331
5. YsDdos) doAog,1 the text according to Andreas in Cod. Reuchl.,
which Erasmus follows, and in the Augustan . But the text in
Andreas himself, as edited by Sylburgius, and Copt, (according to Wolf, wdio however defends the word doXog), together with all the copies, is ^ps udog. That expression of Peter, ours supsO?) doXog sv r& Gropuri aurou , plainly refers to Isa. liii. 9. But the phrase of the Apocalypse, although it supports itself, has something parallel in Malachi ii. 6, respecting the priest : N o/uog dXyjhiag vjv sv rti Grogan aurou , yai dbiTtia ou% supsOq sv yslXsGiv aurou. The word \J/g udog, with its derivatives and compounds, is of very frequent occurrence in all the writings of John. — a fiufioi s!giv) svuvttiov rou dpovou rou Qsou2 was first added by the more recent Latin editions. See App. Crit. Ed. ii. on this passage. This interpolation is unsuitable to the passage. For the description of these first-fruits is beautifully fashioned like a canticle ; and so these two clauses have a kind of rhythm, ^dpO svoi ydp s/Gir d^iLoi s/gIv where, as we remark in passing, the particle yap appears to be extended from the preceding to the latter clause. Moreover, they are virgins , with reference to their following the Lamb ; they are afimfioi, not with reference to their being before the throne of God , but with reference to the fact, that they are redeemed, as first-fruits to God and the Lamb. Why should I enlarge on this ? No one in Greece, Asia, Syria, or Africa, nor do I hesitate to add Italy and ancient Armenia, has in this passage read the clause, before the throne of God. They had not the editions which are in common use at the present day; they had the genuine reading.
6. ” KyysXov, an angel ) Under the name of angels the preachers of the heavenly doctrine come, in ver. 6, 8, 9. [ They are opposed to him who published the threefold woe, ch. viii. 13. — Y. g.] But as to that which G. G. Zeltner has in his Diss. de Chiliasmo prsesenti, § 13, p. 22 : Nor shall we be opposed, to it , if any one should affirm that the aid of Angels, or of one in particular, was employed here (Ap. xxi. 1) in animating the Confessors of the Gospel , in the same sense in which an angel is said also to have stood beside Paul , Acts xxvii. 23, comp, with Dan. x. throughout the whole chapter ; and we admit that this explanation is MOST of all approved by us : we think that is more suitable to the three heralds (preachers) here mentioned. — a/wv/oi/, existing through eternal ages ) aidv, an age , is attributed to the
1 ABC Vulg. Orig. read -^evlog: Rec. Text, without good authority, doXog. — E.
2 ABC Orig. omit these words. Rec. Text has them, with Yulg. Amiat. MS. alone of the oldest authorities. — E.
332