The Almighty (6 ravtoxparwp). Used only once outside of the Apocalypse, in 2 Cor. vi. 18, where it is a quotation. Con- stantly in the Septuagint.
9, | John. Compare Dan. vii. 28; ix. 2; x. 2.
Who am also your brother (6 xal ddeApos tpar). Omit xai, also, and render as Rev., John your brother.
Companion (cuykowwves). Rev., better, partaker with you. See Philip. i. 7, and note on pariners, Luke v.10. Kowwvos, is a partner, associate. vv strengthens the term: partner along with. Compare John’s favorite word in the First Epistle, xowevta fellowship, 1 John i. 3.
In the tribulation, etc. Denoting the sphere or element in which the fellowship subsisted.
Tribulation (SrApex). See on Matt. xiii. 21. Persecution for Christ’s sake, and illustrated by John’s own banishment.
Kingdom (Bacideig). The present kingdom. Trench is wrong in saying that “while the tribulation is present the kingdom is only in hope.” On the contrary, it is the assur- ance of being now within the kingdom of Christ —under Christ’s sovereignty, fighting the good fight under His leader- ship—which gives hope and courage and patience. The king- dom of God is a present energy, and it is a peculiarity of John to treat the eternal life as already present. See John iii. 36 ; vy. 24; vi. 47,54; 1 John v.11. “Jn all these things we are abundantly the conquerors (Rom. viii. 37 sqq.). This may go to explain the peculiar order of the three words; ¢rzbulation and kingdom, two apparently antithetic ideas, being joined, with a true insight into their relation, and patience being added as the element through which the tribulation is translated into sover- eignty. The reference to the future glorious consummation of the kingdom need not be rejected. It is rather involved in the present kingdom. Patience, which links the life of tribulation