A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

Bengel, Johann Albrecht, 1687-1752 • SECTION 256

Apocalypse Viii. 7.

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plainly apparent from what follows ; whereas in reality it ought to be explained, to thee) : hut the word denotes nothing hut a crown , as it is said , Isa. xlix. 18, and thou shalt clothe thee with them as with a crown. — Christopher Cartwright, in Mellif. Hebr., lib. iii. c. 8. Therefore the Hebrews say that there is an angel who presides over the prayers of their assemblies : the Apocalypse only says, that there is an angel who offers incense, while the saints pray : rcug choc's ver. 3, 4, is the Ablative case, denoting accompaniment, as Rom. xi. 11, 30, 31, rCj avruv ‘7rapct‘7rru/jjGtriy ry rovruv a-xuQzicpj rui vf/jzrzpw sX'szi. We have noted down more examples from other quarters at Chry- sost. de Sacerdot., p. 514. There are some who here understand ff-jv : you might as conveniently understand Wt ; but neither of the two is necessary. Nay, rather the Ablative case put absolutely, ra?g ^posi^aTg, has greater force. The incense of the angel, and the prayers of the saints on earth, are simultaneous : but the prayers of the saints are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, not through the angel. [See what is the character of genuine prayer . It is the prayer of saints, which the incense of the angel accompanies , and Christ Himself renders acceptable in the presence of the Father. Dost thou then pray in such a manner , that thy prayers may come as a memorial before God ? — Y. g.] Under the name of angels , Thum- mius , in adm. de Error. Wigel, p. 280, affirms that created angels are pointed out in the New Testament, and especially in the Apocalypse : and in this very passage this is acknowledged by Nic. Selneccer in his Commentaries on the Ap., by L. and Andr. 0 slan- der, by j Beza, Hogelius , p. 277 ; also by Chemnitius , Part iii. Exam. Cone. Trid., f. 189, whom on this account Melch. Ivromajec. in Ap. p. Ill, praises, and Amd. de Y. C. i. ii. c. 35. To these are to be added D. Joach. Lange and Dimpelius. The liturgy [divine service performed] in heaven, with its effect in the world, is here set forth. — I«7 rb) A skilful variety of cases : the angel stood Irrl rov Qvdiac- rqpiov, by the side of [near — at] the altar ; and offered the incense sy} rb Ovoictffryjpiov, upon the altar.

7. 'o Kpobrog) ” AyysXog1 is supplied in the text of Andreas : for thus the beginning of the 8th discourse required with him. Erasmus followed that : Wolf defended it. But the Greek copies of the New Testament (all, as we may suppose) omit ayytXog. And this agrees with the very intimate connection which exists between

ver. 6 and 7, especially urging on the first angel. In the mention

1 AB S)t. omit ot'/yi’Kog. Vulg. h and Rec. Text add it. — E.

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Public domain historical edition (1859); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.

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