the hearing of many is averse from the harmony of the truth, espe- cially from that of the Apocalypse. The things which are set forth are plain from the words themselves and from the parallelism, but < rwppocwri must be applied.
16. TccTs hx’kriaiats) The genuine reading,1 to wdiich, as not being understood, one has prefixed h, another Wi. If either particle had been originally written, the copyists would not so easily either have changed or omitted it. But, as Wolf well reminds us, they who are intended by the particle you , are distinguished from the churches. For v/jj?v is the dative, and ruTg bcjt\7i<f/aig the ablative, as ch. viii. 3, 4. The seven churches in Asia altogether are witnesses to the individual churches, and these to their individual angels and hearers. — 6 aerip 6 Xu/xKpog 6 rrpuivbg) He does not say sonrcpoposy nor <puo<p6pog, but uses a new appellation, 6 oi6rr\p 6 Xa,fxrrpog o xpu'mg. This greatly increases the force of the signification.
17. Afyouo-a, saying ) It may refer also to ro by a Hebraism,
because rrn is of the feminine gender.
218. M aprvpu iyu) See Appar. on, this passage.3 In ver. 18 and 19, there is a most severe testimony, a most weighty admonition to all hearers of the Apocalypse. If any man shall add , there shall he added upon him plagues : if any man shall, take away , from him shall he taken away blessings. Repayment in kind [talio]. It is more grievous, as it appears from the annexed threatenings, to add, than to take away : though many critics actually show that they entertain a contrary opinion, being more timid in the erasure than in the ad- mission of glosses. To change, is at once both to add and to take away. First, any hearer may offend in this matter, when he en- deavours to pass off as Apocalyptic writings which are not such, or suppresses those which are truly Apocalyptic. An unskilful ex- pounder, who is blind and rash, offends, and especially if he deems himself to be endowed with a singular prophetical gift and faculty. An unfaithful translator and copyist , who writes out the text incor- rectly, exceedingly offends: for while the text is uncorrupted, especially at the foundation, the offence of the expounder and of the hearer
1 A Vulg. prefix \v : so Lachm. Rec. Text has h r/, with B ; Tisch., with minor authorities, omits the preposition. — E.
2 "Epxov, Come ) The whole matter hinges on this, that you may confidently and with joy be able to hear the announcement I come , and to reply, Come. But if you have not yet attained to this, take care that you do attain to it. — V. g.
— 6 cLkovu v, he that heareth) The Spirit and the bride saying, Come. — V. g.
3 So ABA; but Rec. Text, avpc/xxprvpov/xxi yxp: and Vulg. “ contestor ego.” — E.