {The day drawing nigh} (\eggizousan tn hmeran\)...of Christ which draws nearer all...(Romans:13:12|).
rwp@Matthew:16:19 @{The Keys of the kingdom} (\tas kleidas ts basileias\). Here again we have the figure of a building with keys to open from the outside. The question is raised at once if Jesus does not here mean the same thing by "kingdom" that he did by "church" in verse 18|. In strkjv@Revelation:1:18; strkjv@3:7| Christ the Risen Lord has "the keys of death and of Hades." He has also "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" which he here hands over to Peter as "gatekeeper" or "steward" (\oikonomos\) provided we do not understand it as a special and peculiar prerogative belonging to Peter. The same power here given to Peter belongs to every disciple of Jesus in all the ages. Advocates of papal supremacy insist on the primacy of Peter here and the power of Peter to pass on this supposed sovereignty to others. But this is all quite beside the mark. We shall soon see the disciples actually disputing again (Matthew:18:1|) as to which of them is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven as they will again (20:21|) and even on the night before Christ's death. Clearly neither Peter nor the rest understood Jesus to say here that Peter was to have supreme authority. What is added shows that Peter held the keys precisely as every preacher and teacher does. To "bind" (\dsis\) in rabbinical language is to forbid, to "loose" (\lusis\) is to permit. Peter would be like a rabbi who passes on many points. Rabbis of the school of Hillel "loosed" many things that the school of Schammai "bound." The teaching of Jesus is the standard for Peter and for all preachers of Christ. Note the future perfect indicative (\estai dedemenon, estai lelumenon\), a state of completion. All this assumes, of course, that Peter's use of the keys will be in accord with the teaching and mind of Christ. The binding and loosing is repeated by Jesus to all the disciples (18:18|). Later after the Resurrection Christ will use this same language to all the disciples (John:20:23|), showing that it was not a special prerogative of Peter. He is simply first among equals, _primus inter pares_...these great words the nearer we...
rwp@Matthew:27:55 @{Many women} (\gunaikes pollai\). We have come to expect the women from Galilee to be faithful, last at the Cross and first at the tomb. Luke (Luke:23:49|) says that "all his acquaintance" (\pantes hoi gnstoi auti\) stood at a distance and saw the end. One may hope that the apostles were in that sad group. But certainly many women were there. The Mother of Jesus had been taken away from the side of the Cross by the Beloved Disciple to his own home (John:19:27|). Matthew names three of the group by name. Mary Magdalene is mentioned as a well-known person though not previously named in Matthew's Gospel. Certainly she is not the sinful woman of strkjv@Luke:7| nor Mary of Bethany. There is another Mary, the mother of James and Joseph (Joses) not otherwise known to us. And then there is the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John), usually identified with Salome (Mark:15:40|). These noble and faithful women were "beholding from afar" (\apo makrothen therousai\)...women may have drawn nearer to...(\para ti stauri\) with Mary of Clopas and Mary Magdalene (John:19:25|) before she left. They had once ministered unto Jesus (\diakonousai auti\) and now he is dead. Matthew does not try to picture the anguish of heart of these noble women nor does he say as Luke (Luke:23:48|) does that "they returned smiting their breasts." He drops the curtain on that saddest of all tragedies as the loyal band stood and looked at the dead Christ on Golgotha. What hope did life now hold for them?
rwp@Revelation:5:6 @{And I saw} (\kai eidon\). Stirred by the words of the elder in verse 5| (\idou\, behold). "I beheld." {In the midst} (\en mesi\). See strkjv@4:6| for this idiom. It is not quite clear where the Lamb was standing in the vision, whether close to the throne or in the space between the throne and the elders (perhaps implied by "came" in verse 7|, but nearness to the throne is implied by strkjv@14:1; strkjv@Acts:7:56; strkjv@Hebrews:10:11|). {A Lamb} (\arnion\). Elsewhere in the N.T. \ho amnos\ is used of Christ (John:1:29,36; Acts strkjv@8:32; strkjv@1Peter:1:19| like strkjv@Isaiah:53:7|), but in the Apocalypse \to arnion\ occurs for the Crucified Christ 29 times in twelve chapters. {Standing} (\hestkos\). Second perfect active (intransitive of \histmi\) neuter accusative singular (grammatical gender like \arnion\), though some MSS. read \hestks\ (natural gender masculine and nominative in spite of \eidon\ construction according to sense). {As though it had been slain} (\hs esphagmenon\). Perfect passive predicate participle of \sphaz\, old word, in N.T. only in strkjv@Revelation:5:6,9,12; strkjv@6:4,9; strkjv@13:3; strkjv@18:24; strkjv@1John:3:12|. \Hs\ (as if) is used because the Lamb is now alive, but (in appearance) with the marks of the sacrifice. The Christ as the Lamb is both sacrifice and Priest (Hebrews:9:12f.; strkjv@10:11|). {Having} (\echn\). Construction according to sense again with masculine nominative participle instead of \echonta\ (masculine accusative singular) or \echon\ (neuter accusative singular). Seven horns (\keras\) is a common symbol in the O.T. for strength and kingly power (1Samuel:2:10; strkjv@1Kings:22:11; strkjv@Psalms:112:9; strkjv@Daniel:7:7,20ff.|) and often in Rev. (Revelation:12:3; strkjv@13:1; strkjv@17:3,12|). Fulness of power (the All-powerful one) is symbolized by seven. {Seven eyes} (\ophthalmous hepta\). Like strkjv@Zechariah:3:9; strkjv@4:10| and denotes here, as there, omniscience. Here they are identified with the seven Spirits of Christ, while in strkjv@1:4| the seven Spirits are clearly the Holy Spirit of God (3:1|), and blaze like torches (4:5|), like the eyes of Christ (1:14|). The Holy Spirit is both Spirit of God and of Christ (Romans:8:9|). {Sent forth} (\apestalmenoi\). Perfect passive predicate participle of \apostell\, masculine plural (agreeing with \hoi\ and \ophthalmous\ in gender), but some MSS. have \apestalmena\ agreeing with the nearer \pneumata\.
rwp@Revelation:21:9 @{One of the seven angels} (\heis ek tn hepta aggeln\). As in strkjv@17:1| with the same introduction when the angel made the announcement about the harlot city (Babylon), so here the description of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, is given by one of the same group of angels who had the seven bowls. Thus the \numph\ (Bride) is placed in sharp contrast with the \porn\ (Harlot). The New Jerusalem was briefly presented in verse 2|, but now is pictured at length (21:9-22:5|) in a nearer and clearer vision. {The bride the wife of the Lamb} (\tn numphn tn gunaika tou arniou\). Twice already the metaphor of the Bride has been used (19:7; strkjv@21:2|), here termed "wife" (\gunaika\), mentioned proleptically as in strkjv@19:7| if the marriage is not yet a reality. For the use of the same metaphor elsewhere in the N.T. see on ¯19:7|.
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